15th July 1943

Thursday

Quiet night, nothing about at all.  Slept soundly until 7.30.  Lovely morning, wind a little fresher than yesterday, still S.W.  Saw a covey of young partridges on the road, scattering and squeaking through the hedges as I approach.  Finches everywhere in great profusion, fluttering right under one’s wheels.  Got a tow behind a timber-lorry, a great help.

Very busy morning.  Certain now that we are to have a new office, so the District Officer, Nott, Spencer and I all went out to see first “Blenheim” at Blackheath and then “Kingsmeade” on Lexden Straight Rd.  The first is really the best, (Spencer much favours it as almost opposite his own house, and Nott as being near Mersea) but the second I like, quite remote, well back from the road, very quiet.  We called at Kingswode Ho” in Sussex Rd, where much work is going on getting ready for the Women's Land Army hostel.  Beds and furniture being put in.  Saw Capt Lockhart’s huge mastiff, which is still kept in a large cage in the yard behind the stables.  Most extraordinary old woman acting as caretaker.  What a delightful office this would have made, magnificently situated on the edge of the valley with wonderful views.  Personally I feel very strongly that we ought to have War Agricultural Committee offices right in the country whatever the inconvenience.

Capt. Folkald wants an outline of the condition of the Wigborough-Peldon country before the war, so I wrote on this this afternoon.  This is for the Press conference on Saturday. 

 At lunch today saw a very old Chelsea pensioner, in his scarlet coat, walking slowly down Culver St., leaning on his stick.

Got to Lawford just after 9.  Fed calves.  Heavy clouds came up, then drifted away, and a light rain fell.  A vaste rainbow spanned the southern sky, trees became rich gold colour, and the sun sank in sheets of gold and crimson cloud.  No ‘planes about yet.