January:

Friday 1st Went to Madge's for curtains. Put curtain rails up. Music from Mark Raphael. Ironed and messed about generally

Saturday 2nd Lunch 1 Maurice and Kathleen Moorhouse. Didn't get much rehearsal. Curtains up at last in lounge – posh!

Sunday 3rd Good dinner. Lovely walk on Hampstead Heath with Win and Dreda. Ironed and sorted music.

Monday 4th Stained floors – made curtains. All sorts of jobs. Mended thousands of stockings.

Tuesday 5th Went to Midday Nat Gall. Jean S. MacKinlay and Maurice. Good. Had tea. Went to Curwen’s. Met Win. Went to Blithe Spirit. V.G. Rang Wyn up.

Wednesday 6th Shopped. Madge and Tom to tea. Lots of telephone calls. Lovely! Went to neighbours.

Thursday 7th Rehearsal 3.30. Good one. Duets with Mark Raphael. Went on to Blithe Spirit. Very good. Letter from Tillett re audition in Albert Hall! Gosh.

Friday 8th Went to Midday Myra Hess and Griller. Had audition [Carl Rosa Opera Company] with Mrs Phillips [wife of owner H.B. Phillips] and [Music Director Arthur] Hammond. King’s, Belsize Pk Rd 2.30 [?Hammond's address]. Went to exhib[ition] of painting by [Jack] Bilbo. Dreadful. Tea with Eve and cousin. Full day!

Saturday 9th Helen rang up. Had lunch with her and sister at the MM [Mainly Musicians] Club. Nice! Stained the last floor! Wrote lots of letters.

Sunday 10th Cleaned up. Practised. Eve Game and Roy came. Maurice and Bert rang up. Dreadful day. Foggy and cold.

Monday 11th Went to Edinburgh. Took 111 hours! Stayed with Maitlands. Gorgeous. Spoilt to death! Bath and bed.

Tuesday 12th Edinburgh. Stayed in all day. Rehearsed with Harold Thomson. Party at night. Ordeal but nice. Mrs Walter Elliot and others there. Maitlands grand.

Wednesday 13th Air raid in train! Edinburgh Midday. Brr! May Night, Secrecy, Loughareema, Swallow, Vain Suit, Bier Side, Love Song, Spring, Gardener, Salley, Go not happy.

Thursday 14th Thirsk with Maurice and Raphael. Most lovely concert. Had gorgeous pub. Grand day. Dichterliebe wonderful. Maurice's accompanying [a] revelation.

Friday 15th West Wylam [Northumberland]. 7.30. Lousy audience. With Helen and Margot Wright. Bit tired. Stayed at Mrs Cook’s.