Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1954

Engagements - June, 1954

W. 2 Delys Th. 3 ['Delys.' crossed out] Caddie

Tu. 8 B. D. 10 am & Ruby.

F. 11 Delys & Arthur

S. 13 Helen & Gerry Duggan

S. 20 Sheppard etc

Engagements - Aug., 1954

M. 9 Dr Siller

S. 15 Rex & Florrie M. 16 Dr Siller

F. 27 Geo retires

Engagements—Sept., 1954

W. 1 Ruby & Relatives Th. 2 Dr Sillar F. 3 Beatrice D

W. 8 Pixie

January 1954

Friday 1

For Friday 1st see final page of 1953.

[line drawn across page]

(Sat. 2. cont.) recommended A. Anon. He said he is their chief disciple but he can't afford £20 a week. I said his clothes were here and his suiting. He said he had left 20 suits at Canberra: one cost £27. I said what did he want with so many clothes - why not use those here. He said he had the same desires as other people, wh. was not the pt. He said he had everything but a home. I advised him to learn a trade & make a home. There was no reasonableness in him. Laurie Collison also rang up.

January 1954 Saturday 2

Wet day and so cold it made me feel sick. I put on overcoat & lit heater. Mrs A in to telephone. I ran message to her in wet. I had a chat with Pixie. Glen telephoned briefly in evening. Jno. called up. Said he was in Sydney from the country. He told me Mr Laurie was lately dead. Said he had been at B'bella fencing. He was captious, quarrelsome & inane but didn't sound drunk. Says his heart is too bad to work & he won't live till 40. Kept repeating he was glad I was so well. So I said I was glad he was so well; had he given up drink? No. Half the population drank & he hadn't called up to get a lecture. I [continued on previous page]