Diary Entry: Got 9.40 train to Inverness. Foggy when arrived. Stayed at Y.W.C.A. Viewhill, Old Edinburgh Road.

Diary notes: Visiting Scotland in November is a risky enterprise re: the weather, so if it was only ‘foggy’ KPD was quite lucky!

Diary Entry: Went with W.R.N.S. “Nora” by bus to Braemar. Saw Balmoral. Supper N.A.A.F.I. Club.

Diary notes: The ‘W.R.N.S.’ were better known as the ‘Wrens’. Presumably ‘Nora’ was someone KPD met in theY.W.C.A., perhaps she was also using up her leave!

The NAAFI was a company created by the British government on 9 December 1920 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy,_Army_and_Air_Force_Institutes

Diary Entry: 9.55 train to Aberdeen. Stayed Y.W.C.A. Academy St. 3 tier bunks. Saw “The Way to the Stars”.

Diary notes: “The Way to the Stars” (called “Johnny in the Clouds” in the USA, based on a poem by John Pudney) was a British war drama directed by Anthony Asquith, co-written by Terence Rattigan and starring Michael Redgrave, John Mills and Stanley Holloway.  More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_to_the_Stars 

By The cover art can be obtained from Amazon.com or United Artists., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32134835

Diary Entry: Caught 9.30am. From Kings X [Cross] to Edinburgh. Stayed Y.W.C.A. Shandwich Place. Went to New Cinema.

Diary notes: KPD mentions this last holiday in wartime in part 7 of her childhood memories – there she admits that she used a free railway warrant for the travel and also she stayed in hostels “in uniform” – presumably as she either didn’t have to pay or paid less! 

Diary Entry: Spent most of day with Lilian Pitt at new home 140 Spur Road.

Diary notes: The Pitts, who were were friends and neighbours of the Dells in Orpington. Elaine Dell, wife of Martin Dell at this time, was a Pitt. ‘Spur Road’ is also in Orpington. 

Diary Entry: Started leave & home about 8pm.

Diary notes: KPD seems to have been astute enough to make sure she used up all the leave she was owed!

Diary Entry: Bad fog early. Eastcote. Curzon St Took Miss Daley to billet. Went to see “Johnny Frenchman”.

Diary notes: ‘Miss Daley’ seems to have been another  A.T.S. officer and friend of KPD at around this period. This is the last mention of her in the diaries. 

“Johnny Frenchman” is a 1945 British film from the Ealing Studios, produced by Michael Balcon starring Tom Walls and Patricia Roc. See here for more details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Frenchman 

Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28156197

Diary Entry: Breakfast in bed.

Diary notes: Throughout her life KPD worked hard, and frequently spent time helping other, both inside and outside, her family. So we can excuse her the occasional mention of a day enjoying ‘Breakfast in bed’!

Diary Entry: Two trips to Eastcote. Went Greatwell for night with Mrs Kemp & Monica.

Diary notes: For ‘Eastcote’ see diary notes for 2rd October. 

The ‘Kemps’ were friends and former neighbours (when the Dells had lived in Berkhamsted). One, ‘Chrissie’, remained a friend until then end of her life. 

Diary Entry: Capt. Baxter & Tingey got discharge.

Diary notes: Clearly the number of days in the military for KPD’s friends and comrades were running out!