Diary of Edward Lloyd Fleming, January- September 1945 - Part 6

had just been sent up there. Got the train at Paddington

& had lunch at Lyons in Oxford then raced out to the 

Bridges. Met Kay & said goodbye all round
then got back to Oxford & caught the B'ham train.
Got a bed at the Grand Hotel & had a bath & tea
then went out to King's Heath to see Irene. She

seemed pleased but Lass only left yesterday so

she was a little upset. I nattered awhile then
caught the 2230 bus back to town. She gave me a
photo of herself & it was her birthday yesterday.

Wrote a bit back here. I have a wizard room
with the telephone etc all laid on! "Style & Winch."
3.7.45 (Tues) After breakfast I met Irene at the [[Ilana"?]]
& she came to the station to see me off Had a quick
journey to London 2½hrs & when there called for Mack's
shoes but the latter weren't ready. Got the train to Retford
and a bus out to camp. Just unpacked and spent the 

night in the hut.

4.7.45 (Wed) Reported to the Despatch Centre and filled in
a few forms & got my luggage back to the hut. reported
in the afternoon & tried to send a telegram three sigs

but no joy and so I hitch hiked to Retford & sent it from
there. Then I hitched on to Nth Killingholme & met
one very interesting farmer who took me to Welby.

The P.O. clerk had gone to [[?]]. so I had tea and went to 

the pictures & saw "Oklahoma Kid" which was entertaining

if nothing else. The bod arrived at 2300 & I got the 
parcel & then hit the hay.
5.8.45 (Thurs) A guard woke me at 0530 & I 

dressed & got a lift in an ambulance to Habrough.
Caught the train to Retford & the bus to camp. I

changed & paraded and then we knocked off &
I did some sun bathing. Had lunch & washed some
clothes then sun bathed all the afternoon A W.AA.F.
batwoman ironed my clothes & nattered at great
length on V.D. etc! with another bod. After tea I had a

long yarn to Ken Butler and then nattered in the
hut for a long time. Hit the hay fairly late.
6.7.45 (Fri) went to Despatch H.Q. early and 
they didn't have my leave warrant ready so after
lunch I tried again and the fools made me miss
the bus thru sticking to all the rot under the sun
about signatures etc. I managed to get station
transport to town and caught the 15.15 to Sheffield
went to see "Since You Went Away" & had tea &
bought a necklace. I caught the [[20?]] Steamer
train & to Leeds had a whole carriage to myself & from
Leeds on, had a whole compartment so I got plenty 
of sleep.
7.7.45  (Sat) Arrived in Steamer about 0430 & had 
 

the usual trouble with the customs/embarkation
folk but got there o.k. Met two other Aussies & we
had breakfast & a drink & nattered lots. I travelled
as far as Belfast with one & then parted. Rang
Betty & also bought her a birthday present and
then caught the terribly crowded Portrush train.
Met Betty at the station & we looked for accommodation

together. When all else failed, Mrs Lennox
offered to put me in with the boys so I jumped at the 
chance. Betty & I went for a walk then had tea & 
spent the evening nattering out on the dunes.
8.7.45 (Sun). A wizard morning & I went for 
a swim before breakfast. Thoroughly exhilarating.

We sat on the breakwater of the harbour in the morning 

reading most of the time & after dinner went out in
the dunes to sunbathe. Spent a very enjoyable afternoon 
and when we'd had tea, we went back once
again. Hurried back & changed & went to a nice
little service called the Epilogue at the [[Coft.?]] very

sincere & uplifting. Then we had some supper and
came back home. I bathed Betty's pimple & it's
looking rather angry at present. We got to bed a bit
earlier tonight.

9.7.45 . (Mon.) I walked down to the office with Betty &

bade her farewell then spent the morning on the W.

beach. Went down again in the afternoon & it rained so I

mooched back to the house. There is quite a lot of stuff that
looks like peat & decayed trees on the w. beach. The girls
came back a tea & afterwards, we played bridge. I
was taught how! We really had a good game tho & then

Betty & I went a walk to the white Rocks & back.
10.07.45 (Tues) The photos they did in town turned out

xtra good. Betty was off to work so I sat the morning 

on the Strand & had one swim & a good long run. I
wrote a bit but it was hard going. Walked down to the
office with Betty again & then got into shorts &

shirt & sunbathed some more. Trouble was the
rain came up so I had to give it away & I sat in 
the lounge & wrote & read. Last night a lass called
Dorothy gave a most pathetic song recital. After tea
I took Betty along to see 'A Canterbury Tale'  & then we

had supper. Came back & nattered for a time then
sat on the old sofa awhile & hit the hay.
11.7.45 (Wed) Betty was at work as usual so I
went out on the sand hills after a swim before break

fast. It was a glorious day & I had another dip before
dinner and in the afternoon went out on the dunes again &

read a bit. I also had another dip & yarn with an Irish lad.
After tea Betty & I watched Molly & Nella bathing then we lay
in the sand for a long time then came back & sat in the 

lounge for a "wee while".
12.7.45 (Thursday) 'Orange' day & a big crowd at Portrush.

Betty had the day off so we went along the sands

after I'd fixed up her boil. After lunch we went back  

there again and did a bit of sunbathing. We both got all
dressed up after tea and went for a wizard walk to Port

stewart taking 3hrs over the trip. There was a big crowd there &

the evening was perfect. During the day I saw a few bands
& heard the "Limbeg" being played. We caught the bus back
& had a bit of supper in the kitchen and then sat in the 
lounge for some time - & how. Betty is a simply wizard
kid & has been a real topper to me. Hit the hay eventually
13.7.45 (Fri). It took me all my time to get up for
breakfast & in the morning Betty & I went first to the Dr.
then, as he was closed, we walked to the white Rocks &
back- again a 3hr journey. After dinner Betty went to
the doc & I had a haircut and we sat out on the
harbour for a while then came to tea. After tea I had

quite a nice game of tennis with Joan & her brothers at
the urban courts. It rained just as time was up
so we came home & I shaved & washed & we sat
in the lounge & sang a while & then had supper at
which I brought out my tinned peaches. Betty & I went to
the midnight matinee to see 'Return of the Scarlet
Pimpernel' but it was a wicked show we got back about 0200

& got off to bed without any delay.
14.7.45 (Sat)Betty slept in this morning after imploring
me to come to breakfast. So I did all my washing &
set to work on Betty's embroidery. Also read a little
before she got up. Then we went for a walk & sat on the
grass near the Arcadia awhile. After dinner we went
out to the sands & lay there sleeping & necking. Came
back to tea & then we went to the amusement
arcade - Barry's Phils & the one opposite the Picture House.
Spent plenty but had a good time. Then we came
back, after buying some chips which we ate in my
bedroom (Nella, Mollie, Betty & I) we had supper &
played bridge for a little while then got off to
bed.
15.7.45 (Sun) I was up same time as usual & after
washing, I did a little writing and reading. Before
Betty was ready I went down to the harbour to watch
some torpedo bombing and then to Ramore. Betty & I lay
for a while in the sun, on Ramore Hd. and then came in 
to dinner. In the afternoon we stayed indoors as it was
raining & I read some of "Faint Heart, Fair Lady" to
Betty. She enjoyed it & we got in the odd necking hour.
After tea we dressed and went to church. Then we went to 
the Trocadero to supper & a band recital. They did a lot of
G & S etc. Came back & I read some more and necked a bit
 

and then we got off to bed. It rained almost all the 
evening & the door in our outhouse kept banging the 

whole time.
16.7.45 (Mon) It was a very wild, stormy day and
for the first part of the day I sat in the drawing room
then Betty and I took a short walk on to Ramore Hd. The
waves were very big & were breaking over the harbour wall.

Rain kept up till after dinner so when it stopped Betty & I
went for a most delightful walk to the White Rocks & got
well & truly wind blown. After tea we got up to the drawing 
room & played cards or nattered. Betty bought some
ice cream which was most acceptable and I opened
a tin of raspberry jam for supper & I made a hit with

it. We yammed a bit longer & I read some book to Betty.
17.7.45 (Tues) A much calmer day and we got out as
soon as possible, doing a few messages. After dinner
we went down to the East Strand and I read Betty a
bit if the book. In the af evening we went to the

Palladium when Betty had come back from the 
doctor. A super evening and I danced a deuce of a
lot. The hall is one of the best I've been in & [[Ralph Syloestie's]]
band simply wizard. We came home, had a bit of 
supper & got off to bed.
18.7.45 (Wed) Usual sort of morning & we went for a 
walk before dinner. Spent afternoon on the dunes & 

I read a bit of the book to Betty and also went in for a
swim. It was glorious out on the sands but in the evening
we felt very restless. Nattered in the drawing room till
supper time. I felt "undernourished' so we went to the
Olympia Cafe & had a bit more to eat. Read a lot of
book & generally mucked about in the evening. I packed 

my stuff prior to leaving for Belfast.

19.7.45  (Thursday). I got up at 0700 & after shaving etc, I caught
the 0800 train to Belfast. Saw the R.T.O. about pay & he
suggested a place called RAFNI at Dunmurry. A
policeman took me on a tram to town & guided
me across town to the bus stop. He'd lost one brother
who was an F/E. on a raid on (Ghemonity?)The bus took

me to Dunmurry Lane & I had to walk about 1½ miles
then to the N.I. R.A.F. H.Q. No trouble in getting paid & I 

walked a good bit of the way back then got a bus. I
tried lots of places for(futon?)& stationary for Joan

but without joy. I had quite a nice lunch of fish

& pudding. While out near R.A.F.N.I. I met an Aussie

UN. chap whose aunt owns the Seabank Hotel up

here. After a lot of waiting I caught the 1550 train
but it was held up because of the royal train

coming down from Derry. All along the line were
policemen, armed with their customary revolvers
& batons. The royal coaches passed us at Magheralin
 

but all I saw was a flash of colour. There were lots of
people along the railway line waving flags & on
a cement factory, a gigantic GOD SAVE OUR KING
had been chalked up. I arrived about 1830 & came
home & had tea. They were a bit surprised I'd come
back so soon. Betty & I went to the dance, calling en
route at the Majestic where Nella & Joan were selling
lifeboat appeal buttons. Quite a good hope but I was
wretchedly tired so put on a bad show. Jack Pecoe

& Roy Moffat (Joan's theological brother) were there too

& we all had supper when we came in - chocolate biscuits

Got off to bed pronto then.
20.7.45 (Fri). I was up to breakfast but it was a
very miserable day so I stayed in the drawing room.
Did some writing and a lot of embroidery and then it 
was time for dinner. In the afternoon I walked to the 
Metropole with Betty and then stayed in our bedroom the 
rest of the time writing & reading. After tea Betty & I went
to the Picture House to see "Western Approaches" which
was absolutely brilliant. After supper we nattered for
a while & I read a little of the book, then we got off to bed.
21.7.45 (Sat). After breakfast I decided to take a walk & so
struck off into the country at the back of here, thru Ballywilliam
where the post boxes were still marked V.R. and on thru

very pretty country to Cloyfin where a first class road cut

mine. Enquired at the P.O. where it went & the lady, from 
Glasgow originally, produced chocolate biscuits when I

asked for lemonade. Made off towards Coleraine & a 

baker stopped to tell me his two brothers work for Sleights
in Melbourne. & Poowang! I passed a most elaborate flax 

mill on the way where I had to take shelter while it
rained and presently I arrived at Coleraine. It was a 

fairly large town & I met an Aussie f/t to whom I had
a little natter. Boobed with the buses by catching one via
Portstewart instead of direct but drive was very
pretty along the R. Bann. I arrived bk.  in time  for dinner.
In the afternoon Betty & I went out to the dunes to read
& were caught in a very heavy shower & had to shelter

under my coat but it passed o.k. & we had a dip then
came home. After tea we spent the first part of the eve-

ning in the lounge & after supper went for a walk
along the beach. Coming back, at the Arcadia, few people 
were watching an object in the water & as it was quite

dark, it was impossible to make out its' form. It started
swimming out towards the skerries giving just one
kick & travelling fairly fast. The people all thought it to
be a seal. It turned & swam in again and when it had
reached shallow water, - a man got to his feet & ran out!
We got home soon & went straight to bed.

22.7.45 (Sun) I was up at the usual Sunday time & had

breakfast & wrote quite a bit. Betty and I went to the 

C of I to a rather 2nd rate service but it was quite

good enough. We had dinner & for a short while after I

nattered with some of the guests in the drawing room then

Betty & I went to walk on Ramore & saw and open air Boys

Brigade marching & continued on to the Lansdowne rocks

where we sat till a wave came & splashed us. Had a 

meal in(Faigharson’s?) cafe then tea at home. Played a

sort of quiz game for a while then Betty & I went to

the Trocadero & Nella &  Mollie came later. The band

played an item for me "A Waltz Dream" and their music

was quite good. We came back and were entertained by

the two boys staying here. Both are ardent philatelists

About 2345 we both turned in. 

23.7.45 (Mon). After breakfast I went for a walk and then 
went out on to Ramore Hd to read. Watched the Barracudes
dive-bombing and played with a dog for a while then
came in to dinner. In the afternoon I went out on to 
the dined but the sun wasn’t very strong so at 1630 I came 
back to bath & shave. On the sands was a very happy house
party & three Belgians who sang several of their tunes. After
tea Betty went to the doctor again & then we both went
along to a Hospitality League Dance at the Town Hall.
It wasn't to good an affair but warmed up at the end
altho the band wasn't too bright. I met Dorothy Frances &
a few other girls. After supper we left & took Dorothy to
the Metropole & then strolled back ourselves & sat a very short
while in the lounge then both got off to bed.
24.7.45 (Tues). was up to breakfast and then I got the
1030 bus to Coleraine, changed & set off for Londonderry. 
The run to Limavady was beautiful with the beach on the
right and the cliffs of Downhill and Magilligan on the left.
We passed near to Benwanagh too and all along the green was
deep and rich & the grass & trees awfully healthy. Had to
change at Limavady and we arrived Derry about 1300. I
walked around the walls but it is very much an industrial

town. saw the Walker Monument & War memorial,the [[?]]
refer to James ? as the "arbitrary & bigoted monarch." There is
a beautiful but plain bridge across the R. Foyle. The trip home
was no less beautiful than that out. Betty was at the doctors
when I arrived so I had tea and read the Book to Betty & finished
it then we had supper & looked at the boy's stamps again in the
evening. I dressed Betty's boil for her. The river at Derry
must be quite deep as there are a lot of big boats there & I
looked along the river for a while. saw on R.C. secondhand
street & all the shops had clothing & stuff hung up in front
in the open. There are many [[?]] all along the road too.
25.7.45 (Wed.)Betty wasn't feeling too good so after my
breakfast, I took her out some tea. Then I took her her washing