Friday 7th July 1939
Sure enough, the bloody telephone blared at seven and I staggered out of bed to answer it. Jacko. The bleeder wanted to know if he could come around with me in the car today instead of going to work as he felt in rebellious mood. (I felt in highly indignant but sleepy mood just then but said nothing!) Agreed to meet him in Chelmsford later then went back to bed – and sleep.
With the 8:30 mail was a letter from Mother. Could I lend them £10 or £12 at once? It was needed to pay the rent. They must have the money by Saturday or they’d be proceedings… Father had now obtained a job which should bring in a net profit of £2 a week. My God! As they borrow from me, it means that all Mother’s money, left by Grandfather is gone. Sent a cheque for £11.
Glad of Jacko’s company in north west Essex. A fine day when the usual morning drizzle ceased. Hundred miles. Two orders. £2-10-0. Swan, Saffron Walden and Snell, Harlow – the latter a new account. After the last call, we drove back from Harlow, hats off, car windows open, singing.
Evening – after drill, Sid Pond (now a specialist), Tiny (now a driver). George, Jacko and Stan Ling and I all went to Wainwrights for a coffee. The old friendship looks like dissolving… Tiny’s at the Admiralty and says his department will be moved to Cheltenham later this year. All part of ARP. Jacko is thinking of joining the Regular Army and George has sent in an application for enrolment in the RAF. Soon there’ll only be Stan Ling and I left, of the five comrades!
Searchlights filled the western sky, blazed, probing upwards into the night beyond Galleywood Common. The moon, unworried, began to show above the horizon.
With the 8:30 mail was a letter from Mother. Could I lend them £10 or £12 at once? It was needed to pay the rent. They must have the money by Saturday or they’d be proceedings… Father had now obtained a job which should bring in a net profit of £2 a week. My God! As they borrow from me, it means that all Mother’s money, left by Grandfather is gone. Sent a cheque for £11.
Glad of Jacko’s company in north west Essex. A fine day when the usual morning drizzle ceased. Hundred miles. Two orders. £2-10-0. Swan, Saffron Walden and Snell, Harlow – the latter a new account. After the last call, we drove back from Harlow, hats off, car windows open, singing.
Evening – after drill, Sid Pond (now a specialist), Tiny (now a driver). George, Jacko and Stan Ling and I all went to Wainwrights for a coffee. The old friendship looks like dissolving… Tiny’s at the Admiralty and says his department will be moved to Cheltenham later this year. All part of ARP. Jacko is thinking of joining the Regular Army and George has sent in an application for enrolment in the RAF. Soon there’ll only be Stan Ling and I left, of the five comrades!
Searchlights filled the western sky, blazed, probing upwards into the night beyond Galleywood Common. The moon, unworried, began to show above the horizon.
posted by Paul Wilson at 8:12 pm
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