Sunday 1 July
Went to 10.30. Mass with Joyce Martin. (She’s marrying a catholic Yank & wants to become a catholic.) Went for a ramble in the afternoon with the Chelmsford Pathfinders. Mary Weston is one of them. Jolly good. Walked miles.
The Chelmsford Pathfinders was founded in 1934 and, under the name Chelmsford Rambling Club, is still going strong.
Monday 2 July
Didn’t go to French. I expect they’ve packed up. Went to the flicks with Barbara F. who’s staying the night. She’s home on sick leave. Had an accident & broke a bone in her hand, cut it also. We saw “A Medal for Benny”. Quite good, also “Alibi”, good.
Tuesday 3 July
Didn’t do much this evening. Don’t think it’s much good going to the Tech any more. The election is drawing near but this town isn’t getting very excited. Do they ever, about anything? Hope Millington doesn’t get in again. The old Red!
Wednesday 4 July
Went to the ARP sale at work & got a suit of oilskins for Uncle Willie. They had some firemen’s axes but I didn’t get one, wish I had now. Zita & Gerry had a sort of celebration in te “Club room” as it’s American Independence day. We all went up & had some eats etc. Not bad.
Thursday 5 July
Polling day. We shan’t hear the results until 26th July when all the Service votes will be in. Played tennis on the Marconi sports ground. Quite good. It’s turned warm & sunny, hope it stays like that.
Friday 6 July
Mother went to Mrs Fuller’s this evening. I didn’t do very much. Have done very little studying since classes stopped. Must pull my socks up. Uncle Willie says there is no more matric, only schools cert. Must find out.
Saturday 7 July
At work in the morning. Did some shopping and housework in the afternoon. Finished my sandals (rope soled) in the evening. They don’t look bad. Gerry & I are cycling to Mersea to the boat to-morrow.
Sunday 8 July
We started at about 10.30. Arrived at Mersea at 2 o’c! Had to mend a puncture on the way. Had a swim, lazed & started back at 9.30. Boy, is my face red!
Monday 9 July
My arms are badly sunburnt. They burn like blazes. I don’t like the new girl now. She’s too conceited. Thinks every boy she sees makes eyes at her! Poor thing! didn’t do very much this evening. Mother has started full-time work again so we have our dinners out.
Tuesday 10 July
Went to the Ritz with Mother. Saw “Salty O’Rourke”, Alan Ladd & gail Russell. Quite good, also George Formby in “ [rest of line left blank]. Not bad. I’d seen it before. Anita is back at work now. She only comes in the mornings though.
Wednesday 11 July
Went to the ARP sale again. Got another suit of oilskins for Joan [Fisher, her cousin]. Just what she wants in the Land Army. Cyril was at home when I got there. They also gave away a 2lb tin of paint to anyone who wanted one at the sale. It’s anti-gas paint but quite nice. Pale green.
Thursday 12 July
Mother & I went to the Pav. & saw “Since You Went Away”. Quite good, though rather slushy in parts. Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotton, Shirley Temple, Robert Walker, & Claudette Colbert were in it. No other film in the programme. Am going up to London to-morrow.
Friday 13 July
Managed to catch the 4.58 which was late so arrived at B’s at about 7. We went to the pictures and saw “The Right to Live” which was quite good & had a medical flavour. Also “The Town Went Wild” Freddy Bartholomew. Quite good.
Saturday 14 July
Went shopping in the morning. Tried to get an inner tube & couldn’t. Went to the Cathedral Hall in the afternoon where Sr. Margaret received a presentation. She is retiring. The school is closing down too. Saw Bette Davis in “Marked Woman” old, but good. Can’t remembter the name of the second film. It wasn’t bad.
The cathedral in question is surely Westminster Cathedral. Monica attended a convent school in the vicinity of the cathedral, so presumably Sr Margaret was a teacher or at least one of the nuns. The school in question may have been Virgo Fidelis convent school, in Kensington, or another one, closer to the cathedral. Does anyone know?
Sunday 15 July
Had a lazy day as is usual at B’s. Would have liked to do a concert but couldn’t find out what was on. Arrived home at about 9.45.
Monday 16 July
Went to the Ritz with Mother. Saw “Tomorrow the World”. Quite good. Fredric March & Betty Field also “Murder, He Says” Absolutely balmy but quite funny in spots. Fred McMurray. Cyril has been doing some gardening at home. It (the garden) is beginning to look quite respectable!
Tuesday 17 July
Had some salad for supper last night which must have been bad. Woke in the night feeling awful. Never felt worse in my life. Stayed at home to-day. We will be on holiday in a fortnight’s time, thank goodness.
Wednesday 18 July
Went to Church at 6.30. Mother & Zita went to the flicks. I went home. Didn’t do much there. Hugh comes home to-morrow. I must make some alterations to my “espadrills” as Tessy calls them.
Thursday 19 July
Anita & I have been discussing the possibility of having a camping holiday. We’re very much inclined to try it! Should be fun. U[ncle] W[illie] says we can borrow his tent. Went to the Regent. Saw “He Snoops to Conquer”. George Formby. Quite good. Also “They Live in Fear”. Not bad.
Friday 20 July
We have been drawing up lists of requirements for our camping holiday & find it will be quite a business. Still, we don’t mind that. Saw Mother off. She’s gone to London for the weekend. She’s just acquired a second hand bike. It’s quite good. A sports model.
Saturday 21 July
At work in the morning. Did some housework in the afternoon. Went to confession & the library in the evening. The weather is not so good now. Hope it is alright for the week after next (Holiday).
Sunday 22 July
Didn’t do much of note. Zita & Tessy went to the flicks. (Naughty girls!) I mended my bike. Put in a second-hand inner tube I had managed to get. Mother came back.
[23 July – 7 August: blank. Sadly we don’t get to hear how the camping trip went.]
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