Week of 7 March 1960

Tuesday, 8 March
47 Hamilton Terrace
Bet and Pont slept here
Bet and Pont turned up at 4 o'clock in high spirits. Hester came along for drinks and stayed to supper, and then all 3 drove to a film.
Wednesday, 9 March
Bet and Pont slept here
Bet and Pont went off about 10 o'clock and got back soon after 6. They had been to the Ideal Home Exhibition.
Thursday, 10 March
Bet and Pont left about 11 am. Before getting underway for Ringshall, they went to look for a possible hostel for Alice, as Bet was not very satisfied with the WY. They then picked up Alice who is seedy and took her back with them to Ringshall for the weekend.
Friday, 11 March
Clara slept here
Ina left after lunch. Very sorry to go and I to lose her. She was awfully pleased with my presents and we had a sherry together.
Got home soon after 6 o'clock. Clara arrived about 8 o'clock. I think very pleased to be here - very garrulous, very approving of kitchen etc.
Saturday, 12 March
Clara insisted working non stop all day (talking non-stop too!) and I think has greatly enjoyed herself. James Flecker, Hester and Muff came to tea. James and the three other undergraduates start for their month in Greece at 4.30 am tomorrow.
Marvellous news!! It looks as if Bram has really got a job and an extremely good one. If it comes off it will mean Persia, and possibly possibly Pakistan and India. Very good pay, 2 months home leave each year. Great excitement all round! I phoned Bet this evening who is "wholly stammed".

Week of 29 February 1960

Monday, 29 February
47 Hamilton Terrace
Slept well with my new sedative and a cup of Horlicks (Bet's idea) and felt much better today - quite different.
House feels horrible without Bet. She and Pont left for Ringshall at 10 am in a very laden car.
A perfectly lovely day and very mild. Rang up Hester this morning. She was just back from her weekend with Awly which had been a tremendous success, and they were able to be out al day.
Tuesday, 1 March
Pippa slept here
Pippa arrived at 5 o'clock with flowers and boughs and later Nicky came to supper. Later still went back on her scooter to listen to a debate in the House of Commons.
Bet rang up from Ringshall - all going well - much colder of course than in London.
Wednesday, 2 nd March
Pippa slept here
Pippa left early: shopping, lunch with Nicky, debate in the House of Lords, tea with Capt Mackintosh, home about 6 o'cl. I went to the meditation meeting in Lower Sloane Street. Miss Dunlop took it. Very nice.
Lil's maid left after 2 nights, by her own request, completely hysterical!! Lil thankful to get her out of the house.
Friday, 4 March
Pont blew in quite unexpectedly this morning just as I was about to leave the house. Great news. He has got a job as cashier at the Westminster Bank in Braintree, to start at the end of the month. It will mean having to leave Ringshall, I think.
Bet rang up later - delighted about Pont's job. They hope to come up here on Tuesday.

Week of 22 February 1960

Monday, 22 February
47 Hamilton Terrace
Betty slept here
I had just finished an early lunch when Bet and Pont arrived from Studley armed with steak which they cooked in the kitchen. Bet and I have had a very pleasant tête à tête evening interrupted with telephoning.
Wednesday, 24 February
Betty slept here
Taxied to the first of four additional meditation meetings in Lower Sloane St. It was taken by Miss Linds and was awfully nice.
Back in time for tea. Much colder and heavy rain in afternoon. Bet and Pont had been at Hendon, Pont playing golf - very well and glad of bath and tea before going off to pick up Alice for a play - Roar Like a Dove.
Thursday, 25 February
Bet and Alice slept here
Great news in the post. Cosh has left Anne $100 and his solicitor has written to ask me for her name and address.
A sad account of Dick Pemberton from Daphne.
Wrote 4 letters to English maids and interviewed a fifth, but neith Betty nor I liked her, so we are no forrader!
Betty went down to Guildford and had lunch with Betty Ross of Ringshall days.
Friday, 26th February
Betty slept here
After lunch Bet and I went to Selfridges and came back laden with lovely things for the kitchen. After this Pont and she did splendid work putting on the Paylon fabrics on tables, shelves and lift. It really looks lovely.
Great news this evening, Princess Margaret engaged. Hurrah!
The Rector of Beaumont is allowing Barnaby to come up tomorrow for one night and he will arrive after lunch. Alice is spending the weekend at Clifton Court to keep Sigrid company as Hester is going to take the children down to Awly in the morning for their half term.
Saturday, 27th February
Bet and Barnaby slept here
Hester started off at 10 o'clock in the car with the children and Wuff to spend the half term weekend with Awly. Alice at the flat to keep Sigrid company. She (Alice) brought me lovely daffodils. Pont and Barnaby turned up almost simultaneously at 5 o'clock, and a German girl, Gerda Manger, at the same time. Bet and I liked her but northing is fixed.
Pippa rang up; she had brought James back from Oxford. Bet, Pont, Alice, Barnaby and Sigrid went to a film and had supper in the kitchen afterwards.
Sunday, 28th February
Bet and Pont slept here
Bet and Rudge went to 8 o'clock mass. Pont came over later and they all went to Richmond equipped with a picnic lunch to play golf, but the course was terribly crowded. Rudge went back to Beaumont via Richmond, and Bet and Pont came back here in time for tea.

Week of 15 February 1960

Thursday, 18 February
47 Hamilton Terrace
Bet slept here
Alice turned up later and had a bath before supper and afterwards she and Bet helped me going through my wardrobe and drawers for jumble.
Friday, 19 February
Bet and Pont arrived here about 4.30 and gulped down tea before driving down to Studley. Bet was the first to tell me that the Queen had a son.
Sunday, 21 February
I spent most of the afternoon coping with letters; everything heavy weather somehow! Have been phoning a lot to Mab who is still in bed with flu. So is Monga! Lil has had a good day and had Diana to lunch. Enid pretty well too.I have phoned Pippa. She drove Nicky back from Birmingham today. They had been staying with the Mabeys as James was playing hockey. 

Week of 8 February 1960

Monday, 8 February
47 Hamilton Terrace
Bet and Pont slept here
Bet better but cancelled work and stayed in bed till teatime. Down for the arrival of Pips and Tig. Pips looking so well. Delightful to have her. Pont was here for an hour going through papers with Bet. Pips had only met him once years ago, so of course would not have known him but found hi quite easy and pleasant.
Tuesday, 9 February
Pippa and Bet slept here
Bet went to her work and was none the worse for it. She got back in time for tea after trying in vain to buy me a plate rack. Pont came and fetched her to dine with his sister, Olga. Great progress in the kitchen and it will be finished tomorrow thank goodness.
Pippa had a hairdo at Evans at 9.45 - bought some things at Maternally Yours by Pounce, and then lunched with Capt Mackintosh in his huge flat in the House of Lords, and met his daughter and of course Nicky. She got back in time to take the Tig for a run in Regent's Park before tea.
Wednesday, 10 February
Betty slept here
Pippa lunched here after a very successful morning's shopping, and she and Tigger left for Orchard House after 2 o'clock.
I rested during the afternoon, and Hester unexpectedly buzzed in when I was half asleep - and a few minutes later the M's whom she had left in the car.
Thursday, 11 February
Betty slept here
Moore removed his impediments today and I paid the bill, and we are back in the kitchen again - delighted. Pont arrived and said there was something wrong with the car but it should be all right tomorrow in time for their trip to Ramsgate. Pont cheered up after masses of strong tea
Bet back in time to iron things before drinks. She has heard their dog [the wonderful Tinker] is very ill with an ulcer in quarantine.
Friday, 12 February
Bet said goodbye at 10 o'clock, as she was meeting Pont after her work to drive down to Ramsgate for the weekend.
Sunday, 14 February
Betty slept here
Bet and Pont turned up with all the luggage from Ramsgate. After tea they went to a newsreel. I phoned Hester and asked her to come along for supper which she did. Just the three of us as Pont did not stay for it.

Week of 1 February 1960

Tuesday, 2 February
47 Hamilton Terrace
Bet slept here
Bet worked overtime at her job, as they were short-handed.
This evening Moore the painter came and gave an estimate for doing kitchen and larder - £32. He will start work on Thursday. Bet was splendid. I couldn't have coped with it without her.
Wednesday, 3 February
Bet slept here
Ina cleared everything out of kitchen and larder into the passage and cupboards, and work will start tomorrow morning.
Bet left early to clock in at her job at 9 o'clock. Worked till 5 when she bussed down to Enid and sat with her for an hour or so, thought her very little changed, but very low to start with. She (Bet) was back soon after 7, and we had drinks and then an early supper. She had been going to dine with Pont, but he phoned her at Enid's that he was feeling sick and going home.
Phoned Pips after supper. She had been to Savernake Hospital and the specialist found nothing wrong, thank goodness.
Thursday, 4 February
Bet slept here
Bet left at 8.30 - went to Mab for a drink after her work after her work, and Pont met her to tidy up before going on to Hester. They both looked very tired and I feel the same. Moore, decorator, failed to turn up and did not even phone till lunch time to explain why.
Friday, 5 February
Bet and Pont slept here
I got home about 4 o'clock - found "Ken" the merry painter still here - great work in the kitchen!
Saturday, 6 February
Bet and Pont slept here
Bet and Pont got back from golf at Highgate. I'm afraid Bet is shaping for a cold and I feel off colour myself.
Sunday, 7 February
Bet slept here
Pont being here was a great help as he coped with the boiler and the drawing-room fire. Bet still feeling lousy, but got up though did not go out.
Pont left after tea.

Week of 25 January 1960

Monday, 25 January
47 Hamilton Terrace
Reg slept here
Slept all right but woke completely exhausted and only got up in time for lunch. Bet came back for it, but not Reg.
Got home soon after 6 o'clock and found Bet and Pont here, but Pont went off after a drink. Reg just saw him on his return from having tea with Mabel.
Bet saw to our supper and we were a very pleasant threesome.
Bet has got a job (half-day) at Unilivers canteen in Portman Square and is to start tomorrow!
Tuesday, 26 January
Reg and Bet slept here
Bet put in her first day's work at Hesketh House, Portman Sq. and came back in time for tea, saying it had been fun and she was not overtired.
Pont arrived a few minutes later saying he was in the dumps and he certainly seemed so! Bet and he went off soon after to a cinema which I hope will pull him round.
Reg gave me a very pleasant meal at the Minute Grill in the Regent Palace?
Thursday, 28 January
Reg and Bet slept here
No Ina today but Bet saw to everything before starting for her work - beds, washing up, laying fire, seeing to boiler etc.
Lunched with Enid and sat and sat with her for a couple of hours, but came back here for tea with Bet. We have had a very nice tête à tête together. 
Friday, 29th January
Reg and Bet slept here
Rested and had tea upstairs. Pont came in for a drink, and he and Bet went off to take his sister out to dinner. Phonned Pippa. I felt worried about her for fear it might be jaundice but she seems definitely better.
Saturday, 30th January
Bet and Pont slept here
Reg caught the 11.18 train to Horsham. Bet had left already to meet Pont, and she drove with him to Windsor for golf. They got back in time for a luscious high tea with a barbecue chicken and found me sound asleep.
Wireless and papers full of de Gaulle's speech. It almost looks as if it was going to work.
Sunday 31st January
Bet slept her
Bet and Pont drove off to Beaumont at 11 am with picnic lunch and golf clubs - met a delighted Barnaby and had a very happy day. Home before 7 pm but Pont only stayed to pick up his things and have a drink. Monga is six today. They have been in the country but Huss rang up in the morning and said she was delighted with all her presents.
Phoned Nicky this evening to get news of Pippa, but heard from Libby she was not expected back till 10 o'clock, so asked her to phone me in the morning.
Rather better news from Algiers.