“Stopped at the City Hall on my way home at noon & voted Aldermen & School Boards. “ Wednesday, December 11, 1946
8 Sun. Was awake at 8, so got up. The four of us went to Sunday School. Had a discussion on Temperance. I played the piano for S.S. Also played & sang at Boyles, & read the Book Review of the “Egg & I.” Keith & I lay on the chesterfield. Dozed awhile. Went to Church tonight than Mrs, & Mr. B. came home with us. Mom made lunch. Keith & I went for a walk to Sterlings gate & back. Is. is sick but we talked & had a whale of a time. Bed by twelve.
9 Mon. Kept busy all day. Stewarts went to Regina, so Doris & I were alone for dinner & supper, as Isabelle didn’t come in. Keith came up while we were doing dishes to my surprise. House looked like the dickens but he stayed anyway. We played some records, & he went down with me to the alley as we bowled at 9.15. Got 2 points.
10 Tues. Wilf was away to Regina today, so Grace & I held down the Office. Made out O.K. Did a lot of filing for Isabelle and Ross & Mr Powers didn’t come to sort the letters we requested then to C.C.Y.M. tonight. Mr Broughton organized a panel discussion on The Health Scheme in which I took part, which was very interesting. Good meeting. Planned our Christmas eve.
11 Wed. Was very busy all morning. Stopped at the City Hall on my way home at noon & voted Aldermen & School Boards. Slept awhile this aft, then washed my hair. Finished it at 5.20, and Mr. Springer phoned shortly after to say I would have to play for the Old Timers Dance. My hair still wasn’t dry, & it was terribly cold out. Played from ten until two. My arms ached.
12 Thurs. Still quite cold today. Wind rose to quite strong. Doris went back to work tonight. I was dead so went to bed at 7.45. Finally got to sleep at nine. My kidneys have been driving me nuts. I make about a dozen trips up-stairs a day.
13 Fri. Pretty good day. Took a bath after supper tonight and set all my hair again. Doris went back to work this evening. Still cold out. I got most of my things packed for tomorrow.
14 Sat. Had a good day at work. I took some bolts out for Russ Garland, so they came up this evening. Mom & Dad both waited in for us. I got all cleaned-up, & Keith finally came after 8.30. I was thrilled. We kids played Rummoli, while the rest played whist. Had a nice lunch. Folks went to bed about 12.30 or so. Keith stayed until after 2.00 We talked on a lot of deep subjects. He keeps mentioning the future. Hopes that some day we will be one.
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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.