Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1916-1917

THUR. NOV. 2 1916 Waited at Minerva & went to swim at St George's baths with Olaf & Maud & then had tea with her at Vic. A.B.C. I came home. Nell came & spent evening with me. Kath & her mother out.

FRI. NOV. 3 1916 Gusty rainy day. Last leaves coming down. Ducks but no swans. Pottered in room in evening went to hear S. Webb in King's Hall on "Labour" on Mrs C. Sanderson's invitation. Groped thru the rain.

SAT. NOV. 4 1916 Glorious morning. Five swans floating on the full tide. Met Miss H. at Freedom League & went to see Abbey & Hss. of Par. Lunch at the Lyceum with Miss Buckheim then saw Miss Sharland off to Tidworth & went to Golders G. by devious subways. Gale of wind & rain.

SUN. NOV. 5 1916 After lunch Miss H. & I went to Freedom L. entertainment in Bedford St. & I came home to find plane trees before door stripped of their last leaves & looking very naked in wind & rain.

MON. NOV. 6 1916 Pottered in room. Nell came for a moment with the 2 little boys & brought in a registered letter from Watt. Went to French in evening. Noted 2 swans on the full tide & some ducks

TUES. NOV. 7 1916 Went to work at Minerva at 2 p.m & got home at 7.20. Noted one swan. Did an hour's shorthand & went to bed.

WED. NOV. 8 1916 Worked all day a Minerva Café assisting with the cooking. Stayed there till time to go to French class. Lovely evening. Noted one swan. Depressed to find Hughes leading for Presidency

THUR. NOV. 9 1916 Lovely clear day. Went to Café at 10.15 & left to try & see L. Mayor's Show at Trafalgar Sq. Saw tops of bayonets & spears. Had a swim with Maud & Olaf. Home & did French after tea. Cheered up to find Wilson leading.

FRI. NOV. 10 1916 All day at Minerva Café. Found Nell when I returned home. All had supper in front room lovely day.

SAT. NOV. 11 1916 Quite warm. Went to Minerva at 10.30 & left @ 1.15 to hear Clara Butt in Albert Hall. Misses Mitchell & Fisher also went. Great joy as usual. Home & went to bed early.