26th February 1944

Saturday
Not much better.  Both jaws painful, and splitting headache.  Stayed in until the afternoon, then to Colchester.  Raining and hazy.  Felt a little better when I got there.  Went home, and found another paper from the Ministry of Labour, requiring full details of my present employment, as if they did not know already.  It was marked “Grade III C”.

Went to the office and found that both Folkard and Walling were away ill today.  Phoned Folkard and found him much better.  Then phoned Joy, and asked for a bed, so as to avoid the light tonight, to which she most kindly agreed.

Called at Holly Trees.  Poulter told me that Scarfe had been in, and had calmly told Hull that he had written a new history of the Castle.  Hull was speechless with fury.

Left Colchester at 7.30, with no lamps, so had to walk as far as Parsons Heath.  Went by the Crockleford Rd, to avoid police.  Dark and cloudy.  No ‘planes.  Everything quiet and still.  When near Hungerdowns, I suddenly heard a train pulling out of a station on the Clacton line, I suppose Bentley, about 7 miles away.  Could hear cows lowing and dogs barking on distant farms, the sound of lorries on the main road, and the thump of a dance-band at Lawford village hall.

At Sherbourne Mill found the ambassadorial Rolls-Royce from Lawford Hall standing in the yard, so crept in quietly.  Had supper, and dozed before the fire.  Suddenly struck with the most terrible pain in the bottom jaw, in the rotten teeth in the front.  Have never known such pain before, but it soon faded.  My heart beat madly, and I nearly collapsed.  Rain beginning as I went to bed.

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