1921
January 2nd
Calm, drizzle. New Year's resolutions. Christmas and New Year over feels like a lull after a storm. Susanna gave us a theatrical performance last night - her own idea and quite clever - a little stage rigged up with dolls on strings to act.January 10th
The Hut arrived. Concert of the Six Cronks - a family affair much appreciated by the family. A beastly stormy day.
Great triumph - the FIRST EGG. Eaten promptly by Daddie, but Mother had the first spoonful. Upset the whole tea-tray and scalded my legs and feet fielding the cups and saucers with all the contents of the tea-pot inside my trousers!January 13th
Put the hut up - hard work in a cold gale. It was a very great shock to Daisie, and we all felt very much, getting the news last night from Miss Morrison of dear Miss Key's death after an operation. A happy release from trouble for a thoroughly good woman.January 16th
Started reading Lessons in Church.January 17th
So far 4 eggs. The boys had one each for tea to-day. Sick chicken died. A day of breakages - I broke a plate at tea and Galfrid broke a saucer - Poor Mother!January 19th
Galfrid also broke a huge window next door, for which I shall have to pay goodness knows how much. Still, on the whole, the boys haven't been too bad and have done some quite useful work in the chicken-house, etc. A huge tea-party yesterday at Miss Stevenson's and a huger one to-day at Mrs. Curtis - where I behaved as if I was drunk, the result of a fortnight's water régime.
Galfrid left for school to-day.January 21st
Leo and Anthony left for school. We've collected a Manx kitten which is so savage we call it Tiger - bit a hole in Daisie's finger.January 22nd
Went into Douglas to Club Meeting with Mr. Adams, came home by the 9 p.m. train and some very interesting conversations with work-men in the train. Daisie's house-keeping get simpler day by day. Yesterday we had cold boiled bacon for breakfast - the same for lunch, the same for dinner (but I was away), the same for breakfast onJanuary 23rd
and I suppose the same all to-day. Susanna away for week-end.January 27th
Returned from Ballaugh 3.13, then to Sunday School treat at Creigneish and gave away the prizes.January 30
A beautiful still sunny day. Henry Dimmock died on January 23rd, he longed for rest from his pain and had done a good life's work.February 4th
How wonderful after all these years of wandering to find oneself still alive and well, and settled down in a charming house with one's beloved wife and Susanna and the two super-excellent boys doing well at school. A nice garden and nice chickens laying nice eggs, a Manx cat, a cat and a rabbit. I can enjoy my happiness. So few people can live in the present. Daisie is sad, of course, at the loss of Miss Key, but even without that she never lets herself be happy - always dreads the future instead of enjoying the present.
Finances are very difficult and I do not see how I can possibly provide enough money for the two boys to finish their schooling - when the money gives out they much just take their chance in the world.February 16th
To Castletown to lecture at King William's College - about my 22nd lecture since I first began at Bishopsteignton when war broke out. Stayed with Canon Owen, very comfortable and a good audience.February 17th
Stayed on to see the War Office board carry out Certificate A Exam. Got there by 3.30 and found Gen. Buchanan already arrived, he walked from Ballasalla. In the evening the Sunday School show, and Susanna looked very smart and pretty on the stage, and did her bits very well.February 26th
We certainly have had a month of the most wonderful weather. Who would ever have thought that the much abused English February would give us bright sunshine and calm days. I've no doubt we've plenty of bad weather coming, but we are grateful for the good we get. Anyway, the dark, black winter is well over, we used to light the gas at 4, now at 6. A great saving in gas bill. The garden begins to look quite nice, but of course very little in the way of flowers except wall-flower and a tiny forget-me-not we brought from Ravensdale.
I am anxious about Leo's exam for Cambridge on the 13th March - if he does not pass what shall we do with him?March 8th
I am to go to London March 16th for Medical Board for commutation of pension. To commute one's pension is a frightful thing and means spending an old age in poverty instead of comparative ease. I commute £300 for which I get £3000, and my pension drops from £950 to £650. I loathe the journey to London, and the crossing takes a year off my life. Yet Daisie reproaches me bitterly for going, and insists that it is a regular spree for me! Injustice, thy name is Woman. The statue of Justice is stupidly represented as a woman. It should be a man, and Injustice should stand alongside in the shape of a woman.March 14th
Left 7 a.m. Susanna came to see me off, very rough and beastly cold, 5 hours on board. Arrived Euston 9 p.m., then to Knightley and Ada at Oakwood Court - a comfortable and pretty flat.March 16th
Medical Board seemed satisfactory.March 17th
To Coliseum - and to a real doctor who says I lack vitality and it is my liver that is affecting my heart - charged 2 guineas and fitted me up with nauseous medicine to go on taking for the next 3 months. Left March 17th night - an awful crossing on March 18th, cold, wet and miserable, but just not sick. Had to stay on deck and was drenched to the bone with spray.March 21st
I must just keep this diary in detail for one week to amuse myself in contemplating the difference between this life and that life. Up before breakfast, let the chickens out, prepared bed for sowing parsnips and spinach - breakfast at 9.30. 10 a.m. wrote letters, read papers, down village to bank to draw money, to chemists - home again, took dirty clothes to Mrs. Clarke's cottage, home, changed into best suit, lunch at 12.30, left for Castletown 1.4 p.m. called on Canon and Miss Owen. Girls High School gymnastics, 2.15 to 4 p.m., 4.30 had tea in town, 5.11 train home 7.30 post arrived, reading papers, 7.30 dinner 8.30 - reading and writing 10 p.m. took letters to post, 11 p.m. bed.March 22nd
Before breakfast, work in greenhouse and on potato patch - let chickens out. 9.30 breakfast 10 a.m. chopping firewood, 11 a.m. down in town Skillicorn, Cregeen and others - bought Easter eggs - home again, burning weeds - old chicken straw and old papers - a heavy job fetching and carrying up to the top garden. Lunch 1.30, 2.30 burning weeds and collecting stones off cabbage patch. 3.30 best clothes called on Mrs. Lucas, the Gables - then with Daisie down on beach - more gardening - more shopping dressed for dinner, high tea at 6.0 p.m. 7.30 Chairman of Concert for Demobilised and discharged soldiers Association. Home and bed at 10.30.March 27th. Easter Sunday.
Up at 6.30 to boil tea. Early Communion at 8 a.m. Breakfast 9.30 and my first smoke was very nice. After breakfast washing up, emptying slops, etc. Church at 11.0., then clear out range and light kitchen fire, lunch at 10 p.m. A very happy Easter with the three of us, but it would have been happier if the beloved sons had been there too.
With the two maids away on holiday from Saturday to Tuesday, we are very busy, and Sunday, with early service, 11 a.m. service. Susanna's Sunday School, and evening Service is a very full day. Daisie cooked the joint yesterday and we had a fine cold lunch to-day - then it took us till 3.15 to wash up and lay for tea. Then reading and writing and tea at 4.30, round the garden, Church at 6.30, supper at eight - washing up - bed at 11.0.April 2nd
Galfrid arrived to cheer us up.April 4th
Hard work in the garden. Thank God I got the news to-day that on April 9th the India Office will pay into my account £2943 the result of the commutation of my pension by £300. It is a splendid thing, because it enables us to pay the boys' way, which we otherwise could not do, but it is a terrible thing at the same time to reduce one's pension for ever from £950 to £650. However there are people in the world who have less than £650, and we'll end our days peacefully in a quiet cottage when the children are out in the world.April 7th
Leo and Agnes arrived after a very smooth passage - it is nice to have the eldest son home again, and he looks very well.April 8th
The great eclipse. Very interesting and a bright clear day to see it by.April 11th
We have had such fine weather, the garden is altogether too dry and we had to do a lot of watering. Muriel Harris sent a beautiful set of rock plants. Picnic on Spanish Head as hot as summer - a delightful day altogether.April 12th
While the country is going through this terrible crisis and is really engaged in settling whether there is to be a bloody revolution or not, we are quite cut off. The coal strike lessens the number of steamers and yesterday the cable broke so we have not even telegraphic news of the situation, but we hear the wildest rumours. Last post was on Saturday evening and the next is Wednesday morning. The boys do really good useful work. In the first holidays at Michael, they were purely destructive, the second hols: about neutral - and these holidays really do paying work Painting carpentering etc.April 14th
Yesterday a beautiful hot summer day: even too hot for me walking and Susanna said "This is the first time I've been hot since I left India." We went over to Colby picking primroses and bluebells and found a new flower, the "snowflake", like a bigger snowdrop.April 16th
To Douglas, dreadfully cold and blowy. The strike begins to-day, so I shall not be able to get to London on Saturday next. Wired to say I would not go. It is miserably cold, the third day of North gale and frost, snow lies on Barrule. Agnes improves. After all her life in narrow surroundings she has to plunge into the very broadest. From a Christianity of Church-going, ritual, family prayers and endless argument she comes to the other kind - of praise and thanksgiving, forgiveness instead of judgement and criticism, no hypocritical prayers and grace which invariably make you start the day with bad tempers. In fact, an endeavour to live nearer Christ and to free ourselves from vile traditions, candlesticks and formalities - that pass for religion and doctrine. Doctrine is in the Gospels or nowhere, and in the Gospels Our Lord's most distinct statement was to the effect that He loathed the traditional side of religion and came to sweep it away. But she is of so excitable a temperament that it is hard to argue with her, and the weird life those three incongruous characters lead together has naturally made her quite abnormal.
I believe in the Love of God more than I believe in the Fear of God, I believe in the happiness and joy of Christ's message more than in the horrors of punishment for short-comings in interpreting that message. I believe more in the thanksgiving and praise side of our relationship towards God than in the prayer and "wretched worm" business. I believe that my beliefs and your beliefs are to a great extent temperamental, and varying with bodily health. Not the fundamental unvarying belief such as belief in Christ and His teaching, but the minor points of Catholic Church and any of the Church dogmas.April 18th
Colder and wilder weather than we have had all the winter. Great discussions with Agnes, who is in a terrible state of mind owing to argument and debate and who cannot realize that words mean nothing on abstract subjects and if you start "What do you mean by faith?" "What do you mean by Christ?" "What do mean by salvation?" and so on - you will qualify for a lunatic asylum. I know what I mean but I cannot make you know it, unless you attune your mind as in Marconi. Faith is a Marconi system where you attune your mind to the Divine Sender, and place yourself in a position to receive. But receiving instruments are very different from sending stations and you may receive without being able to transmit - but you can spread the message you receive among your immediate circle.April 19th
Tea picnic at Fleshwick Bay and then messing about on the rocks and in the caves.April 20th
A calm sunny day. Left by the 6.49 train to cross over to Liverpool by the mid-night boat, Peel Castle, a fairly good passage, but cold.April 21st
Arrived Liverpool 6 a.m., did my own porter's work, arrived Euston 12.35. Mrs. Hall's brougham waiting and went off to St. Alban's Road - a charming hostess and delightful house.
In London I did a lot of shopping and saw Maxse of the National Review (lunched with him - Duchess of St. Albans, Valentine Chirol, an M.P and self). Went to Victoria Palace and "Paddy the Next Best Thing" - a perfectly piffling play, but in its second year - the audience loved it and screamed over jokes of the quality of "when is a door not a door - when it's a jar!" Glad to see it, I believe so simple a nation must be good.
Banquet put off owing to the coal strike.
Left London 12 noon on the 26th, and arrived Liverpool 5.30 p.m., boat sailed at 9 p.m. and we arrived at Douglas 3 a.m. on 27th. No train till 8.20., so had to wait and shiver till then.May 1st
We continue to have glorious summer weather and everything is dried up. Picnics every day and Agnes is becoming a great botanist. Wild flowers are very beautiful and we have the drawing-room decorated with anemones, marsh marigolds, bluebells and ramsons. Our one rose-tree in the green house has given us (at this moment in the vases) 30 flowers, which is extraordinary for so small a bush to yield at one time.May 2nd
Agnes proposes to go on Friday with Leo, and Mrs. Giles will come on Tuesday, the 10th, which will suit us very well. To-day is clouding over and I am quite glad to see the clouds, everything is as dry as a bone. Potatoes coming up very well and other things are so, so. Such disasters occur - slugs, snails, sea-gulls, etc. all attack only one's best.May 5th
Galfrid has been delayed returning to school owing to this beastly coal strike - he and Leo and Agnes all go off to-morrow. To-day picnic to Groudle Glen. Very cold, it snowed yesterday on the hill-tops. Susanna also goes to High School, Castletown on Friday. A beautiful, grey day - Groudle Glen a mass of ferns, blue-bell and anemones.May 6th
Family Red Letter Day. Daisie and I took Susanna to the High School at Castletown by the 9.34 train and handed her over to Miss Matthews. She felt a little nervous, but knew many of the girls from her Sunday School, so was not much upset.
She returned by the 3.13 train. So starts a new period in her life. God has given her good brains and I hope she will make good use of them - not towards erudition, but to happiness founded in literature, poetry and art. Leo, Galfrid and Agnes all left by the 6.49 train - they should have a good crossing. We have enjoyed having Agnes whom we have known for 24 years, very much, and I am sure the change will have done her good.May 11th
Mrs. Giles arrived.May 14th
Rain - we have had a very dry month. The seventh week of the coal strike and no great hardship yet. We get no coal at all now, but have a little coke left. Fires every three days, rest of our cooking done on oil. We may come down to burning newspapers and wood.May 16th
Wonderful weather. The grand opening day (Whit Monday) of the Bowling Club, of which I am Vice-President!May 23rd
Everything drying up - quite hot. Peeled off my warm underclothing, so now I shall get a cold. The miners' strike goes on and on - now in its 8th week - we do not yet suffer much inconvenience - Only 56 lbs of coal a week, but we use oil stoves.May 24th
We are having an extraordinary spell of hot, dry weather, and have to spend all our time watering the garden. Mrs. Giles keeps very fit, and to-day we made her climb up the cliffs at Perwick Bay.May 28th
A few showers. We had our last fire - nothing left now but oil, no more hot baths.May 31st
Mrs. Giles leaves to-morrow, it has been a great pleasure to us having her and I am sure the change must have been a relief from her unending family circle, never broken year after year. No coal and a bitter cold wind. To a Lecture about the end of the world.June 4th
A wonderful drought, everything as dry as a bone - 6 sunny days in succession garden drying up.June 9th
The garden is doing well and keeps us very happy and busy. A very cold wind last night, knocked the potatoes, beans and spinach about. The chickens get out occasionally, and create havoc. From now on, we subsist entirely on our own potatoes. The coal strike doesn't matter much to us in a domestic way. The light is wonderful. At midnight (summer time) the remains of the sunlight are still in the N.W. sky, and we can always read without lights till 10.30 p.m.June 10th
Winter - cold East Gale - clouds and clouds, but never a drop of rain - we are parched. All the beans blown down and spinach blown away.June 12th
Sunshine, but bitterly cold always - clouds come and go, but no rain, Daisie is tired to death watering the dried up garden. A shower to-day.June 14th
Dora and Bob arrived in the after-noon.June 19th
This terrible drought continues - Cloudy to-day and a sprinkling of rain, but not enough to do good. Yesterday the Browns came to lunch - he could not leave the car so he and I had lunch al fresco.
To-morrow we take a five guinea motor trip round the Island with Dora and Bob. It is Susanna's half term holiday so she will come too.June 22nd
Dora and Bob left. Very little drizzly rain.June 23rd
Daisie gave tea at the bowling green.June 25th
This fearful drought continues and everything is scorched up. To-day was as hot as India and the sea without a ripple. Lou arrived yesterday.June 27th
We left for London. A calm passage and a nice journey, but took 6 hours crossing, arrived 3, St. Albans Road to stay with Mrs. Hall, about 9.30 p.m.July 4th
Left London to go to Nuttalls.July 9th
Daisie to Teignmouth and I to Swanwick.July 14th
Left Swanwick 9 a.m., caught 3 p.m. boat at Liverpool. Mona's Queen, beautiful crossing and empty boat. Arrived home 10.30 p.m.July 16th
This appalling drought is broken at last, and we had heavy rain last night.July 18th
But the heat goes on and there is no more rain and we are parched.
Lou runs the house very well and we are very happy in our Cronk. Susanna is busy with her exams, and is very proud of herself.July 20th
Daisie arrived to-day. She had a splendid passage on the Manxman. Now we're all happy and get back to our quiet life. Lou has looked after everything splendidly.July 23rd
Picnic for Susanna's belated birthday. Good rain last night, but not properly swamped yet, and drought not really broken.July 26th
Commenced Pelman at age 56.
Susanna's school broke up and she was top of her class. I want her in life to take up Natural History in all its branches, History and Literature. She will do well in all these.July 28th
Heavy rain at night and we may call the drought really broken now.August 2nd
It poured all yesterday and all last night and now I think we've had enough rain to do real good.August 4th
Lou left. Clement arrived. It still continues to rain and the weeds flourish more than the flowers. But the perpetual wet is most enjoyable after that awful drought.August 5th
Rain all day. Leo arrived.August 9th
It is cold enough for winter outer-clothes. I shaved off my moustache. The boys are very busy and doing good work.August 11th
Muriel arrives Douglas to-night from Belfast and arrives here to-morrow morning.
I think Pelmanism is waking me from my mental lethargy.August 14th
A very quiet, happy day - and singing hymns in the evening. Both Leo and Galfrid sing very well.August 17th
Our Regatta day and Shipwrecked Mariners' Flag Day - very busy - Confetti Carnival in the evening. Susanna paraded in Fancy Dress, but didn't get a prize - she looked very smart and pretty, then to the pictures. It's wonderful how merry we can be on water - the fun was quite as good as if we were all intoxicated, and I had great confetti battles with the ancient village dames. Muriel Harris thoroughly threw herself into it - good sort as she is. Tea at the Spongs. They have made me a J.P., and I went into the Rolls Office on Saturday to be sworn in. Took the whole morning counting out £34 in coppers from the Flag Day.August 20th
North-East gale - we bathed and I felt very fit. Very slack about Pelman. Muriel leaves on Monday - we shall miss her.August 21st
Church crowded. This N.E. gale is blowing the garden to pieces - the wonder is anything survives. Asters and a cauliflower blown right out of the ground. Dwarf beans levelled - all leaves bruised and shrivelled. Muriel, Daisie, myself and Susanna all terribly bitten by some insect we must have collected in the bracken when we climbed down beyond the Chasms, to picnic on the beach. On Friday the boys went out yachting with Major Turner in the Eve.August 24th
Yesterday was my military birthday, 37 years since I joined the Army - the days n Malta as a moustachless subaltern seem very far away. Up to the rank of Colonel it all seemed very close, now a sort of hiatus comes in - old age. Got up at 3.30 woke the house and made tea - family marched at 4.30 for the mountain top Liattee ny Bainee - got to the top about 5.45, a cold North wind - at sunrise and a thick mist came on - but it was very beautiful in the heather and gorse and we thoroughly enjoyed the morning out - back to breakfast at 8.30 afternoon picnic with the Pollens to Cregneish and the Chasms. We were all tired out at the end of the day.August 30th
Beautiful weather and sunshine, but quite cold, a frost in London the other day. India continues in a terrible state and I am glad to be out of it. Ireland is as mad as ever and refusing our most generous terms. Everything is bad, but there is always the silver lining. Finances are dreadful and I can only see my way for one more year, but God will provide as He sees fit, and if the money runs out the boys must just make their way in the world and as it will be, so it will be the best.
Pelmanism is doing me an enormous amount of good. It gives me the power to exert my will, the will was always there, but no driving force behind it. It takes the slackness out of your mind. I have paid nine guineas for an Art course for Galfrid.September 1st
Summer is gone - cold and rainy now.
Started my moustache again, it was horrible without it.September 3rd
All the family on the bust at Douglas - a very merry day with all the roundabouts, theatre of varieties - Dancing Palace etc. - bed at 2 a.m.September 6th
We are having the most beautiful weather with calm sunny days. The boys are trying to build an annexe to the hut, I hope they will succeed as I have had to pay six guineas for the wood!September 9th
Leo's birthday. Galfrid seems to be getting value out of his Art Course. He really works at it and his results seem to me quite good. I am glad I put him on to it. He returns to school on Thursday 15, arriving there at day-break Friday, 16th.
The Turners took us out yesterday in their motor-boat - it was not very interesting in a fog, and poor Susanna was sick. A nice tea on board the yacht. My vegetable garden has been a failure - not one really fine cabbage or cauliflower or parsnip or carrot - broadbeans poor, Dwarf beans extra dwarf, and so on. Better luck next year. The flowers have done splendidly - couldn't have been better.September 11th
Three hens broody and eggs down to nil. Garden looking beautiful. The boys' hut is completed as regards structure and has been very well done - wants tarring, felt roof and locks put on. Saving of a labour bill of £10 about. It costs all told about £7.10 0. and gives almost the same space as my £24 hut. The boys are certainly useful and distinctly "constructive" - Quite an autumn feeling in the air.September 12th
It would not be difficult to give up tobacco and wine entirely, but it is better discipline to ration oneself and then train oneself to do without. It all leads to control which is what all of us lack - control yourself and you at once stand out from your fellowmen, the uncontrolled. If I had known this earlier in life I might have made more use of the talents God has given me.September 13th
The maids left for Ireland and are due back on 29th - i.e. morning of 30th. Hut completed yesterday bar paint - just one week and deduct Sunday, say 6 days - very good work.September 15th
Galfrid left and left his great-coat behind. I'm afraid he will have a poor time night travelling, but I warned him 3 times to have everything ready, and at the last moment the coat could not be found - it was found later where he had put it to make a sketch of it.
Flower-Show and as the Governor was absent I had to perform the opening ceremony - the vegetables, etc., were very good.September 17th
East Gale - winter. The following is my routine now the servants are away. Get up in fatigue dress 6.45 a.m., clear out range, light kitchen fire, sift ashes, make tea - hot water for Daisie, 8.10 a.m. read 10 minutes Pelman, 8.20 Pelman Physical exercises. 8.35 dressing to 8.50 - empty slops - tidy room and clean boots. Breakfast 9 a.m., Work in garden 9.30 to 10.30. Read and write 11.30 to 12.0. Odd jobs and garden 12 to 1 or walk till 1. Lunch, 1.30 to 2.0 read and smoke, 2.0. to 3.0. garden and writing, 3.0. to 4.0. rest, 4.30 tea, 5.0. read papers and letters, 5.30 to 6.0. answer urgent letters. 6.0 to 7.0 walk. 7.30 Dinner, 8.30 to 9.0 Patience or read, 9.0 to 10.0 Pelman exercises 10.30 Bed.September 19th
I seem fit as regards my old ailments, but am always bothered with a beastly pain at the back of my head which depresses me, and a dull giddy feeling with increased stiffness of neck - one disease gone, another comes - but I am not really at all depressed as I am very happy, but it just makes one dull.September 21st
Susanna returned to school. She has gone up two classes - I hope they won't put too much pressure on her - I do not want her to go in for higher education. She is naturally clever and I want her to excel in history, literature, and athletics - especially Natural History - this foundation should lead to happiness which is quite another thing from business success.September 24th
A beautiful sunny day, out black-berrying at Santon.September 25th
A real summer's day - perfect.September 26th
Another summer's day. Susanna has to go to school by the 9.3 a.m. train, which means breakfast at 8.0. which means my getting up at 5.30 a.m. to light the kitchen fire - which makes me nice and sleepy in the afternoon.September 28th
Pelmanism is not prospering and my mental state is rather chaotic. The maids are due to return on Friday. Leo has been most helpful to us in the maids' absence, it is lucky they were away or we should never have found out what a good worker he is - everything done to the best of his ability and without grousing - and there is lots to do. Just mother and I and Leo in the house together takes us back to the years of 1903, 1904, when we composed all the family. He seems to have quite developed a sense of responsibility and I am sure he will be capable of looking after his mother when I am gone.September 29th
It took me 3½ hours to rake out and clean kitchen range, sweep out soot, and blacklead the range and light the fire. Very tiring work, but magnificent results. Leo does a good day's work every day and more than earns his keep. Beautiful weather continues.September 30th
The Maids returned which was a relief and we were glad to see them. Beautiful weather continues.October 1st
Always summer weather. Out black-berrying by Santon, picnic tea on beach at mouth of Santon river - a delightful day Leo's last picnic - he goes to Cambridge on Tuesday. Clocks go back one hour to normal time on Sunday night.October 4th
Leo left for Cambridge - a milestone in his life, may it lead him to success and happiness. We went in to see him off and Susanna came as far as Castletown.October 16th
My first day as Sunday School Teacher. I feel guided in my teaching, but the time allotted is very short.October 19th
Lecture on Westward Ho! At King Williams College and stayed the night. Weather warm and muggy every since first of month. The lecture went off very well and I think I kept it just within the right bounds. A very heavy rain burst and Daisie was out in all of it walking to Colby and back with Miss Spong.October 22nd
To-day winter has descended on us suddenly with a howling N.E. gale which I honestly like, but Daisie loathes. I went out on the Cronk to get blown at and felt 10 years younger.October 23rd
A busy Sunday - Church in morning and read the lessons. Sunday School 2.30 - Evening Service we both sang in the Parish Church choir - very cold.October 24th
A gloomy afternoon. Daisie had had a rough time in the garden and chicken yard, so she had a hot bath and went to lie down, - at that moment called The Speaker of the House of Keys and Mrs. Clucas - a visit that means a sort of royal recognition - Daisie made a rush for it and arrived in the Drawing-room looking very hot bathy - a fine colour and rosy cheeks.
Had our first fire in the evening in drawing-room. It is very cold all of a sudden. Snow and frost in Scotland, not here.October 31st
Lizzie left us to return to her people in Ireland and the new maid from Colby is to arrive to-morrow. The cold weather only lasted two days and it has since been quite warm. [Pencilled note in margin: 'Rose Creer' - presumably name of new maid.]November 3rd
Elliott arrived looking very ill.November 5th
It is getting cold, but I have not yet altered any of my summer clothes.November 6th
A terrible gale last night and our ceiling fell in with a crash, luckily not on our heads, but at the foot of the bed. My war medals arrived at last yesterday, 3 years after the Armistice. We have never had such a deluge of icy rain.November 8th
Fine day, but very cold and North wind continues so I had to give in and get into my warm underclothing. I hoped to put it off another week. To-morrow is our wedding anniversary, 24 years completed, but we keep it to-day because to-morrow I have a Masonic function and Daisie has G.F.S. Also my birthday completing my 56th year beginning 57.November 11th
Armistice Day. Silence at King William College. I took the parade of O.T.C after.November 16th
Elliott and I were to leave for the mainland for my lecture tour. First to the Leas, Hoylake, preparatory School (Cheshire) Big gale on when we got to Douglas and uncertainty about boat so we returned home. Boat eventually sailed from Peel at 12.10 p.m. - no use to me.November 17th
Tried again. A decent crossing. Said goodbye to Elliott at Lime St. Couldn't get rooms anywhere. At last got one in dirty Hotel Victoria.November 18th
To Bedbergh - about 5 hours 4 changes, beautiful scenery. Head master, W.N. Weech, Mrs Weech is a sister of Mrs. Prentis 72 Punjabis.November 19th
To Liverpool - Exchange Hotel - nice, but expensive. Room and food 25/- a day, Lecture at the Leas, Hoylake. O.S., Dealtry and Barr, nice fellows.November 20th
A dull day in L'pool. A nice service in the Cathedral.November 21st
To Birmingham. Stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Pearson nice manufacturing people, rich and kind - beautiful house. Fine lecture to B'ham Institute. Met many of my men after lecture.November 22nd
Arrived London about lunch time. York Hotel. Moderate, not cheap, not nice - too many old frumps.November 23rd
To Christ's Hospital. Hamilton Fyfe - they are Oxford people and know May.November 24th
To Salisbury for Lecture at Artillery School - Col. Newcombe. Played and won at Bridge. Met Doddie's friends Captain and Mrs. Norton. At lecture was Capt. Jackson R.A., nice to meet him, was all through with me in Persia and Baku from start to finish.November 25th
To London, Cunliffe to lunch. Then the Wallace collection. Mrs. Hall 6 to 7.30 - Cairo at His Majesty's Theatre - pretty scenes - rotten plot - too obviously a flesh exhibition, but within bounds. Train let Euston 11.50.November 26th
Arrived L'pool 6.15 a.m. Boat left 10.30 a.m. beautiful passage. Met Daisie and Susanna in Douglas.December 5th
Leo returned from Cambridge. Cold spell broken at last after 8 days East gale. I lectured in Douglas and stayed the night with Dr. Marshall.December 6th
Lecture at Castletown and supper with the Hunts.December 7th
To the Nunnery dine and sleep, Lady Goldie Taubman. A magnificent place, with Royal etiquette.December 21st
Anthony arrived.December 25th
We kept Christmas last night and had a very jolly time. To-day is a beautiful calm sunny day.December 29th
Daisie's At Home. I think it was very successful - about 30 people. Treasure hunts - Advertisements - Theatricals - Leo and the Kellys acted Q (spiritualistic farce) with Galfrid as butler and Anthony as curtain puller.December 30th
Second At Home. Rather a frost. Everything went very well, but we had the biggest gale we have had since we came to the Island, and that kept all the élite away - from Douglas. The party was beautifully and exactly balanced and the absence of the élite entirely upset the balance. The Speaker and Mrs. Clucas, Mr. Goldie-Taubman, the Pantins and some others were not able to come. Our parties are arranged to bring together all sorts and conditions who never call on each other and this is only possible in a large crowd - so the crowd being quite small made things uncomfortable. However it did them good, they had to talk to each other. Leo's play went off very well with the Percy Kellys.