Wednesday 1st November 1944

Burned wood over rectory all day. I sprained my wrist so I could not do much. Went to Whist Drive at Slade. I made a 0 with Jack Wood against Hector and an unknown woman. Hazel, jean and Laurie got a prize. It was bright moonlight on the way home.

Thursday 2nd November 1944

Burned wood over Tucker’s side all day. Went to P.O. and Fry’s. Saw Mary Warren from Wareham’s ground. Went to dancing classes at Farrington. Had a jolly good time. I had to borrow Milly’s bike. Stella was like a wet week on the way home. We are going to Chilcompton on Monday at 7.

Friday 3rd November 1944

It was very raw and grey all day. We put Cherry with the cows, she was ok. Cleaned yard, stall etc. I had an awful cold. We were going to Chewton but my cold was too bad. Finished my cap and wrote. Went to bed early.

Saturday 4th November 1944

It was stormy all day. We got hay and kale in the morning. I had a cold so I stayed in and went to bed early. Dennis came for a game of Solo. I should have gone to t dance committee meeting but my cold was too bad.

Sunday 5th November 1944

Cleaned out and cleaned up the yard. E came in about 12. Mended all morning till 3.30. P got the cows! Had a bath. Went to church. Mrs Warren actually grinned, the boys came in Hubert was disgusting.

Monday 6th November 1944

Mr Howes went to Farrington. We made out straw and put kale, hay etc down. We went to dancing class at Chilcompton. They were very good. Albert Bidwell seems to take interest in us. We got soaked coming home. It rained and the sind was terrific. We had to strip when we got in.

Tuesday 7th November 1944

It rained all day as usual. Got kale and cleaned up yard in the morning. I went and saw Basil and Norman in hospital. Gussy came with me. They both seem quite happy. Did a bit of shopping. Collected my bike from Fry’s. Went to Guides. Had a good time.Young Mrs warren came in she is very jolly. Mrs Warren gave me “Guiders of 1929”. I got some wool for socks from her. Peggy went to Shepto with the yanks, she came back in a lorry.

Wednesday 8th November 1944

It snowed today!! What will it be like in January? Spent morning drawing straw. We came into dinner late and we did not go out till gone 3. I sawed up logs and helped Mr Howes put out Kale. Milked. I washed my hair. Knitted and wrote.

Thursday 9th November 1944

We got a load of hay and kale before lunch. We hauled 5 loads of mangles before milking. It was hard work for the horse. We went to Farrington to dancing class. Mervyn Speed and Rees Oakes were there. It snowed on the way down. Got back about 11.

Friday 10th November 1944

Phyllis went to Bath with Peggy. I cleaned out and did the pails etc then Mr Howes and I hauled 3 loads of mangles before lunch. We all milked and so finished by 6. I penned up. Saw Hewent in the garage. He gave me a fireman’s carry all round the garage. Peggy’s yank came with a pack of cards. We did not have supper till late. George’s train did not get in till 12.

Saturday 11th November 1944

It rained! So we could not haul mangles. Went to a dance at Slade. It was rotten. I won’t go there again.

Sunday 12th November 1944

Finished about 12. I did a good bit of washing until 3.15 when I got the cows. Milked. Went to church. George is home. Went in the rectory for some wool after church. George showed us to the gate Tucker’s did not come in.

Monday 13th November 1944

P went to Farrington. I did odd jobs all morning and picked apples till “cow-time” Milked. We finished early. Went to dancing class. Albert was disappointed at so few being there. Had quite a few dances. I danced the quick-waltz with George Patch. Got in about 10.40.

Tuesday 14th November 1944

I cleaned out etc. I actually had some help with the scrubbing of the stall! We hauled 4 loads of mangle. I nearly missed the Wells bus. Had my hair permed. Went to Guides they were very rowdy because Captain had a cold. I had a chat with Mary. She was going to hug the fire.

Wednesday 15th November 1944

We went to a Whist Drive at the hall there were 18 ½ tables. Rolley, Winnie, Hector, Betty and Evelyn came! There were some lovely apples for one prize.

Thursday 16th November 1944

It was a very white frost this morning but it was beautiful and sunny nearly all day, but cold. I went threshing over at Tucker’s. It was awfully dusty. I was on a rick with Hubert and after lunch on the straw-rick with Harold Gate. Got back about 4.30. Tied up cows. Went to farrington. Got on well. We took Albert some eggs. He told red pullover off! I actually danced with Bill Wells.

Friday 17th November 1944

It poured with rain all day. P did the pails and then disappeared off to the heifers and jack Purnell’s till 1. after lunch she went down Winnie’s and to the post she brought home the cows. A hard day’s work!! Mrs Howes hit me for marking her box so I adjourned to my room for the eve. At 7 !

Saturday 18th November 1944

It was raining off and on all day. Got kale and hay P went to Shepton flicks with Peggy. Grandma came back, I spent the evening with her. Finished my fair-Isle cap. Went to bed at 9.30

Sunday 19th November 1944

It was very windy all day finished about 11.30. I went down Jane’s for my shoes, but he had not done them. Cleared out my drawer. Had lunch. Mended. Mrs Howes went to post and got my shoes for me. Got cows. Finished before 5. I went to church in the pouring rain, my mac got stuck and I was laughing all through the hymn. Norman, Dennis and Herbert came in. They were awful. I finished one fair-isle mitten.

Monday 20th November 1944

It rained all day without a pause. P went to Farrington. I went down to feed heifers and cleaned out. I drew straw till4. I forgot the time and was late getting the cows. P went to Overton to a Y.F.C. Agricultural lecture. Stella and I went to dancing class at Chilcompton. Albert put me in a spot, he had a bad corn and was a bit crotchety. He taught me a new waltz step. P got in about 2.45!!

Tuesday 21st November 1944

It was a lovely day. We got two lots of kale and a load of hay from the clover rick. We did not get in until 1.45 for lunch. It was my afternoon off. I mended my corsets and washed out a few things. Had tea. Thought out a Guide game. Went to guides on my bike. Met captain. She has got my uniform, the guides were terribly rowdy. I took a mark off for giggling, Pamela Reeves and Joyce. Captain told them off but they were just as bad a few mins after. Miss Luton is coming next week. I will have my uniform. We did not have hand bells as it was too late. Came back. Wrote and  knitted till bedtime.

Wednesday 22nd November 1944

It rained without a break all day. P disappeared all morning to Jack Purnell’s and the heifers as usual. She came back in time to do the pails before lunch. I made out straw. She had a letter to do after lunch so did not arrive till late. P got the cows. It poured all evening. I finished my mittens and one sock.

Thursday 23rd November 1944

It rained till about 10 than it was blowy. The roads are flooded everywhere. Did all my jobs and drew straw. Ivan came for the ladder. Sheila Taylor and her father came. Had a cup of tea. Got cows about 3.45. had tea. We had another fire. It was not me this time. Went to dance at Slade as usual nobody danced. I will not go to a dance there again. Hewart was there. Raymond Snook danced the St. Bernard’s waltz!!!

Friday 24th November 1944

It rained off and on all day. We spent the morning cutting kale, or so it seemed! We got the two black and white heifers back from Binegar Bottom. The common is flooded, like a stream. We had an awful job with them. Met mary Warren and Angela. Let the bull out with the biggest heifer. Mrs Warren called. Milked. P went over Tuckers and Stella did not get back from Shepton till late. I looked over Gladys’s books. Wrote and knitted.

Saturday 25th November 1944

We had a busy day cutting kale and getting in hay, we did not arrive in to lunch until 1.45. P buzzed off all afternoon and left Mr Howes and I to get in the kale. George came and we were going to a dance but we started playing Solo and Peg was not keen so we stayed at home.

Sunday 26th November 1944

Did routine work till 11.30. it rained a cold icy rain. Came in and mended till lunch. Went down and fed calves and got cows just after 3. Went to church there was a funeral service for Mrs Burt. Mr Warren gave an awful sermon and the hymns and lessons were atrocious. He made mary Burt cry terribly. Hubert was disgusting.

Monday 27th November 1944

Cut kale for cows over rectory. P went to farrington. I went to Binegar Bottom and then did my jobs, pails, etc till 1. I did my hair and got in hay. Went to P.O. Got cows. Went to Chilcompton. Had very few dances. Albert was most affable.

Tuesday 28th November 1944

P went to Shepton. Put out kale in the afternoon. We finished milking by 5.15. Went to Guides in uniform. They were very unruly. I was too late for the Whist Drive. Did my Guide hat it is not much better now.

Wednesday 29th November 1944

Got in hay and kale all morning until 2.15. I takes ages to cut the rectory kale, we had to haul some home. Went to Frys. Put out the kale while P started milking. Finished about 5.40. Went to Y.F.C. dance at Farrington. Albert and Doll gave a quick-step demonstration in evening dress. Served refreshments and sold tickets. Got in about 2.

Thursday 30th November 1944

We went to Edgar James sale. They did tease him about having no sons. Everyone was there or so it seemed. His cows sold well. Got cows on the way home. Had a cup of tea and milked. Had a high tea about 6. Wrote to Denny and made up my diary. Knitted and read till bed-time. Had £1 from Denny. It was a life-saver.