Thursday 1st February 1945

Got up just after 7. It was a very mild windy day. Fed heifers out in further ground before breakfast. Went to calves first thing. Saw Aunt Margery and Jim beating the drawing room carpet. Cleaned mangles etc and sawed wood till lunch. I called for Jim at 2.30. We walked to Mandip Golf club & then round Masbury & by tyrol’s and along Barnet Lane. We had several rests on the way! Got in to tea about 5. Jim did not feel well, he certainly looked ill. Darned some socks. Hubert and Dennis came in. I slept upstairs with the window open!

 

Friday 2nd February 1945

It was very rough and stormy all day. Mr Howes went to Shepton. I did all my usual jobs & went to the calves. I pulled a good few turnips. Cleaned up some yard and did a bit to the tree in Holey ground. Had a letter from Miss Philips to say she will be here tomorrow. Grandma went and said goodbye to Mrs Warren. She has also heard from Miss P. Everyone was out till late.

 

Saturday 3rd February 1945

Had a very hectic day. Got three loads of wood, a load of hay, mangles and cabbages & I also went to the calves. It was a lovely mild day. It started to rain at milking time. I went to the rectory to meet Miss Philips. Had a long lecture on the problems of Guides. Miss P is going to arrange a meeting with Miss Luton. I had to borrow Mrs Warren’s hat.

 

Sunday 4th February 1945

I did think that we would have to go to Kingdown this morning but we did not. I went to the calves and was in and mending at 11.30. Grandma went to church and Jim sent back to ask if I would go for a walk. We had a lovely stroll through Bown’s fields and Burnt Wood. It did not seem possible that I would not see him for a long time. We sat on a bank at the edge of the wood much to the amazement of a black horse and some cows. We saw a heron and a stoat. We climbed on to a mound which Jim said he thought was a tomb. Jim left me in Bennets Lane and went to say goodbye to Tuckers. I milked had a bath & went to church. Had a fairly full church. Mr Warren’s parting sermon was quite inspiring. Went in to the dear old Rectory to supper for the last time. It was hard to say goodbye to them all. Mrs W gave me some fudge for my birthday. Jim came home with me. I never guessed how hard it would be to part. He is going to write to me first. I feel sure about Jim.

 

Monday 5th February 1945

I am 18 today. In a way it was a Happy Birthday as we have found new happiness, although we will be apart for a while. He rode down by here this morning & waved very cheerily to wish me a Happy Birthday! It was a stormy day & it rained quite a bit, quite in keeping with my mood. I had a £1 from Grandma & a telegram “Happy Birthday darling love Mummy & Daddy” cheered me up. Stella made me a sponge cake which was lovely. A Stone wished me a Happy Birthday too, it is Dorothy’s birthday today, she is 3. The calves got out & we had to take them back to the rectory. Went to dancing with Peggy & Stella. I had the start of a beautiful cold. Had tons of dances, Peggy and I did an old-fashioned waltz. It was very good. Got home about 11. I found some Primrose leaves out in the bank in the farther field. I saw a hare over the Rectory

 

Tuesday  6th February 1945

It rained without a pause all day. “February fills the dykes” is certainly true this year. We tipped a lot of corn today. A furniture van left the Rectory again today. I was full of a cold. It got very foggy at dusk. I hope Mrs Warren left for Calstock before the van which did not leave until about 6. I had three cards from home & a letter from Joan. I was supposed to go to a Y.F.C. Milked but it was wet. I wrote a lot and got my knitting finished. I retired to bed with a bottle and some memories.

 

Wednesday 7th February 1945

It was raining until after breakfast then the wind blew a gale all the rest of the day. I had a lovely post. Jim sent me a soap – book and a sweet letter. He is really sweet , I did not expect a letter for at least a few days. He wrote from Wellington. I had a hectic cold and was feeling pretty mis, but the letter cheered me a lot. Had some cream from Wendy and a very short letter. Cleaned and bagged Swedes all morning but it was too rough. Cleaned mangles & did odd jobs all afternoon. The sun came out after tea. I sorted out my drawer. Wrote till about 8 finished back of cami-knicks. Went to bed early.

 

Thursday 8th February 1945

Raining as usual. Got a load of hay and one of Swedes. I went to Wells. I had a stiff pain in my head. Had my photograph taken. Got a vest and some stockings. “Glory Hill Farm” was not ready. Mr Webb came to tea. He played Solo till he caught the 8 bus to Wells. Wrote to Jim.

 

Friday 9th February 1945

I felt rotten during milking. My head was splitting. Jean told us that Milly had a daughter, 7 ¾ lbs at 11.30 last night. I sat in a chair all day till 4 when I washed. Mrs Cotobadie came. Doctor came and ordered me to bed at once. I have ‘flu.

 

Saturday 10th February 1945

Woke up early. Mrs H. bought up some tea. Read on and off till breakfast. Had a wash. Had a letter from Verity. Slept a bit. Grandpa came back with my medicine swearing away. Slept all afternoon. Grandma bought me my tea. Had a snow and hail storm and thunder.

 

Sunday 11th February 1945

Rained all day. Doc. Came unexpectedly today. I can get up on Tuesday.

 

Monday 12th February 1945

I wrote 3 letters and an air-graph to frank. Phyllis went to Shaftsbury for a week. I did a lot of writing and some knitting. Stormy all day.

 

Tuesday 13th February 1945

I got up a while after lunch. Sat in grandma’s room most of the time.

 

Wednesday 14th February 1945

The Doctor came this afternoon, he is coming again on Monday. It was a nice afternoon.

 

Thursday 15th February 1945

I had a lovely letter from my Jimmy this morning 5 whole pages, covered on both sides! He said he could not write letters, but I think that was the nicest letter I have ever had. I went to the post-box. Ada and Albert came over to go to the sale. They came home with a couple of carpets to tea. Peggy stayed here from work as Stella was ill. We used the machine for our night clothes. Dennis came over. Played Solo til 9.

 

Friday 16th February 1945

Was chief cook and bottle washer all day. Went for a little walk and wrote a long letter to Jim. George came by the 10 train. Stella slept with me!

 

Saturday 17th February 1945

I got breakfast and was very busy cleaning up all morning and then I got the lunch. Washed up & had a wash myself. Went & posted Jim’s letter. It was a horrible damp, foggy day, and very boring.

 

Sunday 18th February 1945

Spent a very busy morning cleaning up, doing the vegetables and cooking the lunch. Peggy made some cakes and Yorkshire pudd. It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun was quite hot. Peggy, George and I walked down to Purnell’s and we had to open our coats. I washed up tea then called for Hazel to go to church. Evelyn was there. They are going to see Milly tonight. The new parson is ever so funny. I don’t think I have had such a job in church to keep myself from laughing. He is very tiny and has to have a hassock to stand on to read the lesson! He put H in front of all his vowels. He says h’amen, h’ourelves and h’evermore. I had hysterics when I got back I felt quite ashamed of myself in church.

 

Monday 19th February 1945

I got up and cooked George’s and the kids breakfast. I had a rush. I rushed about all morning and got lunch early as I expected the Doctor and I did not go out all day and he did not come then. Was I mad! I washed my hair and cleared out my drawer. Wrote a bit and knitted.

 

Tuesday 20th February 1945

Spent busy morning as usual, getting lunch etc. It was a simply beautiful day, as warm as toast. I sat by the open window after lunch and finished a letter to Mrs Warren. Brought some crocuses. Went to post. I cycled up to the Doctor as he did bot come by 6. Crowds of people were there. There was a glorious sunset.

 

Wednesday 21st February 1945

Back into harness. A glorious day. Cleaned Swedes. Got load of straw and Swedes. Did not come in till tea. A beautiful sunset. The doctor came about 7.

 

Thursday 22nd February 1945

It was a very misty, raw morning. I got frozen cleaning Swedes before lunch. Mr Howes came about 1.40. I came over at 2.15 & Mrs Howes came on about 3. Helped unload hay back here. Got in cows and had my tea while Mr H got a load of Swedes. I milked 5. Took calves food over. Came in at 7. Knitted, wrote and read “The Golden Road”

 

Friday 23rd February 1945

A very grey day with fine rain till after milking. I had a very sweet letter from Jimmy this morning and a snap. I cleaned out the stall & went up to Kingdown, but I did not stay long as it rained. Cleaned Swedes in stable till lunch. Went over rectory with Mrs Howes at 2. The men were taking away some of the fir trees. It rained hard so we had to come back after filling four sacks. Cleaned more Swedes and tied up the cows. Had tea milked etc. Took calves & hen’s food after and went to Kingdown to put away string. I put Jim’s snap in a frame and knitted.

 

Saturday 24th February 1945

It was a lovely clear frosty morning. It was really lovely going out to feed the heifers. Penn Hill was beautiful. Got a load of hay and cabbages before lunch. Went to Binegar Bottom & got a hutt- load of hay. The hounds were in full cry across Con- Stores and along Bennet’s Lane. Saw a huntsman while unloading hay. Knitted & read all evening.

 

Sunday 25th February 1945

All day it rained. It started to rain before lunch & continued until about 6. I did all my jobs by 11 and then I posted a letter to Jim. Gerald Cork has the sack and Bill Jones works for Mr Wareham now. Mended till4. Got cows in. ad a bath and went to church. It was very empty and he is just as funny as ever. It does not seem as if the people will ever come to church. The boys came in.

 

Monday 26th February 1945

It was very rough and rainy all day. I spent the morning cleaning out and cleaning up the yard. I ground two boxes of Swedes and sawed up a lot of logs and split them. I went to Shepton and Wells with Phyllis. “Glory Hill Farm” has still not arrived!! Got a brown hat. My feet ached terribly when I got in. Knitted and read as usual.

 

Tuesday 27th February 1945

Cleaned Swedes all morning with Mrs Howes. We thought it was lunch time and when we got in it was only12.30! We sawed up some logs and ground some Swedes/ I went down to Fry’s and got 2 gallons of petrol in a can and then went to the butchers and up to Kingdown. We fenced out the vetches rick and stopped a few gaps. I came on and got the cows in. Milked. Took calves food over and got some cabbages. Offy was at the Swedes.

Knitted and read. Went to bed just after 10!

 

Wednesday 28th February 1945

The last day of Feb, it will soon be the end of March the time I am looking forward to so much. We took the two black heifers and four dry cows up to Kingdown. We had a rat hunt ferret of all outside the back door. I broke the broom handle in the act of bashing the rat. Mr Howes killed it really. Did it squash! I buried it in slate. Tied up some spars. It started to rain and continued slowly until about 3. I got 2 more cans of petrol, one before and one after lunch. Went out to the tree over the brow till 4.45. Got in cows. Mrs H and I milked. Took calves food over. Offy went on a breakdown. Wrote a letter and read till bedtime.