Diary pages from this date

There is not much news available tho' repatriation has reared its head again and there are great hopes when the Teia Meru does her next exchange voyage which should be about early December.

The latest information is mysterious being that the next exchange will be entirely different from that which was expected. Now what that means I Dinnae ken, tho' it is being interpreted in many ways, one being that the women that didn't go in 1940 wont get this time either and accordingly more men will get away. Well we'll see in due course.

Time is tearing on and our stay here seems to be going to be long and not very much hope of getting any improvement in the chow rations which are very poor and with the colder weather coming in most are having to tighten their belts except of course those with plenty of money who are able to buy locally at the canteen.

I'm hoping that more letters will come this way soon. I am keeping very fit and well and having plenty to do has a lot to do with my fitness. I weigh round about 11stone.

Classical concert ((see 14th for details))

No cigs arrived.

Nothing further re repatriation.

Final night of Concert. Everyone very pleased with our effort.

Chinese tobacco now 5/- per ounce.

Electricity allowance totally inadequate.

Touch of Beri-beri.

Dearest, 

A lovely "Apple of Discord" was dropped the other day.   The C.S. reported that the that the Jap No 2 in the F.A. Dept. stated he hoped to have news of repatriation soon and that it seemed likely that the list of repatriates would be very different from that originally contemplated.  So now the Camp has given itself over to speculation as to what that means. It would indeed be poetic justice if the women - who did nothing during the blitz but be a nuisance, who stayed here in defiance of Govt. - were to be left behind.  They had their chance to go in July 1940 and a hundred chances in the 17 months up to Dec'41 so why should they get a chance now before men who sent their wives and families away? I really hope that the Home Govt. have so decided - though I am sorry for a few old people - like Mrs Owen Hughes for it may mean their deaths in the end.  We are on very low rations these days and hope that something will come to us when the ship comes back from Goa about the end of the month. I had another blood count today - I haven't heard the result yet. It looked red enough! AML. B.B