Item 17: Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1924

DECEMBER 1924

24 WEDNESDAY

Fine pale sunrise and fine wonderfully mild day collapsing into heavy rain in the evening. I stayed in office & minded old Mrs Aldridge while Mr & Mrs Aldridge went to pantomime. Was too tired to do anything I had planned so washed my head & read a little of "Told by an Idiot".

1924 DECEMBER

25 THURSDAY

Wonderfully fine mild day. Rose about noon & had dinner with Miss Henry at 9 Brunswick Sq. From thence we went & called on Miss Hodge & from thence I went to 72 Boundary Rd. & had dinner with Agnes Murphy & her hangers-on Walked part of way home & slept well

DECEMBER 1924

26 FRIDAY

Spent the whole day in my room. Had a beautiful sleep in afternoon & then read only novel at hand & retired at 2 a.m. Very profitless day except for the sleep & a few home letters.

1924 DECEMBER

27 SATURDAY

Windy & wet with rain lashing the window panes. Did mending & washing and had a real bath. In evening fared forth in the rain in new boots & did not get my feet wet - such a treat after 2 years of having holes in the soles. Got standing room in pit to see Noel Coward, Mollie Kerr Lilian Braithwaite in the Vortex. It is the usual cat & kennel combination of a West end play - wonder if there are any Englishmen such cads & Englishwomen so disgustingly disreputable.

DECEMBER 1924

28 SUNDAY

Perfectly clear day. Only left my room to get papers. Such a blessed escape from Miss Henry