6th August 1943

Friday

Rather late this morning, and had breakfast before I left.  Got in by 9.30.  Dull, with thin low clouds, rain, NW wind, rather cold.  

An engineer from Wood’s factory came in to say he had bought Peldon Hall and proposed to farm it with a baliff.  Knows nothing whatever about farming, yet proposes to take on a heavy-land farm, in wartime, without implements or machinery.  What would he say if the farmer at Peldon Hall bought a factory and set up as an electrical engineer?  Discouraged his scheme as much as possible.

  

Busy on pay problems all day, and out very late.  Had half an hour at home, then Dedham by 9 o’clock.  Still dull and cold.