It was terribly rough and blustery again. I could not do much thatching as Mr Turner was away and I had run out of spars. We went and turned some sheaves in Kingdown. They are awfully wet and we will probably have to cut the bands. Saw Jim and Michael putting up the tennis net. I was out thatching till nearly 9, it was cold. I finished my rick. Came in and had supper and went to bed. Milly and John’s banns are to be published on Sunday morning.
It rained in torrents till about 12 adnt then it was terribly rough and scuddy all the rest of the day. We drew straw till lunch-time. Cleared up my rick dug some post holes. Milked. I came in and washed my hair. Did a bit of mending. Peggy, Stella and Hazel went to see ‘Now Voyager’ in Shepton. It was too rough to go to Wells.
We spent the morning turning oats. It was five years ago today that war broke out. It rained all afternoon and evening. Had a bath. We had finished milking by 5.15. Went to church. It was crowded. Michael was dreaming he kept doing things wrong. Mr Warren made some remark about “dead corpses”! A girl I did not know came in with Jim and Mrs warren. Dennis and Hubert came in to supper. Knitted and played “tippit” or some such game.
This weather is awful, our corn is completely spoilt, we can only put it in a heap to rot. It has rained nearly every day since it was cut. Today it is mild and wet. We did not do very much this morning cleaned out hay house, went up road for a blow (and to find P who had gone to feed the hens) Wrote a letter. We did not go out till3. I posted my letter. We had tea at 3.30. Finished by 5.30. I did intend to go down Thrope but it looked like rain. I knitted and read. P. got me annoyed so I went out. Went out with Peggy, talked to Warehams till 10.30.
We fenced out the home ground rick, it was rough and stormy as per usual. We let the cows out in the home ground. They were pleased. We turned all the oats, Dennis helped us. Came home. I was too tired to even wash.
We were late getting up. Took down wire by pond. Got two ropes of straw from rectory. Cut some oat bonds till lunch time. Cut more bands till 3.45. Milked. We did not go up Kingdown till after 7. The weather did not look to good so we just turned what had already been cut. Hugh Warren is home. Got back about 8.45. Wrote. Had a wash. Knitted a bit. Went to bed at 11 after doing my hair downstairs.
I really can’t remember what I did this morning. Oh, yes scrubbed stall and gardened as it rained. P. thatched I carried spars etc and creosote. I went collecting for P. Ivan put 6d in Red Cross tin. Walked down Emery’s. Went to bed before 10.
It was better weather this morning. I had a letter from Joan. Daddy is coming on the 18th. Gladys comes tomorrow! goodie!! Cut oat bonds till 12.50. Went to Mrs Padfield’s for Stella’s coat. Met Mrs Warren and George in the car. Cut bands till tea. Time. Michael and George and Mrs Warren were playing tennis. Our oats were a bit dry but we had a heavy storm at milking time, so no turning tonight. Walked to jack Purcell’s with cooler. Saw Art Maidment, Mr Adlan, Max Gillson, Me West at Purcell’s. saw Merv at “Jockey” His oats were ready to haul then it rained. Blast the weather!
Gladys came today. We had to turn the oats in the evening. We were back about 8.
Turned oats all morning. Gladys helped. Rode back in float. Had a bath after lunch. I went to church with Grandma. Met George warren outside church Jim was all beams.
Monday 11th – Thursday 14th September 1944
We had dinner out every day except Thursday when we had duck. We were hauling loose oats from the wagon. It was jolly hard work and we were out till
George warren went back on Thursday. Daddy and Poochie are coming on Thursday.
It rained nearly all day. Made out straw. I went to the P.O. after lunch. Made out more straw. Sat by the fire, wrote and read till about 10.30.
It was quite a nice day and the evening beautiful. I had to make out straw all day much to my disgust. It was so boring. I was on my own all afternoon. Got cows in P. went thatching. I went down Jim’s. He rode Punch so I did not. Came back and met Gladys off 7.55 train. Knitted and read all evening.
We put the clocks back an hour last night so we were early all day. Did the stall and pails before breakfast. Went down Colburn’s about gate. Saw Miriam and Thelma. Went down Jim’s I jad to ride the mare this morning as Punch is not shod. I rode her round about here. Brought her home and tied her up during lunch. Went back down Throope with the mare. I went by Gillson’s and Trixie’s pony had got loose. Saw Jim Warren. We got her in the corner and then caught her. Came back to milking. Went to church. Jim and Mrs warren had a chat. Milly, John Hubert and Dennis came in.
Pooled rakings all morning. Daddy and Poochie came at 4.55. Poured all afternoon. Mrs Warren went away. Jim did not. I went down the “Jockey” came back with Merv and Mr Wareham in the car. Grandma was in a flutter about coming in late.
Had a most upsetting day. Milly and John were married this morning. I had to call at the rectory but Jim could not come to tea today. We picked up the rakings and sheaves in Kingdown till 5. Got cows in did not finish until 7.30. I was properly told off. Went out. Spent evening by fire knitted.
We finished off the little rakings rick and then we had to cut off matted wet stuff off the oat mow. Mr Burridge came. Came home to lunch. We put up the oats we cut out and made up that rick. Got cows in at 3.30 and finished milking by 4.20. caught the 4.55 bus to Wells. Daddy, Gladys, Mrs Howes, Phyllis, Mrs Snook and I went. Saw Tommy Handley and Sherlock Holmes. There was ak ak fire over Weston when we came up the road. We bought chips and ate them at the bus stop. How low!
It was a lovely day. All the fern along the common is turning yellow, it is lovely. I went to Dykes sale at 1, she said she was going to thatch tonight, she did not arrive home until 5 but no thatching was done. Cheek! I was told I could go if I worked late. I started thatching the little rick along Binegar Bottom. Went to Mrs Emery’s, Mrs Padfield’s and phoned george Cazalet at henchfield 46. he is meeting me in
Thatched most of the day. Poochie and Daddy came and saw me in the morning. I leave
Finished my rick. Mr H said it will keep the wet out! Went up kingdown till 3.30. Dug some post holes till 4.30. Got cows in. Milked. I washed my hair and sewed up my knicks. Wrote and sewed.
I did have a busy day, I was rushing about, looking out clothes, cleaning out drawers, washing, cleaning shoes as well as all my odd outside jobs. I went and got my dress from Mrs Padfield after lunch. Daddy went home. Had a bath. Milked went to church with Phyllis. Did not see anything of the
I was up at 6.30 rushing about packing etc. I had to go up dudden’s for my book before catching the 8.15 train. I wonder if I will ever see J. again. Think they are going soon. Old Mr Rose made a song about my ticket but I arrived in reading all right. 8 calves had been brought to reading market so I went in the lorry. Went to a poultry sale at Padworth. Had grub in car. Got in about 4.30. watched them finish milking. Washed went for a walk to local through woods. Drove up cows.
They let me oversleep this morning and I only woke up when I heard the pails clattering. Watched milking. Had my breakfast in solitary state. Went to reading to get wire. Went round Woolworth’s. We went to furniture sale at Swallowfield. I waited in the car from 12.35 to 2.10 was I fed up! I went to sleep. It is time, you can’t hurry farmers!! Walked across field to P.O. they had ‘nought’ Watched milking.
Got up earlier this morning. Cooked up breakfast. Washed up and made my bed. Milked a cow dry – handed. Moved a folder. Could not get lorry started to went to
Got up just after 7. had my breakfast and washed up. I milked two cows this morning Mrs cazalet does not like me milking because I milk wet handed, but I can milk dry if I like. Went to reading to fetch the grains from the brewery. Got home about 1.30 I spent the afternoon packing up a binder and drove the tractor all down the ground even changing gear. Had tea. I finished my petticoat this evening and knitted.
I overslept this morning and had to rush about to get the washing up done before they came in from milking. Went to a farm sale at Overton, the other side of reading. We got there before 11.30 and we did not leave until after 5. Uncle G bought Y A girl from
I was helping clean the dining room when the post arrived. It was a letter from Joan saying she had found me a place to stay. I rushed about and managed to get that 10.10 bus to