Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1916-1917

TUES. DEC. 12 1916 Went to work at 2.15 Miss Champion came to Minerva for a little lunch. I got home at 7.30 [ 7 written over 8] & typed 7 pp. of diary.

WED. DEC. 13 1916 Cold day cooked at Minerva. Went to French in evening. An inspector came in. Last day of term.

THUR. DEC. 14 1916 Waited at Minerva. Home via Town Hall & finished typing diary. Cold day with thick fog all day. Noted 14 ducks on full tide.

FRI. DEC. 15 1916 Noted five swans bedraggled & forlorn marooned in the fog & mud. Very heavy fog in morning & again in evening. Stayed late at work to cook for party.

SAT. DEC. 16 1916 Left work at 4.30 very heavy fog. Torches at H. P. Corner. Groped way home. All traffic stopped at 6.30. Read diary & clipped holes.

SUN. DEC. 17 1916 Noted 5 swans. Fog all day. Kath came for half day & I had tea in front room.

MON. DEC. 18 1916 Dark foggy day. Went to library to make references & dispatched Diary to Watt & Son Read arrears of papers in evening.

TUES. DEC. 19 1916 Gave my room the daddy of a cleaning & went shopping at Selfridge's & on to Minerva. Paul Walsøe & Mrs French called - the latter to borrow 2/6 because she had lost her purse.

WED. DEC. 20 1916 Fog lifted. Cooking at Minerva. Some object stole my furlined coat & left me naked and lamenting.

THUR. DEC. 21 1916 Wet day. Paul Walsøe called to say Maud had a coat that might suit me. Mrs Fisher gave me a white fur lining