19th May 1942

Tuesday
Cycled in this morning.  Lovely earthy smell.  About 7 o’clock I met 8 of Edwards’ horses on Ardleigh Heath, on their way to work, going along in 4 pairs, their drivers riding sideways.

This evening I took the cob round to Boast's on East Hill and collected Mrs. Parrington’s trap.  It looked a glorious sight, black and yellow, the brass work gleaming in the sunshine.  Along we went, clean horse, clean harness and clean trap, to the great admiration of Pim Barber and the other dealers outside the “White Horse”.  I was very nervous lest Robin should play-up and in any way damage the new paint.  Called at Spring-gate, Ardleigh, and saw Molly Blomfield and Mrs. Clayton in the garden.  Both admired the turnout.  

Went round by Harvey’s Farm and collected a trailer wheel, and then on to Lawford.  All the old men working in their gardens stood up to watch us go past.  Mrs. Parrington gave 5/6 for this trap, and a man who saw it in Boast’s shop offered £25, if it had been for sale.

Got unharnessed by a quarter past eight, which was not bad considering that I did not leave East Hill until 7 o’clock.  Fed Robin, the young bull and the hens.  The Parringtons were out.  Caught Roger, chopped mangold, etc.  The Parringtons came back at 9, with Frank Girling and Mrs. Jessup (Joy Parrington's cousin), they had all been over to Badwell in Suffolk for the day.  We all had a meal, and I talked agriculture and archaeology with F.G.

New moon tonight, a slim silvery crescent, which from my window appeared to hang just above the trees behind the house, in a deep blue sky.

I have never been so happy for years as I am now.