Was expecting Theo,2 year old great grandchild, and parents for weekend so big shop yesterday with Eldest daughter,down for the day, and she helped with delivery of new washing machine in pm by sweeping up long concealed mouse droppings(ten years?) revealed below old machine. Ten minutes after she had gone engineer explained old pipe behind was leaking and he could not turn necessary rusty screw or finish job and plumber must come. I rang land agent’s office at 4.45 on a friday evening without much hope of help to hear that old clerk of works had left and new one starts Monday . Nice girl in office said she would see if she could catch anyone and managed to send efficient, known plumber within the hour to stop leak and connect machine after twenty mins. Then Theo poor boy was reported to be poorly and not coming, and his mother revealed that she is expecting second child in July to bring the Greats up to 7. This one is due in Hackney the day after the Olympic opening.So I am left with a lot of healthy veg. to eat up and a dry bathroom floor. Lodger has a conference on climate change and end of world this weekend. I’ve finished A.S. Byatts very depressing end of world…and am now pinning hopes for saving world on Adam’s synthetic biology and cures for cancer.
London Wednesday 20th January 1943
Daylight raid at lunchtime , killed school children.Bombs and guns went off before any Air Raid warnings to give them any chance to get to shelters.Lunched in the basement canteen and studied the geography of RHS (ED Senate House? For firewatching?) I had to be about as Henry’s assistant till 7pm anyway, so didn’t go to Typing class at Pitmans but went to’ Letter from Ulster’ and ‘This gun for Hire’ in Ministry cinema. The sirens went for an Alert at 11pm and again at 1pm and I was on duty from 5-6 so rather a short night.
London.Thursday 21stJanuary 1943
Lunch with Angus. Supper with Katherine Ogilvy in Ministry canteen. Ruth(David) came about 10pm to stay 3 nights.
January 21st Saturday ’12
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