Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1954

January 1954

Friday 8

Grey day, threatening rain but warmer. Pottered about wasting time & after lunch went to Bank & to St Luke's Hosp. to call on Terry Clune with his neck held up in a collar but he was sitting out on the balcony. Pam McArthur-Onslow was with him so I did not stay long. I took him double sunflowers & plums from the garden & dried figs. Met Frank Ryland on Martin Pl. as I went to Permanent Trustee Co with quarterly rent. Called at Morgan's Bookshop and thence to Newsreel and home by 6 o'clock. Took bread and fruit etc to Andresens.

January 1954

Saturday 9

Sunny day and mildly warm. Did some laundry in morning & left at 12.30 for Eastwood. Jack met Ruby Brydon & me there & then went for Aunt Lena, taking Uncle Gus. I took ½ the 4lb. college plum cake with abo. decorations and the thistle shortbread & Theo's two spoons & forks for Lena to choose. The 3 girls were away on holiday & it was a pleasant birthday for Lena & us all. Phyllis & R. gave her presents. Jack brought us back to station early & went back for Lena to take her home. I got home at 5.30. Had a struggle to walk with the sudden disability in my hip that attacked me once before about 15 yrs ago.

January 1954

Sunday 10

Grey day with showers. Footled – another lost day. In evening went to see "Reedy River" with Dal & A. W. S. [Alexander William Sheppard] as my guests. They were late & 2 others were thrust in my seats & took my programmes & I wound up at the back with A. & Dal. Dal insisted on driving me home - otherwise my hip was so bad it wd have been a hard struggle. I had a hard struggle to get to the station on the inward journey. I hope it will pass as it did before.

January 1954

Monday 11

Grey showery day. Did some ironing and read G. Blunden's "A Room on the Route". Letter from Florence acknowledging Essay. I have no hope there, or indeed otherwhere. Heavy rain came on in evening & the back room is worse than before Walker fixed the roof. Depressing.

January 1954

Tuesday 12

Grey day again, but rain held off. Went to Butcher. Telephoned Una Kidgell. Letter from Magdalen saying her dear little mother died at Christmas.