Diary Sep - Dec 1940 - Age 18/19

A week-to-view pocket diary
Although it is marked Sep/Dec '40 I can't see where those 1940 entries are... I found them!
Sep to December 1940 is at the back of the diary in the September to December part. 1941 entries are fitted into the front of the diary dates specified and ending about the diary date 24th August.
I will enter the 1941 entries in a separate post.

There is a list of thirty names headed "HMS SYVERN" listed under Rank, Name What happened to them and "safe" or "missing" or the date of their death after the 1941 entries and before the 1940 ones. eg:
Lt ARG Tilsten - wounded Suda Bay 21/5/41 - safe
L/Sea Phillips - Believed Prisoner of War - - missing
AB Anderson - Killed in Action Suda Bay - 21/5/41

The entries are written in sharp pencil in smaller writing to fit in as much as possible on the small pages. Challenging reading - I have to go to where the daylight is really good in order to read comfortably - or even to figure out at times...

In the beginning of this diary is a map of Southern Africa - South West Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Mozambique. Before Lesotho and Swaziland became independent territories. On the map are marked with an ink-pen cross, I presume, all the places Dad had been. Inset in the top corner is a map of England to scale. Southern Africa is huge!

There is a list of letters received and answered in the front.

At the back of the diary is a list of pay - 88 pounds for the year; also a list of names and addresses with my mothers' right at the top.

There is a l-o-n-g list of "Bioscopes" seen!
That list is from September 1940 and the whole of 1941

Dad went through this diary himself at some time and marked all his mentions of "Phil" Philippa in yellow highlighter. There are lots!

Some 1940 September to December entries:

Tuesday 3 September
Sailed from Simonstown at 7:30am.
Helped scrub bridge flag deck in am.

Wednesday 4th September
At sea.
Had a lot of semaphore and flashing in am.

Thursday 5th September
Arrived Durban 0730 and went into growing dock.
Saw Paul soon after docking.
Helped cart stores from ship to lorries and proceeded to Camp at about 1600.
Went on lorries with gear to Snell Parade camp and went back to ship for lunch.

Friday 6th September
Started duties as postman and went into town in am and pm and did shopping etc.
Got leave at 1630 and went into town and had hair cut 1/6.
Met Rautenbach.
Went to see Pixie at 1 Roofgarden Mans, Overport and had dinner and spent evening.
Returned to camp at about 11pm.

Saturday 7th September
Went into town for post etc in am and did shopping for other chaps.
Got leave at about 1.30pm and went to 20th Century to see "The Housekeeper's Daughter" (Joan Bennet, Althorpe (Somebody)and John Hubbard)
Went to see Pixie and Paul for supper and evening and returned to camp about 10pm.

Tuesday 17th September
Went over to range in am and our team beat the Army by 53 points.
Had pistol shot. Scored 60/90.
Went up to Pixie's in evening and came back pretty early.

There follow details of training, inspections, swimming early in the morning, visits to Pixie and Paul and also to various cinemas. There were occasional lunches and teas with friends or family. He also babysat Gillian on occasion.

Tuesday 1st October
Total eclipse of sun 1600 Cradock. 4 mins.
Went to RNVR base for day and had lunch and played billiards at Vic club.
Called for photos. 11/6.
Visited Pixie and Paul and had supper and bath.

He had got paid "8 pounds 13/- 1 pound 8/6 missing on 30th September and "Discovered that I had lost 8 pounds" a few day later Friday 4th October. He was able to tide over by borrowing some money from Pixie and also getting an advance from UC Co of 5 pounds.

Sunday 6th October
Went ashore at 1100 and tried to hire car but no luck.
Went up to Pixies and slept pm and evening.
Took photos.

Friday 18th October
Went for all day on forced march to Umhlanga rocks and back. (24 miles)
Went ashore by taxi at 1800 and went to Pixies with racket and discovered they were moving.
Went to station with Paul and helped get Ron off.
Went to supper at Vic and thence to Metro to see "20 Mile Team" (Wallace Berry)

Sunday October 20th
Devotions and Church in am.
Went ashore at 11:30 and had lunch at Vic.
Spent pm playing table tennis with Jack and sleeping.
Went to YMCA about 2100 and got beds where we slept night 2/-

Wednesday 28th October
Messed around all day and sailed from Durban at 1600.

Saturday 2th October
Arrived Cape Town 0930 and docked at B berth.
Offloaded gear and went to Klawer Camp by lorry.
Got weekend leave from 1600 so came up to Aunt Ethel's.
Betty, Phil, Tommy, Jenny, Mr and Mrs Smuts and I went to studio dance in evening.
Had smash on High Level Road.
Picked up Paul's car in town and drove it back.

Visits, walks and drives with family and friends.
Camp duties.
Some leave.

Tuesday November 5th MY BIRTHDAY (19th)
Walked up to school with Phil in am.
Went down to Simonstown with Wallie to be measured for suits.
I went up to PWSS afterwards and had lunch with Jock and Jan.
Phil and I went into town by car in pm and she gave me lesson at Dorothy's (Dance) studio.
Picked up Betty afterwards.
Betty and I went up to Pixie for supper.
Pixie and I picked up Aunt Ethel and Phil, and with Paul, Peggy, Betty and Leslie went to Colosseum went to see "Convoy" Clive Brook, John Clemens)
All went to Pixie's afterwards and had a bit of a party.

Wednesday November 6th
Went up to Pixie for am.
Took car up at lunch time and left it there for her to fetch Aunt Joyce at 1430 from Joburg.
Paul and I went to swim at Strandfontein at about 1600.
Argument between Pixie and Phil.
Betty, Phil and I went for drive in evening around Kloof Nek, Camps Bay, Dolls House etc.

Thursday 7th November
Went into town by train in am and got photos 11/-
Also paid rent etc for Aunt Ethel and made apppointment with Dr Lieberman.
Took Aunt Joyce's stuff up to Oakfield in pm and then
Phil and I went for walk to Rhodes Memorial.
Betty and Phil went to Canteen in evening and I visited Pixie.
(In code) "Confession of love Phil"

Friday 8th November
Went up to Oakfield in am and did washing.
Pixie, Phil, Paul, Elizabeth Legg, Peggy and I went for a swim at Strandfontein in pm.
Went to see Dr Lieberman at 4:30pm and he cut out wart on my hand.
Picked up Betty afterwards.
Phil and I went for drive to Constantia Nek in evening and called in at Violet's afterwards.

Saturday 9th November
Wrote letters in am and went to pay phone bill for Aunt Ethel.
Dropped in at Pixie afterwards.
Phil and I went to Scala in evening to see "Strange Cargo" (Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Ian Hunter)
Went to Mick's afterwards.

Tuesday 12th November
Wallie and I went to Simonstown in am but suits were not ready.
Went straight through to town and saw doctor.
Asked Betty to lunch and then went by myself... to Longmarket Street.
Gave Phil a driving lesson on Constantia Road in pm.
Betty had supper at Pixie's in evening and I went up afterwards.
Pot's fiance Jean was there.

Friday 15th November
Did some ironing at Pixie's in am
Went up to Varsity and had lunch with Peter.
Went into town to see doctor at 1500.
Picked up Phil at Rondebosch and then went down to Simonstown to fetch my suit.
Phil, Betty and I picked up Peter and then Bobbie Marshall at Sea Point and we all went to Plaza to see "Boom Town" (Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and others)
Dropped Bobbie and we all went to Pixie's for tea.

Saturday 16th November
Packed in am and Phil came with me to fetch Wallie.
Dropped Phil and then went on to Simonstown with our kit.
Went to Dockyard surgery and then to Klaver.
Came ashore again at 1300.
Violet came in pm.
Paul and I gave Ulick a lift to Camps Bay and then went to a dance at the Rotunda.
Enjoyed myself very much.
(In code) "Became engaged"

Sunday 17th November
Came down to Klaver by car at 0700 because I missed train.
Wrote letter to Rod in am and slept rest of day.

Monday 18th November
Went down to Dockyard surgery at 0900.
Went ashore at 1630 and Phil and I went to Violets for a while at 1800.
Phil went to bed early and Betty and I went to visit Pixie.

Tuesday 19th November
Caught 6:30 train down in am.
Went to Dockyard surgery at 0900.
Spent night aboard duty watch.

Wednesday 20th November
Went down to DYS at 0900. Raining.
Phil and I went into town in pm and she gave me dancing lesson.
Took photos to be developed at Kodak.
Brought Betty home at 1700.
Pixie, Betty, Paul and I went to Alhambra in evening to see "Holiday" (Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and others)
Phil was going to Canteen.

Friday 22nd November
Went down to DYS at 0900
Had boots and shoes resoled 13/-
Was moved down to Froggy Pond at 1500.
Phil and I went for a drive in evening via Pixie.

Sunday 24th November
Went down by car at 0630 and came back at 1000.
Betty, Phil and I went for drive to Constantia in pm and lay under the trees.

Monday 25th November
Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900.
Stayed aboard in evening as Duty port.

Wednesday 27th November
ELIZABETH'S 3RD BIRTHDAY (first child of [my mother's sister] Ruth and Ulick)Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900.
No Make and Mend.
Got sub and went ashore at 1600.
Phil and I took Betty to town Canteen
and then went for drive to Bakoven and had tea at Rendezvous tea room.

Friday 29th November
Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900 for last time.
Stayed aboard in evening - Duty port.

Saturday 30th November
Got paid by Navy 7 pounds 4/0.
Went ashore at 1220 and went to Aunt Ethels.
Peter Baker called in pm.
Went up to Pixies in pm for while.
Phil, Ruth and the kids and I went for a drive along Cableway drive in pm.
Betty went to Rotunda dance with Teddy Smit in evening.
Phil and I were going there but too crowded so we went to Marine.
Pixie and Paul and co went to Boy Beach and then to Bohemian.
Slept at Aunt Ethels.

Saturday 7th December
Went down with 0630 train.
Osborne and I were drafted to PW55 at 1300.
Jock gave me special leave to go to dance so I went ashore at 1600.
Phil, Violet, Alfie and I went to dance at Rotunda in evening.

Sunday 8th December
Went down by car at 2 am.
Kept watch 2:30 - 9 am.
Slept most of day.
Kept first watch in evening.
Letter to Joan.

Thursday 26th December Boxing Day
Went down to Phils at about 10 am and spent morning and afternoon.
Aunt Ethel and Phil came up to tea and then
Phil and I dropped Aunt E and then parked car near Rondebosch.
Walked a way up mountain.
Dropped Phil at Club at 2030.
Wrote to Rod.

And so, after a few more of his every-day entries, ends this year of 1940.
An eventful year.
He entered the Royal Navy full time.
He got engaged.

I feel like I have more of an appreciation of my Dad.
I feel like I understand how he could be grateful and optimistic about so many simple things.
I feel like I understand why his cars were so important to him.
I feel like I understand why drives were so important to him.
I am glad I got to read this part of this diary and share this with all of you.

Pause. Reflect. Appreciate his life.

Do let us all appreciate our own lives.

Diary 1940 - Age 18/19

No more "Ships In" and "Ships Out" rubber stamped for each daily entry. Just "Weather" "Visitors" and "Post" on every day date until the end of the year.

More and more of his time was spent on board ship - that meant less and less time at home with family.
Usually at least one weekly bioscope - a list of which is at the back of this diary.
There is also a list of special letters. Also a list of books read in this year.

Tuesday January 2nd:
Got paid by Navy in am. 3 pounds 0/9.
Lent Steward of "Zwartberg" 1 pound.

Sunday January 7th
Was relieved by Grosvenor at 11am.
Came up in Paul's car.
Went and reported at RNVR base and then came home.
Collected 1 pound from steward of "Zwartberg".
Pixie went down to measure Paul's cabin on Zwartberg in pm and then brought him home.
Pixie and Paul went to Fairmead in evening.

Monday January 8th
Went in to RNVR base at 8am and taught chap semaphore in am.
Came home to lunch.
Started getting Argus from CNA.
Paul came up in evening.
"Dunbar Castle" 10,002 tons) hit mine 3 hrs out of England.
Captain Caustan and 2 storemen killed.

Wednesday January 17th
Went to Cape Town docks at 9pm and slept night on "Africana".

Wednesday 31st January
Got up at 4.45am and went down to Cape Town docks by car.Went out at 6 in "Aristea" with Richard Bennet and Disa.
Got back at 2pm.
Called in at office for my ducks.
Paul came up from S'Town in pm and took Aunt Theresa back home.
Pixie, Betty, Paul and I went to Savoy in our car in evening to see "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havviland, Basil Rathbone, Claud S...) 2nd time.
Was discharged from active service with RNVR.

Friday February 2nd
Went back to work at Union Castle Co.
Bought a monthly train ticket 16/9.
Did not come home to lunch.
Paul got our 1940 car licence in am 7 pounds 10/-
Pixie and Paul went to Standfontein in pm.
Pixie, Betty, Paul and I went to see Pat Byrne and then went to the Savoy in evening to see "The Saint in London" (George Sanders, Sally Gray)

Monday February 5th
Copie said he wouldn't have me in the Navy.

Thursday February 8th
Smith and I went to Garlicks for books at lunch time.
Paul lifted me in by car in am and went to see Copie.
He took our car to Simonstown.
Went to RNVR base in evening but there was no parade so I went to Colosseum to see "Dust Be My Destiny" (John Garfields, Priscilla Lane, Alan Hale)
Bought 19 apples from Mr Green for 1/-

Tuesday February 13th
Went to RNVR Base at 8.30am and saw 1st Luitenant who said I was to join up on 1st March.
UC Co granted me leave from 15th to 29th.

Wednesday 14th February
Visitors: Aunt Joyce in evening. Mormons.
Got paid today 9 pounds 3/6
Bought a shirt (8/6) and 2 prs socks (1/11, 3/6) at lunch time from Ackermans.
Went to RNVR base at 8.15am and 1st Luitenant said it was OK about my leave.
Got my ticket to Johannesburg after work 4 pounds 5/9
Betty and I went and brought Aunt Joyce up to see Pixie and then went to Colosseum in evening to see "Over the Moon" (Merle Oberon, Rex Harrison)
Took Aunt Joyce home afterwards.

Friday 16th February
Pixie and I went to Boulders and had a swim.
Paul transferred from "Zwartberg" to "Moocolee"(spelling?)
Pixie Betty and Paul came to see me off on 7.40pm train to Johannesburg.
Travelled with Mr Lombard and Bloch (?).

Sunday 18th February
Arrived Johannesburg 8.40am and caught train to Florida.
Roddy met me and we went for a walk to lake etc.
Mr and Mrs Edwards, Mr Frank Edwards, Roddy and I went to Homestead Lake in pm for tea.
Roddy went to church in evening.

Monday February 19th
Roddy and I fixed up wireless aerial in pm.
Went to get insulators down town.
Went by car to lake and fetched a poplar for wireless pole.
Met Joan Roux and Hammie on way home.

Saturday February 24th
Rod and I did a bit of collecting in Dan Street for the Mayor's fund in am.
Mrs Edwards, Rod and I went by car to R'poort in am.
Got some cakes on way.
Rod and I went to Maraisburg and took Mr Edwards' golf clubs to course.
Drove their car a bit.

Wednesday February 28th
Mrs Edwards, Rod and I went and picked up Mr Edwards and we went to see about Rod's job at Rietfontein.
Arranged that he is to start tomorrow.
The car had a puncture at home, so Rod and I changed wheel at 2pm and took it to be fixed up.
Picked up Joan at 2.30pm and then Mrs Edwards and they came to see me off on 3.10pm train to Cape Town.
Travelled down with Messrs Schoeman (cop) Fraser, Steenkamp, Levy, Miller (3 from Potch)
Mrs Edwards was supposed to take Rod to his mine afterwards.

Friday March 1st
Reported to RNVR Base at 9am for service with Royal Navy.
Signed papers most of day.
Had a hair cut at 4pm 1/6
Pixie and I took Aunt Julia home by car in pm.
Betty and I went and fetched Aunt Joyce and Don and saw latter off on 7.40pm train for Jo'burg.
Trouble about luggage and John and Aunt Joyce stayed to see about it.

Thursday March 9th
Did telephone watch from 12 - 2pm.
Went to see Mr Kellow at Standard Bank and signed receipt in connection with Estate.
Went to Colosseum in pm to see "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" (Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haveland, Donald Crisp, Alan Hale.)
Pixie and Betty went to see Pat Byrne at docks in evening and Betty went to Canteen.
RMS "Queen Mary" (85,000tons) world's largest ship, arrived in New York on maiden voyage.

Wednesday March 13th
Got up at 4.40am and went to docks by car.
Went out sweeping in "Africana" with Babiana, Bennett and Disa.
Came in about 3pm.
Pixie went by car and fetched Fish's goods and also Betty in pm.
Played Bagatelle in pm and evening.
Peace treaty signed by Fiunland and Russia and war stopped at 11am.

Wednesday March 27th
Went to Base in am and was paid 8 pounds 15/6.
Came home at 10am and packed kit.
Pixie and Betty took me in by car at 12.30pm and we caught 1.24pm train for Simonstown.
Got hammock etc and went to Froggy Pond Camp.
Came up by train at 5pm.
Went To Plaza in evening to see "Judge Hardy and Son" (Mickey Rooney, Leslie Stone etc)
Pixie and Paul went to see Dr in evening.

Sunday March 31st
Steward Wilson (Mooivlei) tried to cut his throat.
Went as church escort for defaulters and went to 10.30am service in Dock Church.
Saw Aunt Joyce and Aunt Theresa on way back.
Did nothing all pm.
'Jock' Pate, Bruin and I went on Canteen Patrol in evening to Dock Canteen.

Friday April 5th
Took watch from 4 - 8am.
Went down to Dockyard Surgery in am and was innoculated with last 75%
Was drafted to PWSS with Willis, Johnson and we went up at 2pm replacing Hallas and Ramsay.
Took watch from 9pm to 3am (6th).
Rapidol and Milford came in in am (Simonstown).

Tuesday April 9th
Went down town for post in am.
Had a bit of flashing in evening.
Germany marched in Denmark and Norway.

Wednesday April 10th
2 German cruisers sunk.
2 British destroyers (Hardy, Hunter) sunk.

Thursday April 11th
Went back to Simonstown by 10 o'clock train.
Took watch from 9pm to 3am (12th)
Norvik Fjord battle.
Warspite and Cossack sunk 7 German destroyers.

Monday April 15th
Went down town in am and got stores etc.
British troops land in Norway.
Whalers 1 & 2 in in pm for asdic fitting.
Rapidol out in am.

Sunday April 28th
Caught 8.31am train up.
Fixed up gramaphone onto wireless loudspeakers in am.
Went for a walk with Rex in evening.
Played bagatelle in pm and evening.

Tuesday April 30th
Got paid by Navy in am 9 pounds 11/-
Changed watches with Willis and came up with 12.20pm train.
Pixie and I went into town in pm by car (Austin).
Had a hair cut and I went to Union Castle for pay 2 pounds 16/11.
Went to Colosseum to see "Four Wives" (Priscilla, Rosemary, Lola Lane, Gale Page, Claud Rains, John Grafield, Jeffrey Lynn)
Played bagatelle in evening and I walked home with Philippa (his cousin, my mother) at 11pm.
Called for my films in pm. (1/10)

Friday May 10th
Took watch from 12.30 am to 5am.
Went down town in am for post etc.
Caught 12.18pm train up.
Pixie tried washing machine in pm. (Thor 41 pounds)
Took our car in to Stanley Porter's at 3pm.
Went down to dock gates to meet Paul.
Pixie followed me in Austin and had puncture at Woodstock.
She fetched our car, picked up Paul and I and we took wheel to Porter's for new tyre (Goodyear 3 pounds 7/-)
Went to Fish's, changed wheel at Woodstock, went back to Porters, dropped our car and then went home.
I took groceries over to Aunt Theresa's afterwards.
Played bagatelle in evening.
Mr Chamberlain resigns.
Winston Churchill Prime Minister.
Nazi's invade Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg at 3am.

Friday May 24th
Went down with 10am train.
General Smuts' 70th birthday.
Listened to King's broadcast in evening.

Wednesday May 29th
Took middle watch from 12.30 to 4.30 am.
Went down town for post etc in am.
Lost dog that we had at PWSS.
Used S/P for first time sending messages to "Blomvlei"
Norvick captured by Allies.

Periodic entries of the progress of the war...

Kign Leopold of Belgians capitulated to Germans, but decision not valid.
Paris bombed by Germans.
Italy declared war on the Allies.
SAAF bombed Abyssinia.
Germans occupy Paris which was not defended.
France negotiating for peace.
Mr Reynaud (premier) resigns. New cabinet.
Fighting stopped in France.
Peace signed between her and Italy.
French battleship "Dunkirque" 35,000 tons disabled by British Navy.
HMAS "Sydney" sunk Italian cruiser "Bartolmio" "Colleoni" in Med. No British casualties.

Concurrently "Philippa visited..." "visited Philippa" "Philippa taught me dancing" becoming more frequent in the daily entries.

The watches he took detailed from day to day with times.

Friday July 26th
Paul Dymond.
Went down town for post etc in am.
Came up with 12.18pm train.
Paul and Pixie's kid Gillian (girl) born at 1305.
Betty and I went down town by Austin in pm
Saw E about gram.
Went down and spent evening with Philippa.
Saw gram and decided to take it.

Friday August 16th
Went into town by car at 9am
Picked up Jock and wireless.
Picked up Jan at Wynberg and carried on to PWSS where I learnt that I was to go on draft.
Came up with Stan Atkins and fetched my kit and got back to S'town by 1330.
Went with Boyd in lorry and he went to "Queen of Bermuda" and I to Klaver Camp.
Got leave and went to PWSS to collect suit and binoculars.
Came home with 5.26pm train.
Stan brought car back in pm.
Walked home with Phil at 10.30pm.

Monday August 19th
Spent morning doing army maneouvres around Klaver Valley.
Went to range in pm and did some shooting.
45% rapid at 200.
Came up with 5.7pm train.

Now these type of entries after the details of the day...

Went for march in tin hats etc down hill.
Went to butts in pm and did some marking.
Did kit packing evolution in am.
Went down to West Yard to get tropical kit in am.
Took sentry from 6 - 8am
Went for route march round Redhill to Klaasjagersberg and then did maneouvres into Klaver Valley all day. Aprox 12 - 15 miles.
Did marking of range in am.
Had gunnery lecture in am and went for route march.
Put out bush fire at 1800.
All leave jammed at 1000 and then granted at 1240.

Sunday August 25th
Cloudy and drizzly am and fine pm.
Gillian's christening party - Aunt Theresa, Aunt Julia, Aunt Ethel, Phil, Peggy, Ruth and Ulick, Dorothy, Marjorie and William, Corrie v Tonder, Mrs Ethel Grant.
Evening - Phil, Peter, Auntie Winnie and Uncle Arthur,Peggy dinner and evening.
Went to Klaver by car at 7am and came back after divisions etc at 11am.
Betty and I went and fetched Christening cake, cups etc, at noon at Mrs Carter and Aunt Ethel's.
Betty and I went in our car with Aunt Ethel and Phil, picking up Aunt Julia at Seapoint to St Albans where Gillian Ann was christened.
Paul and Pixie took Peggy and Aunt Theresa etc and they all came to tea afterwards.
Took Marjorie and William and Aunt Ethel and Phil home at 6pm.
Took Phil and Peggy home by car at 10.30pm.

Tuesday August 27th
Had kit inspection in am.
Came up with 5.7 train.
Peter, Leslie and I came and picked up Phil and took Rex (dog) into station to go off to Durban.
Pixie, Paul and Peggy came on afterwards and Pixie Paul and Gillian left for Durban by 9am train with Rex. 1 pound.
Peter, Phil and I came and had tea at Aunt Ethel's and then went to fetch gear at Glencot.
Betty and Leslie went in Austin to take Pickles and Wally home and had puncture.
Betty and I came to sleep night at Aunt Ethel's.

Wednesday August 28th
Phil and I went to Glencot in evening where we met Betty and did packing.

Thursday August 29th
Phil and I went and met Betty up at Glencot in evening and did some packing.

Sunday September 1st
Took some stuff to Aunt Theresa's in evening.
Picked up Peggy and took cat to Miss Drury's place.
Dropped Peggy afterwards and took car back to house and walked down.
Went down with 6.22am train.
Had church in am and got off at 11.30am.
Went to PWSS to see Jan and Jock and also to drop photos.
Came up with 1.40pm train.
Betty, Phil and I went up to Glencot and brought some stuff down together with cat (black and white one).

And that is the abrupt final entry of this diary.
I feel sad not to read any more entries for this year... and also grateful to be spared what might well have been have been hard reading.