A new book starts on March 8th 1941.
So here begins another book
A record of our hopes and fears
Perhaps in later days we’ll look
And read with laughter or with tears.
Mar 8 Saturday 9 am [1941]
A pouring wet morning, it has rained for 24 hours and more. Pete Taylor making polite conversation at the butcher’s cart remarked that it would make the fields damp. As we stood there a cheeky Jerry plane sailed impudently past as if it was lord of the air. There were a lot about yesterday. Poor Jean, they were in the shelters from ¼ to 12 until 4.10 with no dinner but a quarter round of bread and some water. A chum’s father brought some coffee, biscuits and cakes which several of them shared, Jean amongst them, which warmed them up a bit but it was damp and cold.
No bombs were dropped at Skegness but were all around, they were not very near here but the windows rattled sometimes. Father was on watch so it was rather an anxious time. He has gone to Grimsby today as he is off altogether today and as we had to pay 15/0 last week for two watches we wanted a full week this if possible. The Gby trade does not pay enough for a substitute yet.
Mrs Coote brought 6 dozen eggs yesterday, she had a bad cold otherwise looks well. Frank looks a wreck. Jean has just got up and I think the weather is brightening so must start work. We are hoping for a letter today. We want to know the result of Ron’s test and where he is posted to. Expect he will think it is a long time between my letters this time but it was no use writing until we knew if he is moved. Jean is having porridge and potatoes. She has taken a liking to porridge now Winter is about over.
# CAR HIRE BILL DISPUTE CONTINUES
On Tuesday I sent a bill to Commander Vine as he had not sent the money for car to Gby and it was about 8 weeks since he hired it. Yesterday we were astounded to receive a reply to the effect that he paid for it before leaving Father at Gby and asking if it had slipped his memory. Now if he had paid would he also have given him an IOU for the amount £3.0.0? Also I am sure that if he had paid he would not have written so suavely. I certainly did not write a suave reply but very short and to the point tho’ perfectly civil. It is a good thing we have the IOU tho’ it is only written on the back of one of Father’s cards. If the cash does not turn up in a day or two Father says he will put it in other hands if it costs him it all to get it. I can not describe the annoyed feeling it gives one to do work and then be accused of asking twice for the money. Somehow I never trusted him after he told Will not to worry if he was a few days before he sent it. Rotten blighter!
Peter Taylor was the son of Jack Taylor, the Hogsthorpe butcher (see 12th Jan 1941).
Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?
