Nov 30 Sat 10.30 pm. [1940]
# MARGARINE LIKE THICK MOTOR OIL

St Andrews day. Mrs Hallgarth had no butter for me today and I was left after making a cake for the Fellowship parcels, with about 2 oz “Special mar. (with Vits. [vitamins] at 9D lb) and 2oz of Standard mar. 5D lb without Vits. This is a sickly greeny yellow and reminds me of the thick treacly oil they use for motor cars. However Father went to Halls, where he gets his supply of Mar. and returned with 1 lb “Special”. He said I could have had ½ lb “shop” butter instead but thought the mar would go further. Milk is 4½D pt from tomorrow Dec 1st. [Aside added later: Milk 4D not 4½ in rural areas.] Tea seems plentiful still and I sent for ½ lb rashers to-day, bacon not tea and they sent ¾ lb. I am allowed ¾ lb but it is dear 1S/4D this week but had to pay 1S/8D last. So Rene and Mr A will have to eat mar. if they come to tea tomorrow. Rene hasn’t been home to-day, wonder if her cold is worse. Mr. A is very seedy too. They are no doubt both feeling the reaction after Mrs. A’s long illness and death. Jean’s cold a bit better today, she has been at home since Wed.

Mrs Hallgarth here probably meant the wife of William, a local farmer.
Rene had been Mrs A’s living-in carer and Mr A continued to employ her as housekeeper after his wife’s death.

# PIGEON PIE FOR DINNER

We had two pigeons from Granthams for dinner. They made a lovely pie. Jean had a little mutton chop. Grace came to fetch a rabbit for H[arriet]. It was a beauty, I charged her 1/6. She sent me a bot. of milk and some eating apples. I must try to save some to send to Ron. I wonder how he is, if his cold is better? It is not much being ill away from home. Must write again tomorrow to cheer him up. Think I had better go to bed, Father is at the box until 2 am. I have finished my wool coat at last, sewn it up and put the buttons, it is very nice indeed. Have started a sleeve of Jean’s cardigan. She has started a pair of yellow bedsocks for Rene’s Xmas box. Everything seems quiet so we will go to bed. Poor old Jean, it is a shame to wake her and she is still dressed. She had a bath this afternoon.

Granthams’ farm was off Anderby Road, towards Anderby Creek, further north from May’s home.
Grace was a daughter of Will’s sister Harriet.
The Coastguard ‘lookout’ or ‘watch box’, reached by many steep steps, was on the sandhills, north of, and within sight of May’s home, ‘Lenton Lodge’.

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

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