Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1952

January 1952 Friday 4

Did not go above 80° but was very warm because of 75% humidity - cool breeze in evening. Went to town at 1 p.m to Permanent Trustee Co.: to shop for Aunt Lena's birthday, to Newsreel & home before 5. Started some plum jam. Arthur in to telephone that his father was too poorly to go to work. I called at Morgan's Book shop & Col. Shepherd spoke of how much Dal needs a rest. Went to New Theatre for tickets for Sunday night.

January 1952 Saturday 5

Started hot & ended in slight misty shower & cool sea air. Mrs A. in to telephone, her husband not well. She also told me that M. N. Carroll my wood and coal man was buried yesterday: died suddenly. It has upset me terribly & made my loneliness unbearable. He favored me when wood was hard to get & often left others without. I couldn't write or settle to anything. Made a few pots of jelly & jam from the big plums in the fowl yard. Tried to telephone Glen but she was not answering.

January 1952 Sunday 6

When I got up at 7.30 found the garden dripping with weeping mist but not enough to penetrate the soil. At 8.15 it began to rain so as it could be heard on the roof. It kept on at intervals all day but fined at 5 or 6. I went to town to New Theatre to see Follies Bourgoise. Dal met me but was so busy he cd not get in till after 9 & then insisted on driving me home as it was raining softly. Quite dry out here. I reboiled some gorgeous fig jam because it had turned to a rich liqueur.

January 1952 Monday 7

Wettish day in patches. Delys Cross came at 11 bringing 2 eggs, 3 tomatoes and a generous supply of veg. from Mr Jordan & we had lunch of the eggs, tom. etc, added to by blancmange & fig jam. I gave her the jam to take home. It wasted my day - no writing. In evening Maisie & her mother called for an hour.

January 1952

Tuesday 8

Fine day with some clouds & a cool wind. Met Dr Robinson at 2.30 & he took me out to his sister's place with glorious views of the Heads with a Southerly making glorious white fountains at their feet & rocking the Manly boat. Had an ample afternoon tea & called on Lena about 7.20 to give a birthday greeting and gift. She had got in Coco-cola [Coca-Cola] for me - quite refreshing. Got home at 10.20, had some toast & to bed by 11 p.m. Pleasant visit with Dr R. & nice to see Lena, but no writing.