Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1916-1917

SUN. NOV. 12 1916 Very mild day. Lunched with Miss Champion Miss McCracken & Mrs A. Champion also there. Home thru the Park & heard Mrs D. Fox [Dacre-Fox] rave. Meggitts called in my absence. Pottered & went to bed early.

MON. NOV. 13 1916 In room all day. On emerging to go to French found a dense fog that stung the eyes but found my way to School & back to Beaufort St. from where a policeman insisted on seeing me home. Tho' it wasn't necessary.

TUES. NOV 14 1916 Went to Minerva via Selfridge's where I left my watch. In evening A.A.S. took me to Hotel Cecil to hear R. Haggard, Earl Grey S. Olivier, Seddon et al spout before Royal Col. Institute on Settlers to parts of Empire. Home late bad cold.

WED. NOV. 15 1916 All day at Minerva. Cold so bad that I skipped French & went to bed taking lemon drinks. No comfort in the windy holes that the English have instead of homes

THUR. NOV. 16 1916 Cold very bad - nose red. Waited at Minerva & left at 2.30 to meet A.A.S. & go to be interviewed about Welfare position at 1 Whitehall Gdns. by a Mr Spaulding. Nell came in evening. Cold day put on fur coat over suit

FRI. NOV. 17 1916 Bitterly cold day. Cold very bad. No gas to cook everything went wrong at the café. Was jolly glad to get home to cold drafty hole & light a fire & get to bed.

SAT. NOV. 18 1916 Cold sloppy day - sleet & rain. Left Minerva at 3.30 came home. Usshers had Chappels in to tea. Went to bed very [crook?] took beastly cough mixture. Opened Paget & Watt letter to Mariott

SUN. NOV. 19 1916 Cleaned up my room. Tea with Mrs U. & K. who left the Dug Out for Endell St. Hospital. Horrible cold & not abating any.

MON. NOV. 20 1916 In afternoon called on M. Bondfield & 34 Mecklenb. [Mecklenburgh} Sq. & then to Mrs. French at Linton Hotel & then to French. Cough very troub-lesome. Home & had supper late.

TUES. NOV. 21 1916 Went to Minerva at 1.30 & left at 7.30 & came to Dugout tired. Kath came in to see us.