March 21

Dad used to say he was born in the middle of the night and since they didn’t have a precise clock, grandma didn’t know if his actual birthday was march 20th or march 21st. Today he would have been 93. Can’t believe he’s been gone for 6 years already. I love you, dad.

Saturday 4

After “Chota-hazri” Jack, Frank and I went exploring about the khud side – I was darn funked of falling. We slept in an old stream bed all nite. At night it looks like a grave-yard with long stones all pointing the same way. We tried to make a bridge across the stream but it wasn’t too hot. 3 girls and escorts came here – Marjorie Miller, Kutter Parker, and Zaida Harvey. Frank and Read fooled about with them all day and invited them here for a cup of coffee. Heylep went home with them. Newton and I found a swell little pool and spent about 30 minutes diving for a broken blue ring at the bottom. We went swimming at the big pool with the girls. We did most of the swimming. We have changed our sleeping place tonite. We ought to get some sleep. About 10.00 it began to sprinkle so we scrammed into a cave and slept there all night. A rat licked my cheek and I got awfully scared. Newton snored like heck so I didn’t get much rest.

[Googled Chota-hazri:  Pukka and Chota Hazri are Hindi words adopted by the English during the time of the Raj. Pukka means, basically, 'well cooked'. For the English it came to mean first class or proper. Chota Hazri is little breakfast or early morning tea taken before dawn. For the English, it means bed tea or light breakfast snack. Burra Hazri would be the later big breakfast.]

Monday 29 (April)

Up late. But woke up at 6.30 and did my German. Fixed the dining room table. Went to school for one period and did typing – S. Ogden and Hollester were in the same room and they kept me talking so I didn’t get an extra lot done. David gave me an A in typing. Very kind of him. Began putting the desk together.  Lee’s films came again today – not as funny this time. Today is Mother’s birthday. Miss Rolle came for lunch. Mrs. Gilson was here for tea. We had ice cream for dinner – to celebrate. I have started to read “Four Faces of Siva”. I like it.

[talking to mom about how ingrained it always was in his personality, to fix things, figure out how things worked.  She remembered he'd told her even when he was small the servants used to call him "the little engineer".]

Friday 3

Packed up my things in the morning. Had 2 periods of Manual in the morn. After German I went and helped Newton pack up the Kurdi (?). We 2 went early – before school closed. Kempti Falls is a beautiful stream about 7 miles NW of Mussoorie. You go over 2 or 3 small ranges. Had to pay toll 6 pice a head. We almost forgot the salt. I got 3 nice blisters because my shoes were loose. Read and Heyden came about 7.00 P.M. We had potatoes, eggs and coffee. Drank coffee until 10.00. When the coffee was low we just put in some more water and let it boil. The last cup tasted like dish water. None of us slept a wink this night. I chose a rotten sleeping place and it was rather cold all night at 2.00 A.M. Newton got up and stirred the fire around. I got up too and when he saw me he began to laugh which woke the rest up. No more coffee at night. Towards morning I managed to sleep about 2 hrs. When I woke up the rest had come back from swimming and were starting grub.

Thursday 2

Did one period of Typing and 2 of Manual training in the morn. I broke a mallet handle so I had to make a new one on the lathe. Got a reply from Mrs. Campbell. She seems to think very highly of me and said she didn’t mind if I went about with Joan only there were to be no clandestine meetings like we had last year. That’s O.K. with me because there isn’t even a dog’s chance of having any this year. There is a C.E. Social at Jabarket on Monday. I am going – so is Joan – but I didn’t take her. Hope I can have some fun with her. I’m going to Kempti Falls tomorrow. Went to the buzz with Jack Newton and bought supplies then I went down to the Hastie and borrowed Ernie’s swimming suit. I hear I got A. in German! Feeling quite pleased with things in general! Yawse!

Wednesday 1 (May)

Did my typing in the morn. Senior recital today – the last 2 periods. Music on the whole was very decent. Had Hockey over at Taylors Flat. Girls played. Jean was there. Poor dame – I rather pity her because she’s first out with all boys. My fault too, I guess. Saw “Moon” Wellons. He’s the same old skinny guy. Walked home with Beep. Read most of the day. Borrowed a pair of pants from Mark H. for a pattern.

Tuesday 30

Did one period of Typing in the morning. Mark H. wants me to go to Kempti Falls on Friday eve. with a whole gang of others. He wants to go especially because his girl is supposed to be going. After German I came home and read for the rest of the afternoon. The frame came down from Saba Ram’s (one day late, of course, as all things in India are). I tacked the old cover of a camp cot on top. Mother has it for a reading couch. Mother spent all day white washing and painting her room. I managed to get most of the paint on to my blazer.