Diary pages from this date

Light music (Heath, Pauline Beck, Jack, Pearson)

(("Jack" may refer to Mr I Jack, a policeman.))

Fine, cloudy, warm.

Choir practice 11.00 to noon.

Talk with Steve pm.

Olive arrived down there too. ((Who was Olive? She is mentioned in following days' entries too, first as "Ol", then just "O"))

Russians in Poland, Germans evacuated Greece, Jap attack on Aussie collapsed?

Well the Canadians got away yesterday - a horrid wet day and all their hand luggage lay on the jetty for an hour or more in heavy rain so it would be sodden.  I'll only have 2 rattan baskets and my attache case when I go on board - ALL the rest will go in the hold.  I have the camphor wood box with your fur coat etc; my big leather suitcase and my dirty linen bag with blankets.  The ship now called the Teia Maru is the old Messagerie Maritime "Aramis" (or Felix Roussell) - with squat square funnels - latest additions to the M.M. fleet - they are said to be nice boats.  The other day the Italians scuttled the Conte Verde at Shanghai - a pity but necessary.

Gillespie (Jack Coopers successor in I.C.I.) may send you a message telling you how I am; he hopes to get by air to London from India and not have to go to America first. Mrs Fairburn may write too - she was Constance Bonnell - and was Secretary to the Helena May - do you remember her?  She's a very decent sort - has been in the same room as Dora and Margery.

We are expecting news now of our departure - someone will surely come in today or tomorrow.  We want our allowance for Sept. too - I am penniless!   But we keep smiling!       A.M.L.    B.