Week of 22 January 1945

Monday, 22 January

210 Coleherne Court, London SW10

Both Lil and I much better today. We got up after lunch and had a pleasant time by the drawing room fire. Mrs Barvy, the char, came and cleaned up the flat. I was due to move over today to Mabel, but have postponed it for a few days on account of weather and health.

Several loud crumps.

The Russians have taken Tannenberg.

Tuesday, 23 January

Lil poorly again today, and stayed in bed. I did not feel great shakes but went and coped with things but did not stir out.

Bitterly cold. Mable looked in after lunch. Pippa rang up in the evening. She said Oswald was still feeling rotten with his flu.

Wednesday, 24 January

Lil and I both up and about again today though neither of us feeling well.

We lunched at the Bolton pub and afterwards I met Mabel at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave to see Love in Idleness. A trivial play by Terence Rattigan but superbly acted by the Lunts.

Lil went to a Conservative Committee Meeting re getting out a report on penal reform. She has been asked to be chairman of a sub-committee.

Thursday, 25 January

Not feeling up to much. Stayed indoors all day.

Friday, 26 January

Still feeling seedy and kept to the house.

Saturday, 27 January

A wretched morning but improved in the afternoon and I went out for a little turn - the first for several days.

I had to walk up and down from the flat as the lift has not been functioning owing to the frost.

Sunday, 28 January

Bitterly cold. Stayed in the flat till after lunch when I came over to see Mabel who was interviewing a French lady as a possible tenant for her front bedroom.

Came back to tea with Lil and found her much brighter after a long phone talk with Roddy.

The Russian advance surges on.