30th October 1943

Saturday

Still fog.  This has been a wonderful week.  Wish it could be foggy until the end of the war.  Absolute chaos at the office all morning, crowds of people in and out.  Police rang up about the ex-Land Army girl who has set up a brothel, to ask if we would pay her fare to Oxford?  I said - Certainly not - try the Women's Land Army Secretary.

This afternoon got rations and went down to see Culley at Jarmin Rd, but he was away.  Soldiers and boys fishing in the Mill Pool at Middle Mill.

Called at Springgate Ardleigh. Old Bob looked rather thin, but active.  Went to Dedham, paid for my bread at Eleys, and went to see Sisson about Harvey’s Farm.  He phoned the builder, Tricher, who agreed to help, if we would let him have a few loads of tiles and slates.  Mrs. Sisson told me about Professor Ermian’s plan to make Flatford Mill into a cultural centre.  An excellent idea.

Back to Higham.  Wireless was dead, and in a few minutes I heard sirens.  Then there was distant gunfire, but the alarm lasted only a few minutes.  No planes near here.  Settled down for a pleasant weekend.

29th October 1943

Friday

Still foggy.  This morning went to Fordham with Sisson and Poulter [to see Harvey's Farm].  On the way we dropped Sisson's father-in-law, Mr Mathews, at the station.  Poulter assumed that Mr Mathews was a professor at Bristol University, and asked what was his special subject?  Sisson replied well “as a matter of fact he’s a manufacturing chemist”.

Had quite a trouble to get onto the flying ground, owing to the deep mud, and finally had to go right round by Bures and up through the back lanes to Balls Farm.  On the way, stopped to examine Josselyns, now fast falling into decay.  Sisson agreed that it was another hall-house, later floored.  Poulter took a photo.

How desolate Harvey's Farm looked today – so recently prosperous farmlands.  The stables still have much in them, and the cow chains hang rusting, in the milking.

We got back to Colchester by lunch.  Tonight had to wait until 6.30, and see Daphne who was out paying wages.  Going past Langham, saw lights gleaming in the aerodrome huts.  Seemed to be a lot of activity about, working over time.  Preparing for something?  A few searchlights, luminous in the fog.

Saw half a dozen Colchester Royal Grammar School cadets outside the library, talking to girls from the County High School.  Memories of the last war.

28th October 1943

Thursday

Still foggy.  Lovely weather, not a plane about.  Everybody in the Stour valley ploughing and sugar beet carting into great heaps by the roadside.  Trees and hedges glorious colours, orange, brown, yellow.  Roads thickly coated with fallen leaves.  Tonight called at Boxted.  Very dark night and fog coming up again.  Dodo Rose told me of her experiences as a child in Russia, and her escape with her mother in 1917.  Left shortly after half past 9.  Had to cycle very slowly, owing to the fog.

27th October 1943

Wednesday

Thick fog.  Delightful.

Fog came up thicker this afternoon, and tonight visibility was nil.  Processions of heavy lorries with orange fog lights crawling slowly along the Ipswich Road.  No sound at the cottage, but the dripping trees and the stirring of the young heifers in the yard.

26th October 1943

Tuesday

Fine day, though chilly.  Ploughing teams out at Stratford with Suffolk horses.

Heard from Air Ministry that Harvey’s Farm, Wormingford is to be demolished.

The distant gunfire last night must have been guns at Dover, which I see from the papers were firing at a convoy in the straits.

A woman came in this afternoon to say that she was the owner of a flat in St John Street, in which her daughter-in-law and one of the Women's Land Army girls had set up a brothel.  This girl was dismissed 5 weeks ago and was told to go to Oxford, where she never went.  The woman was very perturbed, and said what were we going to do about it? – “Americans in and out all night.”  I said we could do nothing, but Spencer got very busy, phoning to the Women's Land Army at Writtle.

Tonight fog coming up, stars faintly twinkling, smell of frost in the air.  

25th October 1943

Monday

Fog, but not very thick.  Busy all day, hardly a moment to think.  Went up to see the new offices in New Town Road.  We hope to move in next week.  It will be strange to be so near home [ie: Rudsdale's parents' home at Winnock Road in New Town].

Back to Higham by 6.30.  Felt rather well tonight.  Writing and listening to radio, when about quarter to 8 all English stations faded.  Looked out, and saw Raydon searchlight flashing in the thick fog.  No sound of planes, and radio normal in 20 minutes.

Later heard distant gunfire, which kept on intermittently for an hour or more. The fog is thickening, so we may hope for a quiet night.

The weather is really wonderful.  In spite of the rain last week we are still drilling.  500 acres of wheat have been put in already, besides barley.  

24th October 1943

Sunday

Wakened by George bringing the cows up.  Thick fog.  Breakfast at 9.30, spent the morning reading, writing, radio, bath, chores etc.  Sun came out.  Distant bangs of Home Guard at mortar practice.  A lot of American planes over.  The USAF seem to have recovered from the Schweinfurt disaster.

Went off at 2.30 to Lawford and spent the afternoon trying to make the Arab go quietly.  He still won't go up hill.  We had a lot of bother, but got him going eventually.  In a tussle on Jupes Hill he trod heavily on Joy’s foot, and hurt her considerably.  However, it was a very pleasant afternoon, and I much enjoyed driving him through Ardleigh and Lawford.  Drove in calves and then had tea.  Left at 8.30, just as gunfire was beginning towards Harwich, but the plane which was being shot at dropped a red flare, a yellow, and then a red and yellow together.  There was no alarm, and as fog was rising I felt comparatively safe.

Got to Higham church just as 9 struck.  Another weekend gone, so quickly too.  Fed the cat, got supper, more writing and then bed.  No sound but the dripping of water from the trees and the distant grinding of a lorry going up Gunhill.