In 1951, Kate is 72 years old and Alys is 67 years old. Eva is 42 years old and Philip is 38 years old (Alys and Dennis’ daughter and son). James is 13 years old (Eva and Teddy’s son) and Eve (Eva and Teddy’s’ daughter (my mother)) is 11 years old.
This Diary Belongs to:
Katharine Boyd
12 Grove Road
Northwood
Middlesex
Tel: Northwood 1356
And
119 Bickenhall Mansions
Baker Street, W.1.
Tel: Welbeck 6522
No reply yet from Crepex. Sent 2/6 stamps.
Monday 1st January 1951
Dark and snowing a.m. Sunny later, lovely.
Heavy snowfall – Phil took Mandy to his room and tried to get Teddy‘s battery. Mrs Bearcroft cleaned my room. I swept snow a bit. Alys to shops on foot in p.m. Phil home at 3.30. Eva phoned. “Memories of ‘ITMA’” records.
Tuesday 2nd January 1951
Dark, snow, slush.
Walked with Phil over railway bridge and back over other one. Cold ham and beef, leeks. Alys and Phil in JLN to 119 Bickenhall Mansions soon after lunch. Mrs Bearcroft cleaned Alys’ room and did stove – coke coal. Leeks and egg and cheese sauce. Lord Samuel on “The Mark of Greatness” (King Albert, Woodrow Wilson,).
Wednesday 3rd January 1951
Dull, frosty.
Fed bad ham to seagulls on lawn. Alys and Phil home at 1. Mrs Hill did mince and sprouts. I to Kingham’s for rations. (Eva ill, 102°F. Dr, penicillin). Vermicelli soup, stuffed mushrooms, ham.Thaw, south-west wind.
Thursday 4th January 1951
Very slow thaw.
Seagulls again. James and Eve came at 11.30. Lunch here and Alys and Phil and they to town at 3 for circus, Bertram Mills at Olympia. Mrs Hill did sausages and onions. I to shops and Boots. Posted car applications – Alys’ and mine. Alys and Phil home at 10.10. “About Food – A Dining-Room Reflection” by Martin Cooper.
Friday 5th January 1951
Very mild.
Letter saying Eva de Baeremaecker died June. Phil drove me in BHN to station. Ham sandwiches. Then to office – rent, and Mr Briggs and ceiling. 27 Bus to University College. Eugenics Theatre. Dr Woolridge in chair. Dr Vintner (woman) on report. Mrs Cozin accounts. Major Charles Hume on U.F.A.W. (Universities Federation of Animal Welfare), and a film on “care of cat”. Sardines and Welsh rarebit. “The Lifemanship Lectures – Basic Conversationship”, Stephen Potter.
Saturday 6th January 1951
Very mild.
To Waterloo. 9.27 to Woking after search, taxi to Ockenden. Major Hume on U.F.A.W. and Sir Vyvyan Board on whales and whaling, and his electrocuting method. Lunch all together (2/6). I to station. Phoned Jim Archer Worplesdon 134. Margaret did the talking. 2.30 or so to Waterloo. Supper and rest at 119 Bickenhall Mansions, and Northwood by the 8.6. “Ace of Clubs”, Coward.
Memo:
2nd Phil to Cambridge Theatre with Polish Ballet.
5th U.F.A.W. 2.30 Eugenics Theatre, University College.
5th Dougal‘s collar.
5th Phil sent off his car application.
5th Phil to George and Joy’s – dinner.
4th Circus, Berry’s.
5th Buchanan’s and Eve.
4th Sent off Alys’ and my car licence applications and cheques.
Sunday 7th January 1951
Fine. Cool wind.
Phil had slight pains in tummy. Sent herbal tea to Eva (and valve to James from Phil). Also posted advertisement of UMX (Allard) to Autocar for Phil. Rested in p.m. listening to “Happy and Glorious”, Laurence Housman. Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies and Anton Walbrook (Victoria and Albert). Phil stayed on bed for tea, and grapefruit and orange juice only an evening. Clipper ships (“The Glory That Was”) 9.30.
Monday 8th January 1951
Drizzly, mild.
Phil in bed all day. Alys in JLN to Great Missenden at 10.45 or so, till 415. Mrs Hill cooked fillets for Phil. I to Boots. At 5.54 I train to 119 Bickenhall Mansions to get herbal tea and straight back by 7.30. “The Half-Century 1914 – 18”.
Tuesday 9th January 1951
Fair, cold.
Alys took me to Moor Park and I by 11.44, walked up to Berry‘s. Mrs Simmons there. Eva dressed, but “wobbly”. We steamed Alys’ meat pudding. Eva did cabbage. Eva rested all p.m. I took Dougal out and posted my car insurance. I home by 4.59 (and Alys and Phil home just before me – Phil had been for re-fill). Haddock. Gifford, U.S. Army – “The Pilgrim’s Dinner”.
Wednesday 10th January 1951
Fair, damp.
Phil in bed till teatime. I to get cloves. Mrs Hill did roast chicken for Phil – we had cold beef roll. Alys to get rations and I made fruit salad and listened 2 plays. All looked at Illustrated London Newses (old). Phil and I over railway bridges at 6. Ham (still Amy‘s!)
12th 119 Bickenhall Mansions.
Thursday 11th January 1951
Rain a.m. Fair p.m.
Phil receiving phone calls re. Allard (Evening Standard advert). Cut up chicken. Mrs Bearcroft dining. Mrs Hill fried chicken. Sent off letters to Haughton Co. and Taxation Department. Picked up almonds and Phil cracked them. Put tangerine skins in marmalade. Man (Bell) from Ealing at 8:.40 to see UMX and Phil took him out. He said he’d buy at £900.
Friday 12th January 1951
Fine.
Bell came for UMX. I to 119 Bickenhall Mansions (Alys took me to station). I to Ed Barnard’s, 54 Hatton Gardens by 23 bus, walk to Kingsway. Trolley bus 552 Hatton Gardens by Clerkenwell. Took Alys’ and my rings. Eric Barnard. Back via Selfridges. Lunch. To Club and at 4.30 to 11 Chandos Street. Alys and Phil came. Lecture on Lascaux by Miss Jacquetta Hawkes. To 119 Bickenhall Mansions then Classic 8.45, “In Which We Serve”, Noël Coward. (Destroyer) John Mills.
Saturday 13th January 1951
Fine.
At 10 to National and Provincial Bank. Paid in Phil‘s Bankers Order £880. To Gayler & Pope and Dorlon’s and “Fashion Wools” for Phil’s socks. Bus to Matts and my Bank. Home. Took soot from chimney and blocked it up. Lunch. To Central Hall. Films on bird migration and Minsmere and Havergate. Avocets. George Edwards and back to Northwood by 8.21. Phil in bed.
Memo:
Ambassador at Pilgrim’s and Lord Halifax.
12th B.A.A. Lascaux lecture, Chandos Street 4.30.
9th Phil‘s refill.
12th Phil sold Allard and bought Jowett Javelin (Ormes) for £950.
13th “Travellers Joy” with Arnaud, Arthur Macrae.
Alys and Phil at 119 Bickenhall Mansions.
Chinese reject “cease fire” terms.
Sunday 14th January 1951
Fair with showers.
Phil stayed in bed till 7.30 p.m. Reaction (deferred)? Alys packed and cooked mutton and artichokes. I wrote Kitty; and scrubbed path, and did salted almonds. At 8 Alys and Phil in JLN to 119 Bickenhall Mansions. Thomas Mann on “Bernard Shaw” (from California).
Monday 15th January 1951
Fair and fine.
Mrs Bearcroft cleaned sitting room. I phoned Hawkins re. taps. To get Boswell’s Journal at Boots. Did breadcrumbs. Wound sock wool. “Elephant Bill” (on “Schools”). Sewed. Got wood in. Cut monbretia. Askey and Murdoch in “Ah! Happy Days. Printed calendar months for desk calendar. Darned socks.
Tuesday 16th January 1951
Fair. Drizzle later.
Tried to start BHN, but queer. Mrs Hill grilled fish made prune whip. I to 119 Bickenhall Mansions by 1.50 and to Free Library for books. Took sugar, coffee. After “Mrs Dale‘s Diary”, I came back 4.45. Mrs Bearcroft cleaned my room. Artichoke and leek broth. Sir Edward Appleton on Lord Rutherford – “The Mark of Greatness”.
The Diaries of my Great-Great-Aunt Kate 