Feb 1 Monday

Letter from Deyá asking for mony money : war taxes, p instalment on Can Mado, no income from cars, men work Amador's wages. Another draft of the poem: now called Big-head.

Jenny came up to Town: in a place at 15 Basil St. She lunched with Karl. We gave her her new ring.

John & Lucie all day. John gave me a watercolour of the Place garden & Lucie gave Laura a small Bristol glass scent bottle & I them some 14 Bristol marbles: & introduced Lucy to 'my friend' Mr Mills for clasps.

With Jenny to Green-Armytage who hopes to give her a clean bill of health on Wednesday & to a blood test opposite at 6 Harley St. G.A. gave Jenny good advice about men & about nursing homes. Goodbye to John & Lucy. Epilogue; & checking Dictionary. Bed at 2.15 as usual these days.

Feb 2 Tuesday

Epilogue.

Dentist for last time.

Lunch with Michael Sadleir & O.K. at Josef. Goodbye & saw Len's Colour Box, Rainbow Dance, Birth of a Robotshort movies by Len Lye at G.P.O. General Post Office Film unit.

SallyChilver KG to tea. Long talk about Soc-Democracy.

Supper at Maisies. Then Talk about problem of women over 40, and more important problem of truth.

Talk with Cecil ? eds., seen for first time; outburst against Charles for Sphere interview & Bones for victimization letter. Sensible & kind. Though Catholic, hoped Govt Government would win.

Work on Epilogue late.

Feb 3 Wednesday.

David (Graves) came to say goodbye. Jenny to lunch too and Margaret Russell who mended hole in carpet & sewed for us.

Epilogue.

Travellers cheques at Bank.

Sent £75 to Deyá.

Alix, Harry, Robin to tea.

Bristol brown & yellow necklace for 5/- from 'my friend' Mr Mills KG. Stamps & album for Leonard. Goodbye to Margaret.

Letters late.

Epilogue.

Feb 4 Thursday

So tired, am smoking again.

Goodbye to J.F. (suggested Honor should help him with his book & increase his fees by £1000 a year.)

To Korda at his house: flu & a board-meeting. Very nice to us. Goodbye. Promised work in 3 months time & payment for Claudius scenario.

Changed garnet hoop ring for cat's eye + 30/- at Julius.

Lunch with David Reeves, & he brought us L. the jewelcase finished.

Bought bird's eye maple & marquisantsmarcasite KG p(toilet) box for Laura 8/- at my friend's Mr Mills eds.. Marguerite packed all day.

To Sally and Richard's in their new house at Hampstead – their first guests. Nuptial chocolate in inlaid pearl box from Egyptian Embassy.

Alix & Harry goodbye late.

* Finished Epilogue at 3.30.

Maisie gave us me a brooch with amethyst matrix & Laura a pinchbeck chain.

Feb 5 Friday.

Goodbyes to Harry, Maisie, Jenny (lunch at Canuto's) etc. Packing.

Epilogue sent to Constable.

Lock (French) 3/6, silver buckle 4/- from my friend Mr Mills eds..

Instructions to Honor about Wills (sent the wills to the bank)

* To Lugano Ticino, in Switzerland KG

(Special tie from Harry.)

4.30 from Victoria calm crossing no incidents (luggage expressed) at all until BasleFrance eds. where supper nearly 3 hours later than scheduled (11.15 for 8.30). Missed train connection there so Schw & Emmie missed us.

At Hotel Belle River-Ziepert paying 10 fr francs a day (21 to £1). Carnival on. Taxi to town & walk back.

Feb 6 Saturday

More dull travelling, uncomfortable night (no sleepers) in train.

No customs troubles. Arrived at 2.30.

Missed Schw & Strenge & had difficulty in finding them.

Affectionate greeting.

They suggested Hotel Belle Rive-ZiepertZieber KG, 10 fr francs a day (21 to £) Coffee with them & talk of Deyá etc. L. K. & I by taxi to centre of town. (Carnival on) Quite nice but looks expensive.

Wagon Litssleeper car eds. man prepared us for expense: said that there was a lot of underground tension owing to rise of prices, but political combinations not articulate.

Feb 7 Sunday

Woke 10 o'clock after 12 hour sleep.

Taking things easy because of boil. Daily Telegraph of yesterday.

Good food; Italo-German.

Laura slept all afternoon, I began Troy list of characters.

Coffee at Schw & Str's. We gave him the Victoria stampbox and her the steel acorn earrings and silver buckle.

To bed early and worked till 12.30 on Troy list of characters. Finished it.

Feb 8 Monday.

Hunting for flats: Str. & Schw. helped.

Nearly took one in Paradiso but L thought it not quite the thing.

L. bought a gun-metal watch 10 fr francs & had a hair cut.

Otherwise nothing today except airy food & I slept in afternoon.

Fall of Malaga reported.

Gave acorn earrings, silver buckle & Victorian stamp-box to Str. & Schw.

Enclosure – Carnevale di Lugano 1937 Poster

[This poster has not yet been marked up.]

Feb 9 Tuesday (Shrove)

Went by car to various recommended flats – Castagnola, Mascagno, Paradiso etc & even had a look at Gandria – but nothing. So took the halfhouse we nearly took yesterday. Villa Guidi, an ex-Milanese palace. Signora Poggi – her son, an advocate & art-critic – Italian & has a feeling for cats & alt old fashioned things. 150 fr francs a month.

On way to Gandria L said dangerous road. No, safe road, dangerous view.

Carnival – saw children's scooter race in Plaza.

Again in Town at night.

Dancing in square to Swiss music.

Helping Laura late with Troy Index of Characters.

Feb 10 Wednesday

* Move from Hotel to Villa Poggi Guida delayed by burst boiler & workmen repairing.

Unpacking.

Supper at Hotel.

(Laura's uncomfortable bed: changed with her.)

Str. & Schw to visit. Schw. thought the Trojan ring a fake, & discussed living in the villa after we had gone.

Bought things at Italian shop.

Feb 11 Thursday

Settled in. Ida, a maid who speaks French & German.

Rearranging furniture moving pictures. Met Guido Poggi, a young lawyer interested in art. Got letters. Wrote postcards. separated from a rich German wife. Short story life, Laura says.

Feb 12 Friday

Still settling in.

To Lugano: bought various small things: an Italian bed spread at Innovationedepartment store? eds. and cushions 13.40 francs in all. Tour round shops in Paradiso.

Writing post cards.

Got first mail.

Schw & Str to housewarming.

Motto for Lugano: Visitors are begged to leave this apartment in the same condition as that in which they would wish to find it.

Christmas roses brought from Mount San Salvatore by children Fiores belli beautiful flowers? eds. (Short story, & dear).

Feb 13 (1937) Saturday

Claudius F.V. Several pp pages but in difficulties without the film script so often promised. Wrote to Korda for it, and for the promised cheque.

Laura finds her bed uncomfortable, still in spite of removing one mattress.

I went to Lugano & hired one for 12 fr francs a month. Also bought an alarm clock for 15 fr. francs Put up the bed and took down old one.

Went into Lugano with L. & K. I bought a red purse for 2.50. Tongue sandwiches in Olympia. Laura bought a footstool in leather case 13 fr. francs I mended her broken jet beads with black sealing wax. Regulated my watch.

Claudius again at night.

In Lugano there are a great number of food shops, watch shops, lamp shops, knick-knack & leather shops. No antique shops, almost no china shops.

Feeling well: still have boil.

Feb 14 Sunday.

Woke up chilled. Walked to Gentillino on the hill: shops open there though Sunday.

Claudius. Lunch at Ziebert Hotel.

L going over Harry's stuff.

In afternoon to Campione, with Schw, Str, K, L, across the lake bridge by car, back by steamer. Italian flags, blackshirts, aggressiveness.

Went into the Casino restaurant: had to leave because Pippa Strenge's terrier KG was a dog.

Monument commemorating sanctions.

Then tea at Buri's at Lugano. Headache. Slept.

Feb 15 Monday.

Worked all day on answer to Laura's Letter on International Affairsfor The World and Ourselves eds., with walk to Lugano in afternoon and where bought an Italian brown & grey & black silk blanket, 10 fr francs , and a black and yellow straw basket for me (3.50) and a red leather powder box for Laura 3.50 and a carpet for Karl 3.70.

First real days' work for weeks. Stopped at 12.

(Work started at Denham on the Claudius film)

Feb 16 Tuesday

Worked all day again on my 'answer'for The World and Ourselves eds.. Lugano, coffee Olympia and bought a red handkerchief with alpine flowers 1 franc 10. Laura, sun-glasses. ; Laura bought me a black play basket with buff lines 3.50

In evening, Laura who had been going over Harry's stuff got an attack of migraine. I wrea read Kirkegaarde & Huck Finn Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. New York : Charles L. Webster and Co., 1884. eds. to her.

Feb 17 Wednesday.

Worked again at Answerfor The World and Ourselves eds.. Laura started work on Schools.

Coffee at Schw & Strenge's and supper at Lugano in a big ba café called Cambrinsi's Gambrinus KG.

Finished my answerfor The World and Ourselves eds., after three drafts – about 3500 words – at 11 pm.

Reading Mrs Riddell 's Head of the Firm Head of the Firm A Novel by Mrs. J.H. Riddell. New York: J.W. Lovell Co., 1891. eds.

Feb 18 Thursday.

14 galleys of Epilogue proofs; Heathen page-proofs; 1/2 of Alan's novel, typed. Once more over my answerfor The World and Ourselves eds.; gave it to Karl to type. Checked Epilogue proofs to date & with Laura.

To Lugano police with Karl: extension permission till until last day of April, then an extension. Bought an Italian gold (like Mallorquin) little finger ring 18 fr francs .

Laura not well, did not go out. ('Schools')

Picture of Nicholas Deyá cat KG & John's watercolour of the Place came framed (15 fr francs 50 to pay!)

Cooked anis anise bulbsfennel KG (for first time).

Worked on Claudius film version.

Strong Govt Government counter offensive on the Jarama.

Feb 19 Friday.

Laura did not go out today not feeling well. I went to Lugano & bought another silk Italian blanket (14 fr francs ) bigger & with more gold in, & nacre buttons at Innovazione for L's red dress.

Claudius F.V. several pp pages waiting for script from Korda at places.

Three chapters of the Heathen, checking with Laura, & the first ch. chapter of Schools.

Leman has been sending red-atrocity pictures to Deyá from Danzig.

Feb 20, Saturday.

Began Mrs Oliphant's 'At his Gates At His Gates A Novel by Margaret Oliphant. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1872. eds.'

More proofs of Epilogue. Reading proofs of Heathen, and typescript of Year of Damage.

We 3 went to Lugano in the sun in the morning, walking.

(Claudius F.V.)

Smoking again, carelessly.

Feb 21 Sunday.

Going over Heathen with Laura: and Year of Damage.

Wrote foreword to Claudius.

Hot sunny day. Lunch at Ziebert, coffee at Schw & Str.

Emmie has heard that the pinks are out like mad at Deyá. Months too early & last year they did not bloom at all. And roses.

Bad stomach these last two days.

* Non-Intervention in Spain begun.

Feb 22 Monday

Epilogue, Heathen proofs all day.

In afternoon the Poggis & Schw. & Str to coffee. Poggi trying to sell Schw a Lotto that isn't, Schw. trying to get better things yet.

The Laundry man: You wash yourselves now?

Night walk in rain to Lugano: empty arcades full illuminations on lake side.

Feb 23 Tuesday.

Sam, Catherine & David have all written: not Jenny yet. Nancy says J has not yet got a job.

Epilogue (52 galleys off) & The Heathen to Ch. chapter 11. all day; except to Lugano

Laura bought a white silk scarf for 5.90 fr francs .

Feb 24 Wed.

Epilogue, The Heathen, a little Claudius.

Feeling better of my stomach.

Telegram from Eliz. Wright that Korda is travelling Eastward & may she come for 10 days as paying guest. We wired she was welcome, at a hotel nearby.

Telegram to Korda asking for money; the scenario; decision on Refugee film.

To Lugano: ordered two white Angora knitted caps for Laura, & Laura bought me a Joseph-coloured silk handkerchief case.

American Antigua came: with an incorrect cover.

Worked till 1.30.

Reading Mark Twain's Man who corrupted Hadleyburg The Man Who Corrupted hadleyburg short story by Mark Twain etc.

Feb 25 Thursday

Epilogue, Heathen, Claudius all day. Hot sun.

In Lugano bought toys for Laura's work-room – a Swiss village in a cellophane bag, 1 fr franc 20, a donkey and cart 1.50, a wooden cow 1.50. A silk handkerchief bag for Laura.

First three answers to Int.Letter

Apparently Jenny has not got the promised job at Denham.

About 25 letters (between L & me) including congrats to Eddie on his knighthood & Tate Gallery appointment.

Snow mountains in evening pink. Karl said: You'd expect God to come foward, hat in hand. All my own work!

Worked till until nearly 2.

Feb 26 Friday.

No reply from Korda yet.

Worked on Heathen.

* Sent Heathen off to printers.

Claudius, a little Epilogue.

Laura resuming work on 'Year of Damage'. I slept a little in afternoon.

Worked late on another draft of Country Mansion: four new verses.

Enclosure – clipping from Heraldo de Madrid

[This clipping has not yet been marked up.]

Feb 27 Saturday

Another draft of Before Bedlam and of The Goblet. Year of Damage

Claudius F.V. The equivalent of 90 typed pages – out of 150 – now done.

It rained all day.

In Lugano bought a Heraldo de Madrid, purposely undated, but probably Feb 21, with detailed accounts of the Jarama fighting.

Feb 28th, Sunday.

It rained all day, then snowed.

Claudius, Schools with Laura. Lunch at the hotel. Year of Damage. Cafe with Str & Schw. Str is going to Germany tomorrow to help her sister move flat. Nickel Schw. turned up.

To the cinema after supper with Karl. Old fashioned bad sentimental film about a professor and the illegitimate child of the janitor's daughter – by Pirandello.

But nice walking back, the snow having cleared.

Tried to but could not read Michael Sadleir's These Foolish Things These Foolish Things A Story by Michael Sadleir. London: Constable, 1937. eds..