“Wilf offered me a promotion, namely doing the Books at the Oil Dept each afternoon, with a $5.00 per month raise.“ Monday, November 4, 1946
3 Sun. Mon, Wilma & I went to Anniversary Service which was very nice. Music all good. Les. Leigh from Westminster Church spoke. Splendid & comical. Mae & Monty came down before two slow time. Had a nice afternoon. They left right after supper. I read this evening & be darned if I didn’t get to bed again. Doris came up & stayed. We talked awhile, but boy. I’m getting plenty of sleep.
4 Mon. Absolutely beautiful this aft. Wilf offered me a promotion, namely doing the Books at the Oil Dept each afternoon, with a $5.00 per month raise. I accepted for though my time will be broken, I want the experiences. Isabelle & I brought the car to town. We went to Church Potluck Supper this aft. They dished it our for us so we could have eaten more. Fair program. Mr Sorrell had me on the stage for a singing program with 5 others.
5 Tues. Did a little work on the Oil Dept Books this aft. Get the general idea of them. Isabelle & I went to the 7 o’clock show tonight. It was very good. Bette Davis in “A Stolen Life.” She took the part of twins. Her acting was very good. Saw them both at the same time quite often. I must have a touch of the flu. Felt pretty rotten when I got home. Set my hair & went to bed sick to the stomach.
6 Wed. Sure didn’t feel well this morn but went to work anyway, & took a singing lesson. Came home & went to bed. Felt better when I got up. Cleaned up, & Keith came in at 8 o’clock. We went down to Margaret & Gordon’s. Roda Watts & Stan were there. We played Rummoli. Had very enjoyable time. Kids are all nice. Lovely lunch, fruit salad, ice-cream, cake etc. Home at 12.10 but didn’t go in until 1.30. I still don’t feel very well, but Keith’s affection helped. We started to go in 5 times. He says he is coming up for my Birthday.
7 Thurs. Went to the Oil Department this aft & worked from 2 til 5. They gave me a ride back to the store. I felt awful all morning, no worse than usual, but was a little better this afternoon. Read & went to bed this evening. Mr. Stewart & we girls only ones home. Rest went to Man. I was only one in this eve.
8 Fri. Worked this aft at Oil Shed until 4 o’clock. Accomplished quite a bit. Ross gave me a ride back. Was kept busy until six. Went to Commencement with Is. Again, though I didn’t feel like it. Chorus was very nice. Home at eleven.
9 Sat. Isabelle & I worked until 12.30, then had the afternoon off, & the folks & David called for us at Stewarts at 10 o’clock & we set out for Balcarres in the car. Arrived at Fort San at 4.15. Went up and saw Aunt Ellen for awhile, met Uncle Allan there, & he came home with us to Balcarres . We made supper here, then Wilma kept the kids. The rest of us walked downtown for awhile. Came back & had some music.
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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.