We have to black out again tonight. Lovely rissole for tiffin. Had fried egg last night and tonight, really delicious. ((Duck eggs sometimes for sale)).
Tale is that of loose Red Cross food, ((i.e., not in the small individual parcels)) we will each have 30 tins of bully, 25 lbs sugar, 25 lbs dried fruit, 1 & half lbs. of caramel, and of cocoa. Lovely if true!
We have drawn a canteen ticket for tomorrow.
Made a front cover for 'Limelight on the Lower Fifth.'
Amazing edict today - all men of military age whose wives aren't in camp (Police under 40, civilians under 35) have to go and sleep in the Gaol for about 3 weeks. Supposed to be because there might be escapes attempted in the blackout, then the Japs would have to punish all of us. Even the young doctors had to go - Dr Loan, Dr Y-E and Dr Alan Barwell, athough C.S.O. staff have been exempted.
Had upper left 8 tooth filled temporarily today. If it doesn't ache after 3 days then dentist will fill it properly.
Finished typing story.
Mum's block had herring today - lovely big ration, and seconds of them too. We ((at hospital)) had ours in chow fan.
Mabel had tonsils out today, said she hardly felt it, she ate half a pasty at tiffin. She hardly felt it, but later on looked paler and unhappier.
Lent 'Limelight on the Lower Fifth' to Golly (F.J.) Anslow today.
The gaol birds came out and by all accounts spent quite a good night. Most have cell to themselves, they were let out at half past 7 am.
List of what is in the parcels came today - tea, margerine, bacon, biscuits, choc, cheese.
Rumours that Germans in Libya have collapsed.
The men this morning had orders to assemble outside to bring up parcels, but it was a false alarm - tomorrow instead.
Mum and I went for walk through the cemetery; graves ((war ones)) have been made up beautifully, and poppies - hand painted - placed on graves, especially on the VADs - Mrs. Begg, Mrs. Buxton (whose husband also was killed in the war), Mrs. Smith and others.
Mabel better, she ate a rice pudding in evening because Sister Maureen Carew couldn't eat it.
The parcels were distributed. Contents: apple pudding, beef steak pudding, tinned sugar, cheese, margerine, bacon, creamed rice, syrup, 4 ozs chocolate, soap; some Pascall green drops. The boxes ((cardboard)) were packed in 'Bermondsey' and 'London', most of them dated between April and June.
Dr Uttley says there are more parcels at Lourenco Marques awaiting shipment.
Newspaper mentions our prisoners of war working in factories in Japan.
Saw Baby Mitchell, born 31.10.42, she looks exactly like Mrs Mitchell.
Japanese women went into gaol today.
Standing in the cupboard is an aquarium jar two-thirds full of date and ginger jam - looks lovely. The parcel chocolate, although plain, tastes so milky that it's almost incredible to think there is something better, i.e. milk chocolate.
Had a spoonful of Nestles Milk - absolute heaven!
Washed my hair in cold water, because Mr Allison wouldn't give me any hot water. ((Mr A presided all day long over a couple of household electric water boilers in the Married Q. There was always a queue for hot water for tea or whatever. This morning he told the us the water hadn't quite boiled, so I said could I have my ration as I didn't need boiling water for washing my hair, but he said I couldn't have water for hair-washing.))
Went visiting for choir members. Betty Aslett says she will come if we have Latin classes.
In evening, to Dr. I. Newton's 'Glimpses into Surgical History' about asepsis.
11th Nov - but no official silence.
To choir practice. Edith Batley came.
Peggy Sharpe and Robert Minnitt are engaged. ((Robert a Cadet Officer in HK Govt, worked with Mr Gimson in camp)).
Dr Tomlinson's wife suddenly had to have appendix operation. Mabel's bed has been moved again as Mrs. T needed the corner bed.
The Woods twins Aileen and Doris who had been famous singers in their younger days, were visiting a patient in Mabel's ward when they suddenly saw her ((Mabel)) and whooped 'Oh Bette!' and came over to tell her that she looked so like the film star Bette Davis whom they had met in Hollywood during their singing career. ((Ever after they called Mabel "Bette". Aileen and Doris had stopped singing after their mother (their accompanist I think) had died, but I heard they had sung to patients during the Hong Kong battle. Now in their sixties, very tall and dignified.))
Men don't have to go in the gaol again - suddenly stopped.
I went to St Stephens, heard choir, A.T. Lay playing piano.
News is good, even in Japanese newspaper. Americans have landed in North Africa. Fighting in Libya said to be over.
Today's rumours: Italy is asking for peace at any price; we have declared war on Spain and landed there; Germany has asked Russia and England for a truce but Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill all say they will fight to the bitter end. The only part people believe is that maybe Italy has capitulated, but we've heard that before.
Another rumour = Tokyo has cabled Japanese to treat internees (British) with every consideration.
Men have been clapped back into gaol again tonight.
Mabel heard air raids in night, so did other people (not me). Major Manners says Taikoo and Kai Tak hit.
News that Shanghai people ((in Stanley)) are going in December.
This evening we opened one tin of Creamed Rice, it was delicious - rice pudding never tasted like that. We sampled peanut butter this afternoon which someone gave Mabel. ((Peanuts were sometimes for sale in canteen. We ground them in the rice grinder into peanut butter.))
Headlines that Germans have moved into unoccupied France to forestall Allies, which shows that there is some ground in rumours that we had made landings in Spain and Marseilles.
Tony Sanh has been taken off by Gendarmerie for swearing at one of them who flashed a torch in his face, and hasn't been heard of since. ((But he was OK))
The two Macintyre children, Ailso and Muriel, came into hospital with malaria, arrived on the same stretcher.
Goodwin and Simmonds of Gas Company came into camp. It is said that French Hospital moved to North Point, and Bowen Road Hosp (Military) to Gun Club Hill. ((False I think))
Choir practice tonight.
Mabel and I are entitled to a tin of Galantine between us – Olive and Mum have opened one tonight but I'm not partaking, I think it's silly to start on iron rations before we have the promised 8 tins of corned beef per month.
Dr Selwyn-Clarke came in, looking very old and ill - his hair badly in need of cutting.
Rumour that we have re-taken Tobruk.
Hill and Mackie came back ((i.e. from x-ray in town))
Gilbert & Sullivan concert at St Stephens, voices blending beautifully.
Mabel home just for evening ((from hospital)). We shared an apple pudding - delicious but not enough of it.
Peggy Barton and I have been delegated to go to find out who can come to the Study Club ((Church)) and choir. Mrs Drown came in ((our room)) to play bridge later. Mabel and I went back to hospital under one mackintosh, dark, misty, rainy and blowy.
Mr V. Benwell and (Police) Dixie-Beale came back from x-ray. Mr Benwell gave me two French books the Sisters at St Paul's gave him when he was there.
Mabel's pulse up so Dr. wouldn't let her out this evening.
News that Churchill had church bells rung in England because of victory in Egypt.
Mrs Drown played tonight, started with the 'V' sign, then church chimes because of victory.
I received a parcel! From 'Informal Welfare' - 1 tin pineapple, 1 tin paste, 1 tin of ginger, 1 tin beans. ((I've no idea what the 'informal welfare' was))
Sad to hear that Shamshuipo haven't received any Red Cross parcels yet.
Frieda Salmon has lent me a dictionary of girls' names. I've hurt my eyes starting to copy it.
There was a theft yesterday in Block 2 - Mrs E. Tollan and Mrs Simmons lost 25,000 prewar HK dollars' worth of jewellery.
Mum won an egg in a draw. Food came from godowns.
Rosaleen has moved to Mabel's ward. Rosaleen 's poorly.. other trouble as well as temperature and dysentery. ((The other trouble was TB which kept her out of action for the rest of internment. She didn't stay in hospital long, instead her mother and sisters looked after her in their flat in Block 2. She eventually recovered.))
Study club meeting this afternoon, Peggy Barton and I appointed to tell every one about the choir and social evening - we wandered everywhere tonight, to visit R.C's - Mrs Jack, the Mejia girls, Cullen girls, Anderson girls, Mrs P. Mace, Rozeskwy. ((This was the beginning of the 3 priests left in camp organising the Catholics , forming study groups, a choir, entertainments, helping others.
Peggy Barton was one of a family of 11 children in Stanley - an older boy was with Volunteers in Shamshuipo. Peggy became my dearest friend - and still is))
Lots of people had letters from UK/Australia, but none of our family did.
Had hot drink of Nestles Milk and water - delicious.
Choir practice this evening, Father Murphy (Canadian) took it - Adeste Fidelis and Peaceful Night in parts, for Christmas.
Japs have order distribution of food ((presumably bulk Red Cross stuff)) to stop for the time being, but St Stephens and bungalows have already had theirs.
Mabel (finally) came home from hospital today. ((Note the word 'home'!))
We ate half a tin of bacon tonight, half a tin of liver pate, and a small tin of tomatoes - a delicious fry up eaten on Mrs K's table borrowed for the occasion. ((It was Mrs K's table (tiny) because she was the first occupant of the room where it was.))
Rumour of big naval victory for us by Solomons - Churchill said 'another Jutland.'
Lots of babies have dysentery.
Gaol birds provided with camp beds.
We tried to work out how much back pay we'll get when we're let out ((of camp)) by end of this year. I would get $3200 (£200), Olive £380, Mabel £63 - Grand if we DO get back pay! ((We did))
Rumour that some more letters are in town being censored.
Lots of folk at choir practice in evening. Fr Murphy conducted it.
The Woods' twins are going to give me a Roget's Thesaurus.
Vague news that Mr Budden is in Bowen Road Hospital and going blind. ((Mrs M. Budden and daughter Barbara were in Stanley. Mr Budden had been a Naval Dockyard colleague of my Dad's, was in Dockyard Defence Force so p.o.w. in Shamshuipo, with his son Gilbert who was HKVDC. The Buddens were our neighbours when we Redwoods lived in Naval Yard quarters, Naval Terrace, Queen's Road. Tragically, Mr Budden and Gilbert both died in Shamshuipo)).
Concert at St Stephens in afternoon, the Viennese chorus was colourful. Azalea Reynolds ((dancer)) wonderful, and Bridget Armstrong very sweet. Billie Gill and Brian were there, Brian restless of course, but not too bad, considering whose son he is!
Mabel and I had fried galantine tonight – delicious.
Benediction in evening in 'Maryknoll Chapel' - actually half of a small room in American Block curtained off from the rest of the room.
Golly Anslow says it's a good story ((my book)), that characters were well-drawn, that conversation was rather more as we would speak than girls of the given age; that there seemed to be too much fainting. ((now I think, trust FJA to find something to criticize!!)) I saw him going into the gaol this evening and couldn't resist going up and asking what he had to say about it.
Made calendar for Tony (Cole), presented it to him in afternoon at birthday tea in Bungalow C ((his billet)). It is the lowest bungalow, built on the edge of the hill. Tea in garden - delightful setting - smooth grass, blue and silver sea, blue blue sky, hills green in the distance.
Mr and Mrs Hyde Lay ('Betty') and Mr C. T. Bailey were the other guests. ((Both Hyde Lays were later killed when Bung. C accidentally bombed by Allies; Mr Bailey slightly injured; Tony had moved out before this.))
There was muscatel bread (made by Mr Bailey); scones (also with muscatels) made by Mrs. H.L., a wonderful chocolate cake with thick chocolate icing. Tony gave me a piece of cake to take home. SO full up, could only touch soup in evening, with 2 slices of bread.
Mabel went for a picnic in cemetery with Nan and Phyllis.
Had tooth ('upper left 8') taken out.
We had a letter from Father Moore ((still in Hong Kong)):
''Received your card yesterday – probably held up a month. Since in it you mention the beginning of October devotions. Heard our contact was still around, so thought I'd run off this note.
Glad to hear about parcels from England. Should be some help. Hope to send you something before Christmas. May it be a happy day for you all, if not quite so merry. Maybe the usual 'Merry Christmas' is not too far off.
'The news has been very good. The second front is going nicely; in Africa, and the Germans have been pushed back 150 miles beyond Tobruk. Americans still holding the Solomons (3 of them) and sank 12 transports and 11 warships in latest battle. Five years ago I had a New Year plum pudding with the Rear Admiral Norman Scott, who was killed in the Nov. 12 engagement.
'We have received definite word we cannot go to Kwangchowan; so we are here for the duration, I guess. However, I've sent a letter via Chungking air mail home, and asked the folks to send your message to Mrs Hall in Australia. Studying Chinese full tilt now. Health generally good – flu or ?? once. Prices terrific, but some things reasonable. Japs expect more bombings. Understand 500 ((?)) books to camp. Hope you find some good reading. Take it easy. Good health to you all, and God's blessing, John D. Moore.'
'Maryknoll now has new missions in many South American countries – and Mexico. We have been ordered home ((USA)), but repatriation even from Shanghai is now very doubtful.'
I took 'Limelight' to Mrs Lewis Block A1 for her daughters to read.
Mabel and I to music at St Stephens tonight. She was dizzy yesterday.