Friday 30th July 1943

Today is deadly – it is blazing hot and there is a high wind. At the moment however, I have found a cool, fly-less paradise where the air lies still. I'm in the bathroom; it is brick walled and cool and dim – not that I suffer from photophobia! - and I'm siting writing this with my feet in a couple of inches of tepid water, in the bath.

Of course I'm smoking a cigarette in this windless room and maybe I'll come back here after tea, and read HG Wells' “Kipps” once more. Or, still better, I'll come straight in here with my bowl of hot tea! I don't want anything to eat.

Yes! I'll do that!