Friday, August 2, 1940
Windy - cool first - sunny later.
Went for a bathe with Barbara - Annie thought it was too cold. Douglas Mussett gave us a tow behind his boat - it was good fun. After dinner went for a walk with Annie and Barbara - found some big mushrooms on C's ground. Went down Cross Lane, and found the hut of the searchlight post - one old soldier - a cockney, and the cook, chatted with us. They seem quite a decent crowd. Went to Helen's in the evening - read several booklets. Siren went at 10:35 - we slept on a feather bed in the shelter until 12.30, when the all-clear went.

Saturday, August 3, 1940
Cool first - very warm later - windy.
Biked to Moor Farm in the morning - the soldiers exploded their bomb by a time fuse, and it ruined two small chicken houses, and broke about four panes in the greenhouse - it was a 500lb bomb. If it had exploded on falling, there would not be a farm left at all. Bathed with Barbara before dinner - boys chased us with jellyfish. Played tennis with Annie, Helen and Barbara after dinner, but it was too hot to be enjoyable. Rested after tea, reading. The siren went at 11:15 - we went into the shelter. All-clear went at about 12.20.

Sunday, August 4, 1940
Very warm - bright - sunny.
Anniversary day at last. Rev Filewood, our preacher, looked miserable, but was actually very pleasant, although better with adults than with children. They hymns went off better than we expected, and we had good congregations at all three meetings. Aunt Lucy asked Mum and I to tea, so I went home and told Joan and Arthur they would have to get their own tea. We had a good time at Auntie's - I played some hymns and we sang. The siren went during the night, but we felt too tired to get up, and the all-clear went about an hour later.

Monday, August 5, 1940
Hot - sultry - brilliant.
Bank Holiday NOT SO!
What weather! We must be getting a taste of the American heat wave. After dinner, Annie and I lay in the field reading, and we were nearly melted - I haven't been so hot before this year. Went to the meeting at 7 o'clock. Mr Filewood was most amusing and interesting, talking about waste. I thought his remarks about emotion wasted at the cinema were good. Well, that's over at last. Expected to have to go down to ARP Headquarters, as I have to go now on Mondays and Thursdays, but luckily there was no warning.

Tuesday, August 6, 1940
Warm and bright - cool breeze.
After dinner, Joan, Jean and I took our tea along the sea-wall. The tide was very high, and we had to get to the wall from the fields behind. All the marshes were covered - it looked lovely. Several people were bathing there. We lay and read or talked all the afternoon, had our tea, then came home as the wind was chilly. Went to Miss N's p.m. at 7 - the usual crowd were there, and we all joined in. No warning again.

Wednesday, August 7, 1940
Dull - cloudy - slight rain.
Did the usual odd jobs in the morning. As the weather was dull, we stayed indoors - I darned my socks, listened to the wireless, and stuck some stamps in my album. Went to the church meeting at seven. Mr Clarke has sent in his resignation, giving no reason, and stating emphatically that he is not ill. We had no option but to accept. There was an air of mystery about the whole affair, and members became quite heated in discussion. I think he must be off his head. Had a short choir practice. Got home late after talking things over with Annie.

Thursday, August 8, 1940
Warm, sunny and windy.
Went for a walk with Annie and the baby boy she takes out. We went as far along the new road as possible, but most of it is closed as there are guns. Alan wet his pram, and Annie had to take him home. At tea, Joan, Annie, Helen, G and I played tennis at Aunt Lucy's. We had some good sets, but as usual spent half of our time looking for balls others, we managed to lose one. There was no warning, so I didn't have to go to ARP HQ.

Friday, August 9, 1940
Warm south wind - sunny.
Biked to Moor Farm in the morning - Auntie is away, so I gave Uncle a few tips about cooking rice puddings and plums. Picked some tomatoes, and raced back against a strong wind. Went along the sea wall with Andy in the afternoon, and sunbathed. The water was glorious - blue and sparkling. After tea, I picked and cut a lot of beans, cut the hedge, and went to have a look at Mrs Turner's garden. I've got to take a class on Sunday.

Saturday, August 10, 1940
Unsettled - bright intervals - windy.
Did the usual jobs in the morning. Annie came in the afternoon - we read and played gramophone records. After tea, I prepared a lesson for Sunday School and drew some pictures for the little ones to colour. Arthur came - Joan and I had to climb through the window of the scouts' hut as we could not get the key - Arthur is sleeping there. Spent some time picking caterpillars off our greens.

Sunday, August 11, 1940
Fine and sunny - very windy.
Bob Hearsum preached in the morning - wasn't at all bad. As we came out of Chapel, the siren went. We took no notice, but calmly walked home - the all-clear went as I reached our door. Took the tiny tots at Sunday School - they had a rare time with my coloured pencils, and said such funny things. Dr Grant preached in the evening - he gave more or less a Bible Study. He forgot the notices, so we had to end the service with them and the anthem. The siren went again at about 8.30, but the warning only lasted five minutes.

Monday, August 12, 1940
Fine - sunny - windy.
Spent a busy morning picking beans and greengages. After dinner, Annie and I went for a walk. The soldiers at the searchlight post stopped us and demanded half an hour's conversation - we chatted for the rest of the afternoon. Granp is the most interesting - the others aren't bad. Joan heard that she has to join the WRNS at Greenwich on Wednesday, so I went with her on a round of goodbyes - to Aunt Hatty, Lena and Lucy.

Tuesday, August 13, 1940
Bright first - overcast later.
Met Pauline Clarke at the fountain at 9 AM and we biked into Colchester. There we met Clytie, who biked with us to Stoke. We expected Thelma and Barbara to meet us there, but biked on to Polstead, where they were waiting. We looked over the lovely little church, then had our lunch. We saw the deer in the park. Then we went to Boxford, and went over the church there. On the way back, the siren went, and we had to shelter. After the all-clear, Pauline Clarke and I went to the Small House and played Bagatelle. Arrived home at seven. Then picked some greengages. Really enjoyed our trip - about 40 miles.

Wednesday, August 14, 1940
Rather dull and cool, but no rain - alas.
Saw Joan off on the bus at 11.5 - felt very sad and lonely, - Mother and I will miss her an awful lot. Was glad when Annie came after dinner to take our minds off it a little. She has to go to Romford Hospital on September 5 to start her training as a nurse - more goodbyes! I darned socks while we chatted - Annie stayed to tea. Afterwards, we picked greengages and watered Mrs Stone's garden. Then went to choir practice. I am beginning to realise how much I shall miss Annie.

Thursday, August 15, 1940
Fine - sunny.
Biked to Morr Farm in the morning - Mother went by bus. Then Uncle sent me back to Mersea again to buy some meat. I did piles of vegetables while Mother cleaned out the rooms - Auntie is still away. Then I picked and ate lots of greengages. We went home to tea. The siren went in the afternoon. I did some jobs in Mrs Stone's garden. Just as I was climbing into bed, the siren went again, and I had to go to HQ. I quite enjoyed myself - we chatted and made tea - Mr Carrington was very nice. The white didn't come through until 2 AM - 4 ½ hours warning.

Friday, August 16, 1940
Dull - cloudy.
169 planes brought down - record so far.
The effect of greengages and chocolate eating at HQ was to make me bilious, so I rested and read all today, eating nothing but a little toast. Annie biked to Moor Farm for us, and stayed to tea. The Germans are making determined efforts in the air - but we are still bringing down four planes to every one of ours.

Saturday, August 17, 1940
Fine - sunny - warm.
Had a letter from Joan - she seems to be very busy, learning how to salute etc. Went along the sea wall with Annie in afternoon after writing to Joan. It was lovely - cloudless and warm. In the evening I helped mother dig and water the grave - everywhere is parched. Finished reading "Evan Harrington" by Meredith - found him easy to read, but his satire is laid on too heavily.

Sunday, August 18, 1940
Bright and hot - dull evening.
Mr W Chatters preached in the morning. At Sunday School Flo suggested that our class should pray for set things at eight every morning. The siren went at about 5.40 - when we looked outside about 40 German bombers were flying overhead while their escorting fighters were having a bad time of it with our men. We went into the shelter - could hear machine guns - some bullets fell on Mersea. All-clear went too late for me to go to the evening service.

Monday, August 19, 1940
Cool - windy - cloudy.
Picked off a few more hundreds of caterpillars. Met Pauline Clarke and Helen Perkins at 1:45 to go for a picnic to celebrate because Helen has got a state scholarship. Met Mary Walker and biked to Friday Woods, where we had tea. The sirens went, but we took no notice - heard a few thuds which may have been bombs. Went to a sing-song at Beachy Head - soldiers came to join in - one played a trumpet and another a piano accordion. They gave us quite a concert and were very jolly.

Tuesday, August 20, 1940
Cool, windy, shifting clouds.
Did the usual odd jobs in morning. After dinner, Mother went to the Women's Garden Party at Beachy Head, so I went for a walk with Annie - the siren went when we had reached the searchlight post, so we chatted with the soldiers - met a fresh one who was rather amusing and also saw Granp again. Had tea alone and cooked Charlie's dinner as Mum was not back. Then took the PM at Miss Nichol's - Dad sent me 10 shillings - I wrote to him and we sent a parcel.

Wednesday, August 21, 1940
Cold, windy, dull.
It still won't rain, although it keeps looking like it. Stayed in after dinner as Annie had gone to the dentist's. Cut out all the crosswords I could find to take to HQ when I am on duty. Went to choir practice in the evening - it was really cold, almost like winter.

Thursday, August 22, 1940
Cold, north wind, cloudy.
Had a long letter from Joan - answered it and sent off a parcel. Went for a walk with Annie after dinner - we went past the decoy and sat in our little cove chatting. Saw the soldiers on the way back. Went to play tennis after tea - Gordon and Harold were playing, then Denis came to watch, and messed up the game by being idiotic - when he and Gordon get together, they are hopeless. Siren went at 10:20 - dressed and went to HQ - all-clear soon went, and was in bed again by 11.

Friday, August 23, 1940
Dull - cloudy - cold - slight rain.
Went to Moor Farm in the morning - helped clean up and cook the dinner. Didn't come home until teatime. The tide was high over the Strood but I rode through, getting both feet wet in the process. It was great fun - I've never done it before. Went to Helen's meeting after tea. How cold it is - lots of people have fires.

Saturday, August 24, 1940
Bright, not quite so cold.
Went for a walk with Annie after dinner - went up Dawes Lane and around Chapmans Lane. Were wandering down Cross Lane when the siren went. We could hear heavy planes about, and suddenly I caught sight of one diving towards the earth in flames, smoke pouring from its tail. Then we saw about 20 bombers going over, very high up. The roar of planes filled the sky. We later discovered that the plane was shot down at Abberton.

Sunday, August 25, 1940
Warmer - dull - cloudy.
Geoffrey Banks preached in the morning - extraordinarily sincere and inspired - spoke about preparing for the second coming - woke me up quite a lot. Heard that the Sunday School treats are to be next week - just a picnic. Pastor Finch preached in the evening - he is small, dark, wears glasses - very quiet and dull after Mr Banks, but yet quite interesting. Could not get to sleep for the planes that kept going over.

Monday, August 26, 1940
Much warmer, sunny periods.
After dinner, Annie and I went blackberrying. Just as we started, the siren went, and soon the roar of planes filled the sky. Battles were going on above the clouds, and the noise was terrific. We felt rather scared, but went on blackberrying. Then the all-clear went. On the way home, the siren went again, but we only heard one plane. Mother started making the berries into jelly - I syringed the greens with salt water - it's supposed to keep the butterflies off.

Tuesday, August 27, 1940
Mostly fine - one slight shower.
Finished making the jelly - 6 lbs, and it's set beautifully. Went to Colchester after dinner - did quite a lot of shopping - bought a very nice new winter hat for me - a featherweight for felt. Hitler specially arranged that there should be no raid this afternoon. Went to the p.m. in the evening. I'm knitting a pair of socks for Charlie on two needles.

Wednesday, August 28, 1940
Fine and sunny - quite warm.
Sent off parcels to Joan and Dad - I picked the greengages for Dad off Mrs Rudlin's tree. It was the senior Sunday School treat in the afternoon. We had it in the school room as they were afraid of an air raid warning. I helped get tea, and then Annie and I helped to organise games and competitions. We had some marvellous tug-o-wars outside. Went to choir practice after nearly yelling myself hoarse in "A hunting we will go"!

Thursday, August 29, 1940
Warm and sunny.
Biked to Moor Farm in the morning. After dinner, went to Beachy Head to help prepare the kiddies' tea. Then I helped Pauline organise games and races - they were all little ones. They did enjoy their tea out on the lawn, and I enjoyed myself playing with them. They had a present pie at the end - they all pulled strings with presents on the end. Felt rather tired, but helped Mum in the garden afterwards.

Friday, August 30, 1940
Warmer still - bright - lovely.
Sat on the cement and sorted out our potatoes in the morning. Also took some food for Mrs J Mole's pigs and rabbits. In the afternoon, Annie and I went for a walk along Hilly Brooms and found a beautiful sunny spot sheltered by a tall hedge. There we sat and chatted. There were hundreds of dragonflies about. At 4:30 the siren went, so Aunt Rose had to wait until the all-clear before going home. Went to Helen's meeting in the evening.

Saturday, August 31, 1940
Hot, bright, cloudless.
Spent a busy morning doing the usual jobs. Then in the afternoon went up the Glebe to the CSSM picnic. John Summers came with Helen, and we played rounders, had races and helped to amuse the little ones. Then we all had tea. Then Helen took the little ones and John spoke to us. At about 6.5 the siren went, so we took the children to the school room and sang choruses till the all-clear - about an hour later. Took some rope back for Mr Roff and chatted with Mrs Roff for some time.
Siren went at : 8:10, 10:15, 1:25 and 6:5. Saw plane brought down, and two parachutes coming down.

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