My Australian Nun (Diary, 5/4/88)

April 5th Tuesday. Heather was going at mid morning but stayed 0n for lunch and was still here when SN, my Australian Nun arrived (last here 11 years ago but didn’t seem the in the least like that) & finally departed something after 6. Sheila in London for the day.

© Anthony Lawton 2012

Heather (Lawton) is my sister. Sheila was a long-standing friend and companion, who came to be with Rosemary for periods of time to keep house,  interspersed with Joan (Underwood). Companions like Sheila helped Rosemary – who had significant physically disabilities because of her childhood Still’s  disease – with daily living. They helped her get up in the morning, and go to bed. They would make morning breakfast and evening supper .

Day of letting back hair down (Diary, 4/4/88)

April 4th, Easter Monday. Ray went out to fetch Heather and got her back safely a while before lunch time. Pleasant day of talk and letting back hair down.

© Anthony Lawton 2012

The old expression ‘Let one’s back hair down’ became ‘Let one’s hair down’. ‘Back hair’ was the common 19th century phrase for the long hair at the back of a woman’s head. Unpinning it and releasing the weight was a way of making yourself comfortable in informal situations. (From commenter Anne).

Just wish my head wasn’t so ghastly (Diary, 3/4/88)

The most beautiful Easter morning, tho’ a bit more clouds as the day has gone on; and the garden drifted with daffodils. Easter phone call from Ant this morning, and every things fired up for H coming tomorrow. Just wish my head wasn’t so ghastly and I could enjoy things more.

© Anthony Lawton 2012

Garden full of bird-song (Diary, 2/4/88)

The Tiffy came for some of his stuff, so the cottage now a bit more habitable. R has now gone home for the night, coming back tomorrow. Y, her son, daughter-in-law and brood came in this afternoon to have books signed etc; when they had gone Geraldine with some cream cakes came from lunch party. The most perfect spring day, garden full of bird-song and everything bursting into leaf and flower.
© Anthony Lawton 2012

Geraldine was a dear friend of many many years, a neighbour.

Rosemary Sutcliff’s 1989-92 Diary propped amongst her books

Rosemary Sutcliff 1992 Diary resting against books from her library

Photo © Anthony Lawton 2012