23rd December 1939

To our surprise, Mark and Rowe brought our furniture to bungalow this afternoon. Floors had been painted and were still wet, so they had to return with it on 27th December. Our letters and those from Pitt & Scott telling of its arrival had crossed each other. After 27th we were terribly busy getting unpacked, which was very hard as everything could not possibly be put into the four roomed bungalow. Two huge Persian carpets could not be used, large mahogany writing desk, belonging to mahogany suite had to be put in garage, together with big round oak table, top of buffet, several chandeliers and three large armchairs. All this stuff was later sent to auction after Excise granted us permission to sell it, for it had been brought into the country free of duty as household goods.