Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1954

February 1954

Tuesday 2

Fine day. Left for town after lunch and met a fellow named Marcus at St James stn, who is doing an MA Thesis on Furphy & wants to scrabble in his visceral dust. Then I caught bus at Central for Pixie. The Family was getting off to camp for the night in readiness for the Queen & Pixie & I had meal & went to bed early - before 10. Dear Pixie how busy & dear she is.

February 1954

Wednesday 3

Glorious morning. Warm day but not over 78°. Had early breakfast & one Cameron's ['friend' crossed out] chauffeur & wife called for P & I & took us to C's house & from the roof we saw the Gothic enter & go to her mooring in Athol Bay. Mrs Marks (housekeeper) & her family gave us morning tea & Allan [Moses?] & wife drove us back to Pixie & we listened to the procession over the radio till the family came home. We had a meal the family went to sleep after their vigil & Pixie did the work & Dorothy Dixon came for a sitting & I left & went to newsreel & home. Delys had called during day.

February 1954

Thursday 4

Grey now & again, threatening rain. I rang Marie McNiven about tomorrow. Dear Pixie rang me to tell me about seeing the Queen & Duke coming to open Parliament. Figs wasting. Delys rang up, a long call about her holiday.

February 1954

Friday 5

Usual chores. At 4p.m left for Darley St. Marie not home so I had a fine feed of concord grapes & sat on back verandah till Roy McN. came home. Marie made a nice banner & she and Myrtle cooked & I went to sleep after 12 well soused with kerosene against skeets [mosquitos]. Very tired & slept pretty well for me. Myrtle is a simple believer in spiritualism & keeps on & on about it.

February 1954

Saturday 6

Lovely warm day again. Dear kind Marie brought me breakfast in bed. Later J. Brennan, wife & 6 kids [2?] sisters & mother arrived. Also then the two sons & wives & 3 grandchildren & Ella McFadyen & small niece. A Buffet luncheon & we saw the Queen & Duke pass quite near & not too fast. Roy took some of us to Railway - empty train & I got home by 6.15 to find I had left my front door unclosed.