Tue May 26. 9.30. p.m. [1942]
# FINE VIEW OF WOLDS RIDGE
# RON COMPLETES MACHINE GUN COURSE
# NEPHEW, NORMAN, ‘CALLED-UP’

It was a fine morning but rained heavily some hours this evening. It has cleared now and the clouds are rolling away and the sun is shining thro’ the kitchen window. The wolds show up so clearly we could count the trees standing on the highest ridge. The sun gets round so far west that it shines on this side of them in the late evenings for a few weeks now. Another month and it will set a little nearer each night until the pendulum swings back to the South of Kirk’s farm in December. We had expected Ron today but he phoned to J Hall’s last night to say he could not get but was writing. He said all was well so no doubt we shall hear from him tomorrow, he had finished his m.gun course and been before the board and is quite confident he has passed. Enjoyed the course though he had to make 33 pages of notes and remember them when examined.

Father’s cold still pretty bad, he went to Dr M[enzies] this morning and got a bot. of medicine also one for me. It is the yellow mixture though not quite the same as before. I don’t think it is as effective as the brown Miss Sweeten used to mix. Jean has had a badly swollen face again this week-end but all 4 of her last teeth are thro’ now so hope she may soon be better now. The Browns came for tea on Sunday, he is a very old man now. She is thinner than she was.

We are teasing Rene about the soldier next door (R.A.s) whose girl has just jilted him. He was mowing the lawn in front of Leivers to-day when he came and started to talk to her and asked if she was going to the dance this evening. Soon after he came round to the door to ask the time and said he would bring cabbage leaves for rabbits later. She is very amused (he is much younger than her) but thinks he is rather simple. She saw Eva on Sunday, she has had such a bother getting her new name on identity card, ration books etc that she says if she had known she would have stopped single!

Keith and Marian are home this week. Ralph went on Sunday. Daisy was taking Peter to Nott[ingha]m Hospital yesterday if no change in plans. Norman is called up and goes on Thursday. Edna Raynor was home on Sunday in her WAAF uniform. There were several people about tho’ it is nothing like Peace time Whitsun. Chris has given his verdict about Emmie, he says “Well, anyway Ronnie’s girl is not a “glamour girl”. His mother thinks it was meant as a compliment. It was he who remarked, when Peter was rigged out in uniform as a Home Guard complete with rifle, “Almost a soldier” and said when Frank was taken ill, that he “capsized” on the road-side. Jean has gone to bed and it is looking very stormy again so think I will go too. The rain will probably make our allotment fit to plant potatoes in at last.

The edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds was just visible, under favourable conditions, through the west-facing kitchen window (see Village Map).

Miss Sweeten used to dispense medicines at the surgery of her father, Dr Benjamin Sweeten, in Skegness.

Edna Raynor and sister, Freda, were daughters of George Raynor (brother of builder Frank and garage-owner Herbert) who lived in Sunningdale Drive. (George and Frank were ROC members.)

Peter, Norman and Chris (see 14 Oct. 1941), were the three sons of Will’s sister Daisy. Frank, mentioned by Chris probably meant May’s brother.

The Home Guard contingent included members from Chapel St Leonards, Hogsthorpe and Anderby. Many of the early younger members moved on to join the forces as the war progressed.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

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