Diary extracts for Feb to March 1947
22nd Feb 1947:
Have been painting snow scene during the last week, a memory of Pateley Bridge and round about. Hope to finish it later, but hardly feel it will be done in time for the RA
24th Feb 1947:
Weather is still punishing cold. This is the longest spell we have had in living memory. What with electricity cuts and gas and coal shortage, it makes things difficult.
4th Mar 1947:
2nd anniversary of the death of poor Joanna [their daughter who died aged three months].
4th Mar 1947:
A bouncing daughter born at 10.30 am. She looks mature and hefty, the sort get to the front of the queue, put her foot in the door and get what she wants! . . . She looks a regular gorilla, puce coloured!
19th Mar 1947:
The floods in the Fens and other places are the worst in memory. The farmers say there will be no harvest this year if the water can’t be pumped away by mid-April.
23rd Mar 1947:
Digging the potato patch in the evening, Caroline on the swing keeping up conversation.
What has happened to the head of the statue? - I know, I suspect the fox took it when he got two of our hens!
28th Mar 1947:
Finished Churchill picture (33x44)
Very far from satisfied with it. Improvements would be wings sprouting from the little reporter on the right, turning him into the Recording Angel! And a few skeletons and skulls and other paraphernalia about.
29th Mar 1947:
Worked on Nightingale picture
31st Mar 1947:
. . . up to London by car with the Churchill picture. To Mr Keeling’s house . . . Mrs K quite intelligent and everyone seemed to like it very much. He wants a duplicate to be made to have in his dining room and to have dinners under it.