joan-marion-drake-1944

DECEMBER 1944

7 Thur - Last Quarter, 2.57 p.m. Japan declared war on U.S.A. and Great Britain, 1941 Very cold. I gave a lecture on the Dumbarton Oaks conference in current events. Had biology notes all the evening. Had bible class in evening. Ted, Dave Colin Gerald Joan Denys & Betty came.

Bills day off 8 Fri Colin and Dave have finished their ops. Extremely cold day. Had a massed singing rehearsal first lesson. Did a lot of work in history. Didn't play hockey in afternoon as the mistress got cross. Mummy & Daddy went out in evening. We stayed at home with Colin and Ted

Betty's birthday 9 Sat - Grouse Shooting ends s.r. 7.53, s.s. 3.52 Very cold day. Helped Mummy all the morning. Did the veges. Had a bath in afternoon and then helped Mummy with the preparations for a party in the evening. Colin, Dave, Ted, Bill, Denys Betty & Joy Humphrey came and we had a very good time. Didn't go to bed until [midnight]

Choose a day when the foliage is dry to remove decaying leaves on Winter Greens, a free circulation of air between the plants is then assured. At this time of the year water plants in frames and cold houses sparingly. See that mats and other protective materials are at hand to cover cold frames in case of severe frost.

DECEMBER 1944

Mrs Stanifort got baby son Paul Argyle 10 Sun - 2nd in Advent Very cold and wet in afternoon. Went to Sunday School in morning and taught Primary. Did not go to S. school in afternoon. Wrote to Sheila. We went to chapel in evening with Colin, Dave Bill Betty and a corporal from sick bay. Joe. Bused both ways.

11 Mon - Accession of King George VI, 1936 Cold day. Had a singing practise first lesson. Did notes in biology and history. Watched the staff play the 1st Eleven at hockey in afternoon school won. Colin Dave and Ted came in in evening. Did Biology homework.

12 Tues Coldy day. Went to the Rex Cinema in morning for a rehersal of speech day. Had the actual event in afternoon. I received my school certificate and a 15/- prize. Did knitting in evening. Betty came in and brought us a lobster. Ted came in late Bill on defence.

Dave & Colin went on 14 days leave 13 Wed Very very foggy day. Did not go to school owing to bad cold. Helped Mummy in morning cleaned bedrooms. Edna came to stay in morning. Uncle Will came to dinner. Several airmen came in at dinner time. Did knitting in evening. Bill & Ted came in for a short time.

DECEMBER 1944

14 Thur - King George VI born, 1895 Very cold day. did not have current events lesson. Had other lessons as usual. Had a Christmas party for the upper school in afternoon. Enjoyed it very much. Went to a musical concert on camp in evening. Very good.

15 Fri - New Moon 2.34 p.m. Cold day. Had to do absence books so spent free lesson working for mistresses. Had general knowledge questions in history. Did not have games in afternoon. Had to write a history essay instead. Read in the evening. Bill & Ted came in for a short time. Denys spent evening with us.

16 Sat - s.r. 8.0, s.s. 3.52 Rained all the morning. Helped Mummy, cleaned the bathroom. Went to Sutton & did all the errands in the pouring rain. Had a bath in afternoon. Had Bible class in evening and afterwards played games. Ted Bill Denys Betty and Joan came.

Should severe frost threaten, protect Celery with straw or bracken. Increase the protective material of Potatos both in sheds and clamps. Choose favourable weather to spray Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums, Gooseberries and Currants with a tar-oil wash.

DECEMBER 1944

Bills day off 17 Sun - 3rd in Advent. Ember Week Mohammedan Era 1364 begins

Very windy day. Went to Sunday School in morning and taught primary. Auntie Fannie took it. Read in [...]. Went to Chapel in evening and afterward went carol singing. Bill came [...] came in to supper [...].

18 Mon Quite a nice day. All girls in VI doing post [...] work except five us. Only had one lesson which was history. Read detective stories all the afternoon. Mummy & Daddy went to Cambridge for day and to pictures on camp with Betty in evening. Bill & Ted stayed with us all the evening.

Bill went on leave 19 Tues Foggy day. Very busy all the morning going round with confiscation and doing absence books. Broke up at 12 o'clock Mrs Kisby left. Helped Mummy in afternoon Read all the evening. Betty & Taffy came in.

20 Wed - Ember Day Very foggy all day. Helped Mummy all the morning. Cooked the dinner Put the decorations up in afternoon. Denys helped. Kim went to sick bay. Daddy iced our big christmas cake in evening. Gerald came in and Ted & Denys stayed to supper.

DECEMBER 1944

Denys went on leave. 21 Thur - S. Thomas. Shortest Day Michaelmas Law Sittings end Still very foggy. Helped Mummy all the morning. Cleaned my bedroom & polished dining room floor. Went to Witcham in afternoon to post letters. Went to pictures in evening and saw The Uninvited. A ghost film. Very good.

22 Fri - Ember Day First Quarter 3.54 p.m. Still foggy. Helped Mummy in the morning and packed some presents. We all went to Ely with Daddy in car in afternoon. Got all my sweet ration. Read in the evening and had my hair washed.

23 Sat - Ember Day s.r. 8.4, s.s. 3.54 Still fairly foggy. Helped Mummy all the morning. Did veges and cleaned the bathroom. Read and had a bath in afternoon. Betty & Taffy came in evening. Finished packing my presents.

If not already completed, push on with fruit-tree pruning and the training of fruit trees on walls with the exception of Gooseberries and Red Currants. When birds are known to be troublesome in removing the buds of these fruits, pruning should be delayed until March.