Tuesday 18th February 1941: it's that bed again!

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Rather cold; half-dark; had to light up very early. Four bombers were shot down last night. Out to buy minced meat for cats. Fitted panel and beading to front end of Mrs Child's bedstead.
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On this day: South African forces in Abyssinia attack Mega, capturing 1,000 prisoners.
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Monday 17th February 1941: sprats for pussies

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Rather cold, dull, rain. Dear Connie Bradley's birthday. Out only to buy sprats for the pussies. Warning from 2.36 to 3.16 p.m. distant gunfire. Night raid from 7.20 to 11.15 p.m. A great many machines, three went right overhead, Local battery opened fire on many of them. Heard some bombs come down in the home counties, vide wireless report.
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On this day: US Senate starts lease-lend debate. Turkey and Bulgaria sign friendship agreement in which  former accepts movement of German troops through latter is not an act of war - this under pressure from Germany.
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Sunday 16th February 1941: cruel, vicious wind

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Rather cold, dull, vicious east wind. Miss Sweeting - Mrs Child's sister and a charming young lady called to take away some more of the salvaged property. Walk along Bushey Road as far as Seniors* in afternoon and had to struggle back against a cruel, cold wind.
* I believe this was a cigarette manufacturer
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On this day: Britain mined Singapore's waters.
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Saturday 15th February 1941: models & bombers

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Very cool, some bright sunshine, and the warmth could be felt! To do some shopping in afternoon. Alan Spooner called; they are now living at 151 Russell Road; gave him two condensers and he took away a case of model planes. Night raid at 7.54 p.m. A number of enemy planes approached, two were fired at and sent back the way they came: all clear at 8.50 p.m. Alb & Lily came to tea. Enemy plane came from south-east passed right over and to north-west as warning went at 10.45 p.m.. Several other planes prowling round for hours but none were fired at. All clear at 3.2. a.m. on 16 Sun.
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Friday 14th February 1941:buds & bed

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Very cool, chilly wind, but fairer than of late. The trees are budding especially elder and lilac. Bought narrow beading to repair damaged panels of Mrs. Child's bedstead at Merton. Started the repairs but the rain stopped me. Heavy enemy bomber passed over at noon. Warning from 12.6 to 12.36 p.m.: it was not fired at. Night raid at 7.35 p.m. Heavier than for some time. Two machines were fired at but one was allowed to drop bombs & a shower of incendiaries somewhere down the arterial road without a shot at it: all clear at 10.58 p.m.
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Thursday 13th February 19941:Ciss's curtains

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Very cool, some winter sunshine in afternoon. Along Coombe Lane to do some shopping. Ciss and Aunt Liza went to Tooting. Ciss bought some new curtains to replace those damaged in the raid. Mrs. Akroyd brought some meat for the cats.Gunfire at 8.5 p.m. Warning at 8.14: all clear at 8.30 p.m.
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Wednesday 12th February 1941:Chas next door?

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Rather cold, dull. Warning from 1.48 to 2.46 a.m.: no trouble. Plane came overhead at 2.28 p.m. warning following at 2.30: all clear at 2.45 p.m. Chas called in afternoon to look over No.68 Chestnut Road with a view to taking it. Walked across Joseph Hood's Rec.
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Tuesday 11th February 1941: policeman's opinion

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Rather cold after white morning frost: some sun in afternoon. Along rail-path to Wimbledon. Saw first colts foot in bloom. Bought cats meat and sprats. Len Garrod in police uniform called in evening: very glad to see him. He thinks we have had the worst of the raids as Germany is very short of oil: hope so.
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Monday 10th February 1941: shop for cats

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Mild for season but a chilly West wind. In sheltered spots it was possible to feel a little warmth, in the sun. To do shopping for cats. Warning from 10.15 to 11.5 p.m.: no incidents.
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Sunday 9th February 1941: one bomber

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Mild for the season, dull, chilly North wind. For a walk up the Downs. Warning from 3.30 to 3.44 p.m.: nothing happened. Further warning from 7.50 to 9.40 p.m. One enemy bomber passed over from S.E. to N.W.: it was not fired at.
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Saturday 8th February 1941: mild day for callers

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Mildest day this year - 52 degrees: dull. Did a lot of shopping in afternoon. Aunt Liza came home today for a fortnight. Saw her; she looks well. Lily Hewitt called with a delightful little girl.
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Friday 7th February 1941: relations galore

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Milder; up to 48 degs: snow nearly gone: dull. Cousin Frank in Air Force uniform came in morning. He is stationed in Hampshire. He said Uncle Ben's house at Malden had been slightly damaged by a bomb which fell in the garden at the end of his. Took Chas some porridge for supper and had an interesting talk. Len's Doris called while I was there: she expected to find Aunt Liza there, but she is staying at Uncle Joe's lodgings tonight.
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Thursday 6th February 1941: a saucepan of porridge

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Frost morning and night. Four inches of snow fell during the night, but a thaw melted a lot of it in the afternoon. Fed Fluffy as usual. Went twice to see Chas who is laid up. Took him a saucepan of porridge.
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Wednesday 5th February 1941: went to order doctor...

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Hard frost continues, dull, heavy fall of snow at night. Elsie Phillips called. Alan Spooner called to take away a blanket. Chas is in bed with influenza. Went to order doctor for him. Enemy planes about and gunfire at 7.20 p.m. . Warning given at 7.35 p.m. Many planes came and some bombs dropped, two fairly near. All clear at 9.36. Gunfire and heavy bombs at 9.40 p.m. Many bombs about South London I should estimate. All clear at 10.26 p.m.
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Tuesday 4th February:incendiaries light sky

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Frost, further fall of snow; dense masses of snow clouds in afternoon. To shops in afternoon. Single bomber circle round for 1/4 of an hour at 4.20 a.m. having dropped a great number of incendiaries a little to southward which lit up the sky with a brilliant flickering light. Raid on a fair scale from 7.0 p.m. till 22.0 p.m., the local guns firing, but no bombs hereabouts.
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Monday 3rd February 1941:snow & bombs

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Sharp frost all day, light fall of snow. The ground is blown bare in places with the cutting icy blast, very dull. Only out to feed Fluffy. Bombs and gunfire at 11.55 a.m., warning from 12.5 p.m. till 1.10 p.m. the local guns fired a few rounds at prowling enemy aircraft. Warning from  11.5 p.m. till 11.28 p.m: one machine dropped bombs a little to eastward.
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On this day: Gneisenau and Scharnhorst - pocket battleships - got into North Sea through the Skagerrak.
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Sunday 2nd February 1941: cold, black frost

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Very cold, black frost. Harold called in  morning. Warning from 12.20 to 12.30 p.m. Mrs.Akroyd called. Alf & Lily called in evening; they had been to see Alb. Lily and Dad at Tolworth. (It hadn't been clear from this diary that Fred & Alb's father was at Tolworth with brother Allbert & sister-in-law Lily.)
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Saturday 1st February 1941: snow

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Very cold, some very large flakes of snow in the morning, & a little winter sunshine in afternoon. Mrs Childs' sister called. Did a lot of shopping in afternoon. Mrs. Wheals called. Alan Spooner called to take some laundry home.
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This month: the Admiral Hipper sails from Brest. It will sink seven ships in the nineteen-ship convoy SLS-64 before returning to Brest. And on this day, 1st Feb, the Atlantic Fleet is created by the US Navy, basically to escort convoys.
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Friday 31st January 1940: prowling enemy

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Very cold, dismal. Warning from 9.40 to 9.42 a.m. Then from 11.0 a.m. with one or two respites till 3.45 p.m. Enemy plane prowling about in the dense clouds, let go several long bursts of machine-gun fire. Only out to feed Fluffy.
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On this day: Germany commanders known to have completed plans for invasion of Russia, to be presented to Hitler on 3rd Feb.
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