“Practiced this morn. It was awful. Concert was a great success tonight.“ Monday, December 11, 1944
16 Sat. I cleaned the living room, washed & waxed the floor. Took me most of the morning, moving furniture etc. We put up the tree tonight, Dad fixed the box for it. We decorated it with snow. Etc.
17 Sun. I did quite a bit of typing today. We all went to White Gift Service in town tonight. It was real nice. Went to Aunt Mena’s for lunch. Mom stayed in. We sang awhile.
18 Mon. We were up about 7.30. Did most of the work, then I rode the bike to school. I practiced with the kids – for the concert – all the musical items. This afternoon I stayed & watched the play. Miss Ferrell & Melvin came over this evening.
19 Tues. Went to school again & practiced all morn. Rode bike home at noon. Got the men’s dinner ready, as they were hauling. They fixed the typewriter, then I went to town with them one load, came back the next. Mom came home tonight.
20 Wed. Mom did the washing. I made a glasses cleaner for Mr. McGugan. Did a few things then after Mom & I had dinner, went to school & practiced this afternoon.
21 Thurs. Practiced this morn. It was awful. Concert was a great success tonight. Music went fine. Radio program made a hit. I received some gifts off the tree. A lovely cedar chest of stationery from the teacher & pupils.
22 Fri. Hurried like the dickens this morn — made ice-cream. Went in and had dinner with Aunt Mena & Uncle Tom. Doris called for me, and we called at Stuarts then went out to Colemans at 3. Had a nice visit with Gordon. Went to Snider concert tonight. It was very long & boring. Had lunch at C’s, then got home around home.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.”
You told me to remind you mid-January about a guest post on my blog about the BCATP.