1954 (v)

[50th page – November/December 1954, in pencil]

Nov 26th  Weather is the main topic  Terrible rain & wind  never has such a year been recorded  thousands of acres with potatoes still in the ground & not all corn in standing under water  Flooding very bad in places  we are lucky here but on the lower paths are sodden  yesterday we did have a little dry in the morning but since its come down in torrents  not just ordinary rain but like a continuous Cloudburst & yet I still have Rambler Roses out & in bud  also Galardias but the Chrysanths are finished  went to see the Sheldrakes Wed: & then on to a whist drive  Mrs S won top novices  luck for she cannot play a good game  Leslie brought us right home  they came to see us last Sunday  mended my cleaner for me & when he came back with us Wednesday I had another job to mend the electric Fire for which I was very grateful  just got a receipt & thanks for the 30/- I collected for the Guide Dogs for the Blind & they are sending me an engraved medallion with “Nans” name  feel very pleased about that  now I’m trying to make mackintosh caps for Dick & Peter  Peters ears have been discharging again so I put ear flaps on his if Im successful  they break up for Xmas on the 17th  Im thinking we’ll have a very quiet Xmas this year  can’t going far with the chickens to feed & if this weather continues one cannot ask neighbours to come out in it to feed them

Dec 8th 54
Terrible, wind Hail sleet & rain  we had two exceptionally fine days which must have given the poor wretches that have lost their homes or almost that wonderful feeling of being settled for Xmas but now it musty be more sad than words can say for them, at sea ships have have their backs broken  even the Lightship on the Goodwins have been lost  one Solitary survivor  other ships lost as well  its so dark & heavy at this moment  I could

[51st page – December 1954, in pencil]

do with the light on & its just 2 ocl:  I was going into Portsmouth today but not now  I got chilled to the bone going up to feed the fowl.  I’ll be glad when the Cockerels are gone  they are wallowing mud & seem such silly things never seem to take Shelter  the hens are more sensible yet the Blackbirds sparrows Tits & thrushes come right into the covered in end of balcony.  Two hours later & a tremendous thunderstorm  very heavy.  I can hardly stand again the wind  Im wondering about the youngsters coming out of school.  I am glad I decided to stay home  I should have got drenched getting as far as the front gate well this is Dec 8th & we had no summer   acres & acres thousands of them under water. where corn & potatoes are still in the ground  not only that  the Farmers are unable to plough for next years crop  to them it must be heart breaking

9.12.54  Thunder & Lightning Hailstones & Fog all night  Cleared a bit about 11.30 this morning  beginning to look very black again  we are very lucky here  Portsmouth is flooded some roads almost impassable  all over the country is the same  seas breaking sea walls  rivers bursting their banks  Im hoping to get down to the Post with a parcel for Lionel & Joan & kids

Dec 10  Must report Weather Calm.  very cold freezing in fact but no wind  Tornado that split homes in two from Hayling Island to London  managed to send Lionel & Joan parcel yesterday

Dec 20  A very nice day so far.  may be weve had the worse.  for there are no berries on the holly this year which is suppose to forecast a mild winter  lets hope!  sent David parcel yesterday  the Cockerel weighed 8lbs  hope the others are as heavy  we kill tomorrow & are selling 6.  So that should help pay for their keep.  the others we are giving to the family & the eggs from the hens were managing

[52nd page – December 1954, in pencil]

a dozen for each.  Went into Portsmouth for Joan’s school Carol service  an unlucky day for me  got my zip ripped off my boot when getting off the bus & also got a chill  feel better today thank Goodness  Mrs Shakespear mother sent me a very nice Cyclamen Plant  David & Grace sent us handkys [?] Chocs: & a pound note for a drink  we bought Coffee which is a treat these days  one just Cannot afford to buy weekly  as one used  its 7-2 a lb  Mrs Shakespear got it for me as one can only get it freshly ground & good at Southsea  she also took down stuff for Joan & fetched back the Crossly  Wireless set for us to have repaired  they are an extremely nice couple  the Sheldrakes are going over the  US. ship “West point”on which their baby was born 12 yrs ago. so rang Evening News so they can make news of it  wait & see if they do  could be made into a good story  Joan & boys coming up Wed. to get the chicken etc.  Dick having day off tomorrow so that we can kill & pluck birds  I will be glad to get rid of them

22nd  Dick had day off yesterday  he caught the cockerels  10 of them I killed & we plucked them or pratically  we have 5 to finished properly  took us all day  never again  for what one gets for them it isn’t worth the bother  I’ve feather & down everywhere it seems  although we were fortunate in having it fine, but a bit windy  some places had terrific Gales & more damage
The Evening News. had a paragraph in Mondays news & a photo in Tuesday of the Sheldrake  I must try to remember to put it in this book . Dick took 2 birds in to his mates to sell this morning  they went nearly 8lbs  my hands ache abominably this morning

[53rd page – December 1954/January 1955, in pencil]

must move myself now & get ready for Joan & the boys who are supposed to be coming early this morning but its now 10 cl:  I just wonder what time they’ll get here  just in time for lunch I guess  ah well never mind  Im hoping to keep my New Year Resulution in 1955 but I wonder if I shall Whether is the bad weather we have had so continually old age creeping on or that Im really feeling ill  I dont know only that I’m terribly depressed & could weep at the least thing & dont feel a bit happy  would like to go to bed for a week and be made a fuss of completely

Jan 4th 1955   now I must try & remember from the last date.  only Richard & Roger came over  Joan had to stay in for the Gasman to fit her Gas stove  I was furious because I felt so ill it would have been a pleasure not to have had to think & get a meal ready for a family & had Joan come it would have helped me mentally to have confided in some one  However I’ve got over that fearsome spasm  not yet feeling too good but definitely better  now the snow is falling fast & settling  may be we’ll get some better weather soon  had a very quiet Xmas just Dick & I sorry I was such a bugbear  however I went down the pub with Dick New Years Eve & see the New Year in  it wasn’t so special  I’d have rather stayed indoors  thank goodness the cockerels are gone  Mrs Bonham C. wrote me a long letter telling me her trouble & ask me to keep them as confidential so I’ll not remark on them  the Col is in bed & Daphne has had another baby daughter on the 20th Dec  I expect to go over to lunch with her as soon as weather permits  I shant get the Telephone in this weather  wish Id had it when we first came here  that was Dick put me off  I should have thought of myself a bit more.  too late now to moan.  Mrs Shakespear gave me a very nice Diary for Xmas so I’ll enter things there 1st Jan 1955