1956
1 January Beautiful morning. Connollys came over again in the afternoon, stayed till about 9 pm.
2 January Holiday. No letters. No visitors.
3 January Georgie’s telegram arrived. They gave it over the phone Sat. night. There was no one here to take it as it was addressed to phone UB 2183. Letter card from Margaret from Tamworth. Letter from Georgie.
4 January Nellie and Edie in town today. Met Dos, Aida and Winnie. Spent afternoon. Win came out and stayed the night.
5 January Letter from Margaret from Toowoomba. They are having a wonderful time. Winnie went home to Canberra today.
6 January Anne went back to Cooma today.
7 January Edie went to Randwick to an engagement party for Mary Platt and Rod Bryant. Aubrey and Thelma arrived today – they had dinner with us and Nellie took them up to see Murray’s home and then they went on to Clovelly. Edie stayed the night with Aida [Jordan] and Reg [Ward].
8 January Sunday. John spent the day after Mass under his car but has it in working order now. Been to Liverpool and Parramatta in it since.
11 January Mrs Wilkinson called and had afternoon tea with us. Edie went to meet Linda [Platt] in town. It rained so she was home early.
12 January Aubrey came out and stayed the day with us. No letters from anybody.
13 January Nellie washing some towels and sheets for Margaret.
17 January Aub out to stay the night. Edie took him up to show the shops. Very hot.
18 January Aub left for Clovelly about 3.45 pm. Nellie and Edie went with him to Auburn to pick up photos. Mrs Wilkinson and brother called at lunch time. She is going for a holiday to Thirroul. Very hot today.
20 January Edie left for Cowra. Letter from Georgie. No word from Margaret.
23 January Norm and Nell Pepper, Mat [Walsh] and children out to see me yesterday. Nice fine weather – not hot.
24 January Mrs Connolly dropped in this afternoon, stayed for tea. Left about 9.30 pm. Anne came home tonight.
25 January Aub and Thelma called in on their way home. I was very lonely when Aub was leaving. In the afternoon Jack went down to Wollongong to bring his mother home. Took me for the drive.
26 January Jack and Margaret gone to town. Have written to Geo and Jimmy.
27 January John gone to Coolangatta – Porky [Maurrie Veness] also.
28 January Rose and Mary [Ford] called to see me. Mary going to Randwick Convent.
29 January Jack, Marg and furniture left for Crookwell.
30 January Dib came out today
31 January Writing Janet today for her 12th birthday. Letter from Edie. Blood pressure pills today.
1 February Ena, Nicky and Marea [Wass] here for tea this evening. Neville out and had tea at Murrays and stayed here till about 8.30 pm.
4 February Went to Connollys for surprise party. It was Jimmy’s 60th birthday. Arrived home 3 am Sat morn.
5 February Aida [Jordan] and Beryl [Eggleston] out to see me. Had tea. Beryl left her glasses.
6 February Anne starts work at Cabramatta Council today
10 February Have written to George and Neville and my Role [Easbourne]. Teeming rain. They are evacuating people from low lying parts of Fairfield.
13 February George rang me tonight.
14 February Mrs Wilkinson called
15 February Letter from George today
18 February Letters from Emily and Julie Ford
21 February Sent Edie 6/- for Far East. Have written Edie, Eileen, George, Julie and Em.
25 February Elsie Ford called today with Enid’s children. Lloyd [Matheson] down for car and took them back to Cowra.
28 February Winnie came out today and stay‚d the night. Left for Canberra this morn.
29 February Fr Morley brought me Holy Communion this morn. Letter from Edie this morn.
1 March Poured raining all day. Johnnie [Harris] had op to his bad eye.
2 March Letter from George. Writing to Aubrey. Letter from George.
12 March Jimmy called for a while. Down to take back a truck.
13 March Jimmy came about 11.30 am on his way to Parkes with truck. Sending baby card to Enid Ford.
14 March Posted letters to Edie, George and Mrs Coward. Letter from Dib. Reg and Dos [Ward] out to afternoon tea, stayed for tea. Mrs Coward and I had two tickets in lottery but did not win.
17 March Jack and Marg down for weekend – taking home their new electric stove
22 March Had my hair permed yesterday. Had letter from Georgie and Edie. Sent Aubrey housie tickets. Cost 7/6d.
23 March Wrote Aub and sent weigh bill. Beautiful morning.
24 March Letter from Eileen [Markham], card from Edie. Have written cards for Tom, Edie, Aub, Geo, Dib, Ena, Thellie and Role.
1 April Had a little party tonight – just two families – Wilkinsons, Cookes and Connollys.
6 April Wrote Geo, Role, Joan [Murray] and Nell Morris.
9 April George brought patient down and chief gave permission to stay the night.
11 April Letter from Edie
12 April Letter from Dos. Rotary line put up this morn.
13 April Jimmy and Marj arrived.
14 April Nellie went to Crookwell with Wilkinsons. Jim shouted Anne, Marj and myself to pictures and we went to Jordans in afternoon.
15 April Jim and Marj went to Lithgow. Nellie arrived home from Crookwell.
17 April Georgie and mates brought patient for St Vincent’s Hospital. Called for John to direct to hospital.
19 April Lovely day again. Paying 13/- to Guardian for next quarter. Wrote John Harris. Started new blue pills today. June Morris married.
21 April Letter from Junior. Marj Saurine married Horsefall boy.
2 May Letter from George.
3 May Tickets arrived from Tas. Have written Geo and Dib.
5 May Quite a surprise tonight. Just after tea in walked Lizzie Ford, Noni [Matheson], Aubrey [Smart] and wife and Lloyd Matheson. Heard all the Darbys news. Letter from Jan and Em. Jan won Eisteddford again.
9 May Letter from Edie and John. My nighty came from Horderns.
13 May Mothers’ Day. Got cards and handkerchiefs from Aub and George rang up. Jimmy sent nice piece of bacon. Nellie and kids gave me a lovely shell pink bed lamp. Marg a box of stationery. Murray and Marg a bag for my crochet. John gave me a box of chocolates. Anne gave me a lottery ticket. Jack and Marg, Murray and Marg, John and Mum, Tom and Anne – myself.
14 May George down with patient – gave me œ1 for Mothers’ day. Had letter from Aub and œ1.
21 May New bottle pills.
24 May Rose Ford and Ollie Jordan out to see me tonight. Heard all the Darbys news.
Margaret Harris fell and broke her hip in May 1956. She was unable to walk again and ceased writing her diary. She died on 5 June 1957
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