27th February 1940

Finally, we heard of gas pokers, bought two and things went smoothly, for we were almost going crazy over the fires. In mother's bedroom we had installed a Cosy stove which heated very nicely, but hall and two other bedrooms were linke refrigerators. In the twm bungalow to ours live Mr and Mrs Truman, a childless couple, but they have a dog, Scamp, a cocker Spaniel and a car. On the other side Mrs Leigh lives, whose father owns large nurseries and fields all over Topsham. She has 3 children, Mary 14, Anthea 12, and Gilly, 4 years old. Next door to them is Anne Pyne 9,their cousin.

In spite of severest winter for 50 years in Devon, thermometer at 16 below freezing point, some little white-headed, green petticoated snowdrops peeped out of the garden middle of January. Our first flowers which we planted and put into the rockery to have them for Marion's birthday in March.