Wednesday 8 August
Work again! Can’t grumble I suppose. Took Chum for a walk. Nothing much else. Tom-Tom said I could have my transfer or release as Mr. Mathews has been demobbed & started work to-day. I’m trying for my release.
Thursday 9 August
Have filled in a [sic] application form for my release. Hope I can get it & go to London for a job. Mother is going to Ipswich to-morrow. Didn’t do anything of note.
Friday 10 August
Saw Mother off to Ipswich. Zita, Gerry & I went with Gwen (Gerry’s friend) to see “Captain Blood”. Had seen it before. Not bad. Also “Goodnight Sweetheart” with Robert Livingstone. Not bad either.
Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August.
Saturday 11 August
Worked in the morning. The end of the Jap war is in sight. We have used atomic bombs. Inhuman things. They wipe out whole cities. We ought to be ashamed of ourselves for using them. Went to hospital. Nothing much.
Sunday 12 August
Went to 9.30 Mass. A Dominican said it. Quite nice. Pleasant change in the sermon anyway. Took Chum for a walk. We are expecting VJ day any day now.
[13 August – 26 August: blank]
Monday 27 August
Didn’t do much. Rotten weather. My hair has all become out because of yesterday’s washing & the dampness today. Took Chum for a walk. Frances & the others are coming home on Thursday I think.
Tuesday 28 August
Wanted Zita to come to the Corn Exchange to-night but she wouldn’t, so I went by myself. Saw M’Garry there. It wasn’t bad, though there weren’t a great many there. The kids aren’t coming till Sunday.
Wednesday 29 August
Went with Mother to the Ritz. Saw “The Suspect”. Quite good. Charles Laughton was quite good for a change. Also Ella Raines. Also saw “Ghost Catchers”. Olsen & Johnson, & Gloria Jean, Kirby Grant, Martha O’Driscoll. Utter nonsense.
Thursday 30 August
Pay day! We are having a Victory bonus. 10 p. c. for those who have been here more than 5 years! Not bad! We get it in the middle of September. Took Chum for a walk. Did some studying. The exam is drawing close. Don’t suppose I’ll pass. Always an optimist.
Friday 31 August
Didn’t do a lot. Went to the flicks. Saw “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”. Good. Peggy Ann Garner, Mary Maguire, James Dunn. At about 10 o’clock Chum barked furiously, the door opened & in walked – the kids & Frances! They having decided to come to-day! What a fuss & palaver!
Saturday 1 September
John came from Ipswich for a week. I went shopping in the morning, did some washing in the afternoon. Managed to get some cigarettes in the evening. Lucky, they’re a job to get just now. There’s a shortage of everything. This Labour government!
Sunday 2 September
Went to 8 o’c Mass. (1st Sunday) B paid us a surprise visit this afternoon. She only stayed a little while. Went back in the evening. We couldn’t persuade her to stay the night.
Monday 3 September
Went to a netball meeting at 5 o’c. Not very many there. There will be a practise [sic] either this Saturday or next. Went to the Ritz with Zita. Saw “I’ll Be Seeing You”. Very good. Also “Senorita from the West” Quite good.
Tuesday 4 September
Went to the flicks again. Naughty girl! Saw “They Were Sisters”. Very good. James Mason, Phyllis Calvert, Peter Murray Hill, Ann Crawford etc. Good acting. Also a short called “Guess What?” with Ronnie Waldman. Quite good.
Wednesday 5 September
Went to church, then to the library. Old Tom-Tom behaved very childishly to-day. (Doesn’t he always?) Didn’t do very much else. The others all went to the pictures.
Thursday 6 September
The Lord Mayor of London visited the works to-day. All the ARP services had to parade in the yard! Of all the balmy ideas! Months after the war is over. Went to the Select with Anita, saw “To Have & Have Not” good. Also “Thoroughbreds” quite good.
[The rest of the diary is blank, except for:]
12 September: Anniversary of Tony’s & Barbara’s Wedding
20 September: Zita’s Birthday
6 November: B’s Birthday
17 December: Mary’s Birthday
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