Saturday
Up early, after a disturbed
night. Only slept an hour or two. About 3 could hear Jones’ dog barking very persistently. Looked out but could see nothing. The moon was then clear of clouds. Then suddenly as I was dozing off, I
distinctly heard the noise of water running down the kitchen sink pipe. I lay palpitating, wondering if there was
somebody in the house - when it is impossible to lock up it makes it difficult.
This morning interviewing more men
for the foreman’s job at Abbot’s Wick. One
man came from Wethersfield . He was very worried about bombing, and wanted
to know if any had fallen near Abbot's Wick.
He said that last night they fell at Gosfield and Halstead, where a
house was hit, and Snowball says the bombs I heard falling were at Bentley, Suffolk , 5 miles from
Higham. The “Tankard” and the
Stationmaster’s house were both damaged, but Snowball does not know of anyone
killed. It is strange to think I would
move to Halstead say to feel safer, yet the Halstead people must be just as scared as
we are.
This afternoon noticed a crowd
for the 2.30 performance of the Repertory Theatre beginning to form at 1 o’clock, and huge
crowds for every cinema. There were a
lot of Canadian nurses in the town today, many showing obvious Scotch ancestry.
Much in the papers today trying
to slur over the disaster to the American Air Force at Sweinfurt – we admit 73 were
lost, and the Germans claim 120. The Americans are very upset. We heard
the planes going and returning over Colchester
but they were above the clouds.
Got my rations. Went to see Watts
about hay, and gave him 2 trusses. Saw
Hampshire who seemed quite unperturbed and then away. Got to Higham at 7. Fine evening, but only a few planes about,
and no alarm.
I ought to be on duty, but as the
Holly Trees man has been moved to the Castle at Poulter’s request, Poulter tells me I need
not go any more. This is a great
relief. Poulter also tells me that this man is
known to go out into the town when he is on duty, and play a concertina in
public houses. The Fire Guard people
know this, but take no action, yet I am continually spied upon. Hull
put this man on, and is prepared to stand by him. I hope I never have to take duty at the
Castle again. Poulter was sending in his
resignation next Tuesday if the man had not been moved, as he suspected he
might steal Poulter’s private belongings.
I am really rather worried about
my memory. When I went home, I read J.
Agate’s review in the “Express”, and particularly noted a novel which I thought
interesting. By the time I had got up
town I had forgotten both name and author.
Went into the Library to see the Express there. Read the title and author again, but by the
time I had got outside I had again forgotten.
Went to Smiths’ to see if I could see the book. Found 2 others – bought them. By the time I had go home again, I knew I had
bought 2 books, but their titles were quite gone.
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