On Friday I went to St. Margareth Island to an evening performance with Pertile the Italian singer. A ballet followed. It was Irene who produced the tickets, she rang me up in the morning. We were still in the most awful mess as the painter has not finished, but I didn’t mind and made her sit down…

We are in a most awful mess. Some of the walls are being distempered and one cleaned. Never thought it meant all this. Can’t move from dirt. Of course couldn’t keep appointment on Tuesday. ‘Phoned it off, arranged for Wednesday, but couldn’t keep it either. Didn’t ‘phone however. This time I’ll only…