Mon. June 21st 10.30 P.M. [1943]
# LARGE HAILSTONES IN JUNE
# LETTERS FROM RON AND JOCK IN TUNIS AREA
# KING AND CHURCHILL IN NORTH AFRICA
# VISIT FROM RON’S WIFE EMMIE
# ‘WINGS FOR VICTORY’ SAVINGS SUCCESS

I am letting my hair grow so that I can wear it in a roll. Rene informs me that she was quite upset when I had it cut short “years and years ago”. It has got to that ragged stage of neither long nor short so I have had ends “permed” to the great delight of the family. Emmie was very sorry I had not got it done before she came. So was I, as it will be about straight if she doesn’t come again until Xmas. I went to Mrs Ashton’s on Wed. afternoon. It was almost as good as a play. She talks a lot then sings bits of a song or two or finds the most ordinary things one says quite amusing and giggles for about two minutes. She is very nice with the washing, drying, and perming tho’, and brought me a cup of excellent tea and bread and butter. I was rather nervous as it was thundering, raining and lightning very badly all the afternoon, but Mrs A. said it was quite safe, all she was afraid of was the lightning cutting electricity off. Said I, “I shall be only half-baked in that case” which set her off giggling. She is a fine looking woman (widow about 40ish) and Alice, her companion is too, and they are very kind to the soldiers and their wives too, I have however never heard a word of scandal breathed against either of them, which shows how much she is respected. They were both very pleased because I had taken the Adams photos to show them as they knew them.

Rene is finishing the cleaning this week so we did not want to wash today. I pulled up a lot of poppies in “Corbie” garden as they were beginning to flower and I pulled up some weeds in our garden too. I had asthma over the weekend and I was surprised to find how very weak I am when I try to do a bit of gardening. Everyone says how much better I look and I do not have such bad bouts as formerly but this weakness bothers me. Jean has had a feverish cold over weekend. Got wet last week and took a chill.

Leslie Howard, film actor, was in a civilian aircraft, reportedly shot down off the coast of France on 1st June 1943, when all aboard were killed.

The village ‘Wings for Victory’ targets and totals were for War Bond or National Savings investment pledges (similar to Warship Weeks), not cash donations. Participation probably covered an extended area and may have included billeted soldiers.

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