23rd May 1943

Sunday

Windy, with great cloud galleons sailing over from the S.W.  Spent a very lazy morning, reading Compton Mackenzie’s “Vanity Girl”.  How extraordinarily well he does that period and that kind of thing.  After lunch, carting straw from the buildings to the home stables and then carting washing to the village.  Came back through the Park, and saw the Nichols’ family sitting on the grass.  Mrs. Nichols waved to me as I drove by.

Went into Colchester at 7, very reluctantly.  Called at Dedham on the way, and stayed an hour.  Could hardly force myself to leave.  Rode along wondering who but a fool would go into town on such an evening as this, and envying all the people I met coming away from Colchester.  There was a lot of cycles outside the Ardleigh “Crown”, and much music and singing within, and children playing in the garden.

Took some eggs home, then up to the Castle.  Lovely evening, the wind dropped to a light warm breeze.  Had supper in Culver St, then went to talk to Poulter, who had gone to bed.

When I got over to the Castle, I found the other men had locked and bolted the door.  I knocked and shouted, but without result.  I was so furious I almost turned round and went back to Lawford, but knocked again and again until at last one man came down to let me in.  

I was very nervous tonight.  For a long time I lay reading.  Heard the hours strike very slowly.  Several times I went down into the vaults, wondered about with a candle for a while and then came back.  The atmosphere was icy cold and filled with a horrible smell of decay.  

Sat in the Oven for a time, then down into the Vaults again, bats flitting about, disturbed by my candle.  Thought of all the centuries that have gone.  At one in the morning, heard a man walk across the Park, but could see no one when I looked out.  Perhaps an American.  Bright starlight.  Read until 4 a.m., and then thought “Well, they won't come now,” and dozed off. 

22nd May 1943

Saturday

Brilliant dawn.  Up early this morning, and drove Robin in to Colchester to be shod and to collect some hay.  He went very well but during the morning got loose and bolted out of the blacksmith’s shop.  Fortunately Brooks dashed out and caught him.  As I came away, met Woods’, Moy’s man, in Chapel Street, and he told me that they lost two horses all the carts and harness and both drivers at Chelmsford last Friday – a direct hit on the coal-yard.  He had been to Ingatestone to get two fresh horses on Wednesday.

Had an early tea at home, loaded 3 trusses of hay on the trap, and got away by 6.  Robin went very well indeed, and we got to the buildings by 7.

21st May 1943

Friday

Lovely day.  Quiet night, and slept well.  Back early tonight to do some writing which has been long overdue.

20th May 1943

Thursday

Good news!  Frantic appeal from Clayton at Springgate to get Robin away, as they can do nothing with him.  Called tonight, and found him in a very anxious state, but not as worried as the Claytons, who were all in fear of his feet and his teeth.  Took him back to Lawford, but must get him settled somewhere quickly.

Fine day, warm and sunny.

19th May 1943

Wednesday

This evening cycled out slowly.  No sign of Robin at Springgate.  Sat on the bank by John de Bois Hill in the cool of the evening and read a book.  Watched the trains go by, and a flock of white pigeons swooped overhead.  A breakdown train went through, towards Colchester, carrying a great crane.  Not a sound of an aeroplane anywhere.  Near the ‘Wooden Fender’ I saw Everitt’s timber-jib, with two horses tandem, carrying a great tree-trunk, while the light van came behind.  Just round the corner was the pony-cart of the Ardleigh carrier.

Children playing outside the settlement houses, among tethered goats, and the sound of a tractor in the distance.  Fine, soft evening.

18th May 1943

Tuesday

Sirens at 2a.m., but nothing happened except a dull distant thump of bombs.  The alarm was on until after 3.  No newspapers at Lawford when I left, so there may have been a raid on London.

Another lovely day, clear, cloudless, sky.   

This evening cycled to Lawford, put the harness on Robin, and then started back to Ardleigh.  He was a bit reluctant to start, but I finally got him trotting quietly behind the cycle.  Went by Coggeshall Road and Hunter’s Chase.  Near Rookery Farm heard Brantham and Wenham sirens, and a very distant hum of aircraft.  Clear, cloudless sky.  Children playing in the road, did not bother to look up.  All-clear came in less than 5 minutes. 

Went down the lane by Harvey’s Farm.  Lovely Suffolks in the fields belonging to Jocelyn, and they came along at full gallop.  Got to Springgate about 8.  Everybody seemed vague – no stable, no food.  I wish I had never let this deal go through.

Got back to Lawford by 10.30.  Everybody in bed.

17th May 1943

Monday

Brilliant weather, but still not too hot.  There was an alarm at 4 o’clock this morning, but the birds were already singing and the eastern sky was lightening.  Nothing happened, and the all-clear came in 10 minutes. 

Wrote a long letter to Proudfoot today, about Emerson’s case, giving the facts about rural blacksmiths, but I don't suppose he will understand it.

Committee at Birch this afternoon.  The Chairman and Col. Furneaux both away.  Quite a lot of talk about “after the war”.  Alec Page said “… now that it looks as if the war may end suddenly.”  What a hope!

Called at Springgate, Ardleigh tonight, and arranged to take Robin over there tomorrow. 

Joy’s pony broke loose today and galloped through the village, causing more excitement than a load of bombs dropping.

Raids over London last night.  Tonight there is an almost full moon, in a calm clear sky.  How many more nights are we to suffer?