Tuesday 1^st February 1944.

Beautiful sunshine this morning.  Met Josephs in morning.  He went on to Beirut.  Shall see him in Jerusalem on Sunday.  Saw Douglas, Violet and Sylvia at Carmella.  They were married in Beirut this morning.  Saw Lottie for half an hour.  She gave me a beautiful writing case because of my majority.

Wednesday 2^nd February 1944.

Busy day paying out all the WOGs and B.O.Rs.  Page left for Rafah.  Sgt Hogg posted to 13^th F.B.  Heard that Hobbs may be going home.  Lucky blighter.  Russians inside Estonia.  Yanks invade Marshalls.  Dined with Lottie at the Astoria.  Quite a good dinner.  Prawn cocktails.  Almost a luxury.  Received letter from Joyce Godfree.

Thursday 3^rd February 1944.

Page returned from Rafah & Tel L*** not able to move machines at T.L. as voltage only 110.  52 Aldershot’s arrived, all incomplete.  Also baking tins.  The wrong type again.  Had an early night & read book about Lidice massacre.

Friday 4^th February 1944.

Fairly quiet day in office.  Wrote to Dudley.  Still can’t lose my cold.  Weather grand.  Sunny & cold.  Dined at Lottie’s.  Grand pork chops!!  Stayed in the flat for the evening.

Saturday 5^th February 1944.

Went to Rafah.  Had to change car at Hedra as petrol pump failed.  Got a good one in exchange!  Rafah O.K. but still awaiting generator.  Visited El Jiya.  New Sgt seems quite happy.  Think he may be alright.  Stayed night at the Yarden Tel Aviv.  Went to Pils with Charona & Galila.  Saw Pisey Hicks.

Sunday 6^th February 1944.

Went to Amman in T.J. to see RAF Bky.  Had lunch in RAF mess.  C.O. very charming.  Went on to Jerusalem.  Arrived 18.00 and stayed at the Carmelite.  Spent a quiet evening in bar with Sgt Sesiter, SIB.

Monday 7^th February 1944.

D.D.S.T. conference in morning.  Lunched at Officers’ Club and left for Haifa.  Arrived Haifa 18.00.  Only one puncture en route.  Josephs arrived.  He came with Lottie & I to Carmelia Ct.  Saw Jim & Greta.

Tuesday 8^th February 1944.

Went to Hadra with Col. Hull & Josephs.  Met Thorne & sited new bakery.  Back in Haifa for lunch Off Club with Josephs.  Went to the Waiter’s Ball at the Carmelia.  Lottie, Pisey, & Josephs.  Very crowded & many drinks.

Wednesday 9^th February 1944.

More rain today.  Obtained authority to draw my car.  My new civvy driver arrived.  Just come from Partional on the Nyassa.  Seems a very good type.  German from Berlin.  Stayed in camp and had an early night.

Thursday 10^th February 1944.

Fine day with plenty of sun.  Josephs phoned from Cairo to say that Halli would be in Cairo on leave on the 15^th.  Must try & see him.  Wonderful letter from mother.  Pictures with Lottie.  Saw Alice Faye in “Hello Frisco”.  Good film.  Alice Faye can come to my next party!

Friday 11^th February 1944.

Went to Jerusalem saw DDST re local cereal samples.  Must gradually decrease amount of Canadian flour.  Oil ovens at Rafah broken down.  Burners split.  Lunched at Carmelite.  Back at Haifa 18.30.  Finished in office 20.30.  To bed.

Saturday 12^th February 1944.

Glorious day.  Unfortunately missed Lottie for coffee again at 11.00.  Was busy with Col. Johnny Haines called to see me.  Was unable to get to Beirut for the dance at 84 S.A.  Dined at Carmelia with Lottie, her boss, and his girl friend.  They had a row and left early.

Sunday 13^th February 1944.

Visited Sarafand.  Met Col. Hacking and lunched with him at Tel Aviv.  Back to Sarafand after lunch.  Left for Haifa at 16.00.  One puncture.  Arrived back at 19.00.  Phoned Lottie & went to bed early.

Monday 14^th February 1944.

O.C. R.A.S.C. 15 Area inspected camp & baking at Haifa.  All O.K!  Got some action at last on poor sanitation.  D.A.D.H. visited bakery in afternoon with R.E’s.  Had dinner at Lottie’s.  Did not go out at all.

Tuesday 15^th February 1944.

Windy day, no sun.  Collected new motor cycle and a Hillman Minx Utility.  Hope to get a four seater later in place of the Hillman.  Too small for long trips.  Phoned Lottie.  Early to bed.  Reading “Last train from Berlin” by Howard Smith.

Wednesday 16^th February 1944.

Windy, dull.  Page left for Rafah & El Jiya.  Josephs phoned to say that Halli is being posted here.  Grand news.  He arrives Sat.  Four ovens for Sarafand on their way.  Remaining four awaiting fire bricks.  Saw Sgt Harding & told him he was not capable.  He admitted same!  Went to pictures with Lottie.  Saw “Mission to Moscow”, Walter Huston as Ambassador Davies, U.S.A.

Thursday 17^th February 1944.

Dull day, very windy.  Drew money from bank and paid out men.  Douglas & Sylvia returned from their honeymoon in Cairo.  Spoke to Dudley on the phone.  Letter from angel.  She seems a little upset about some of our gallant allies!!  Had dinner at Lottie’s & went to bed early.  Feeling very weary.

Friday18^th February 1944.

Wet & strong wind.  Went to Sarafand in the new Hillman.  She goes well.  Saw Col. Franklin & fixed up the odd sort of trouble.  Lunched at Tel Aviv.  Drove back myself to Haifa in just two hours.  Cleared up office work and early to bed.

Saturday 19^th February 1944.

Halli arrived today.  Just like old times to see him again.  He’s just the same only much fatter.  We lunched at the Officers’ Club.  He’s over for a fortnight’s leave & may be stationed here.  What a do!!  Met Halli in evening at C. Ct. and then he came to unit dance.  Grand evening.

Sunday 20^th February 1944.

Beautiful weather.  Like English spring.  Met Halli for lunch at C.C.  Session at piano.  Shades of long ago.  My new S.S.M. arrived.  Seems a reasonable chap.  Dined at C.C. with Halli and Lottie.  Halli played one of the best nights for years.  Lottie was so happy, bless her.

Monday 21^st February 1944.

R.E.’s started work on the ovens in Haifa.  Feeling very weary today.  Had a good sleep in the afternoon.  Halli took Lottie and I to dinner at the Zion.  Quiet evening.  Very pleasant.  Lottie & Halli get on well together.

Tuesday 22^nd February 1944.

Raining again.  In office all day.  Still pretty tired.  Lottie phoned in the evening.  She is out with some Col. tonight!  Did it sound very excited.  Phoned Halli & arranged to meet him 07.50 tomorrow.

Wednesday 23^rd February 1944.

Went to Sarafand & Tel Aviv.  Halli came with me.  Stayed night at Jordan Hotel, Tel Aviv.  We had dinner at Gat Rimon then went to Pils and Maxim’s.  Had quite a good evening.  Visited Degoria in afternoon.

Thursday 24^th February 1944.

Went to Rafah & El Jiya.  Car going extremely well.  Arrived in Jerusalem at 18.00 hrs.  Took Thorne & Halli out to dinner at Finks.  A quiet evening but very enjoyable.  Stayed at St. Julian.

Friday 25^th February 1944.

Saw Thorne in morning.  Left for Haifa at 11.10, arrived 13.30.  Had lunch with Halli at Carmelia.  Played a few of Halli’s new songs.  Halli & I took Lottie & Pisey to dinner at Carmelia.  Very good evening.

Saturday 26^th February 1944.

Perfect day.  Feeling very weary.  Sgt. Nunn posted on promotion.  What a blow!  Lunched at Carmelia with Lottie, Pisey & Halli.  Had dinner with Lottie at flat, Alfie & husband & Halli were there.  Had a wee tiff with L. but all O.K now.

Sunday 27^th February 1944.

Busy in the office all day.  Bakery at Haifa beginning to look a picture.  Drew up plan with Page of proposed bky at Sarafand.  Bed at 22.30 hrs.

Monday 28^th February 1944.

A.D.S.T. inspected Haifa Bky.  Very pleased.  The place looked fine.  Tiling, painting, etc all completed.  Went to C.O. for dinner with Lottie & Halli.  Then to pictures to see Deanna Durbin & Charles Laughton in “**** with Eve”.  Excellent.

Tuesday 29^th February 1944.

Catastrophe!  Fire in Haifa Bky last night at 01.00 hrs.  Ovens damaged.  Place blackened by smoke. S/Sgt Atherfold nearly in tears!  No baking possible & called on Lottie.  She has moved into new flat.  Saw Halli at C.C.  He has written new number called “Mexico”.