Sunday
Wakened by George bringing
milk. Got up to find no Conrans – they
had not returned from Ida’s party.
Eventually came in about 1 o’clock, and then a great flurry to pack and
leave for Southampton . Thick fog all day. Warm.
Went in with them, by Langham and Boxted, as I had promised Father to go
to tea. Felt happy and confident as the
fog was so thick, sure of no raid tonight.
We had to go very slowly, as Jacquie cannot cycle very well. Got to Winnock
Lodge at 5. Father looked well and
happy. Crowd there, all the Ralling
family and old Blomfield (“Blommy”) the organist, as silly and fluffy as
ever. Noticed I was put down at the
bottom of the table with the children – as if we were all one generation. Joan is quite handsome, with long fair hair,
and Jane, now about 16, is becoming really pretty. The boy John talks of nothing but
aeroplanes. He is 17, and joins the RAF
in a few months.
Tremendous tea – 3 sorts of jam,
2 cakes (I gave one), buns, apples, etc.
Stayed until 7.30, reading papers and “Punch”. Still very foggy. Went up to Seymours ’, St John Street a seething mass of people
coming out of the cinemas swarming all over the road. The air thick with fog and American voices.
At Seymours ’ found Ann was home, now a
nurse. Her likeness to Alan at 18 is
startling, voice and mannerisms just the same.
Stayed until quarter to 12, talking about Wales
and Scotland ,
just as I used to. Then away into the black
night along the Boxted Road. Met an American lorry, which stopped me by
driving at me, so that I had to get on to the path. The driver wanted to know if he was on the
right road to Colchester . Strongly tempted to misdirect him.
Got to Higham about 12.30, and
amazed to find the Beacon on. Why on
earth should it be showing in such a fog?
Not a plane about. Made me feel
irritable and nervous. Listened to
German music on radio, bed 3.30am.
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