I have always been a great diary reader. Those people who publish their diaries have given us permission to have a peek into their world. As I sit here pondering what I have achieved during April I though I would have a look through some of the 'Diaries' that I have read and share their writings with you.
Monty Don's - Ivington Diaries
30 April 2006
Sarah says that I am like an old dog plodding round the same beat morning and night, but for me the walk is measured with constant change. Routine can be rhythm. My grandfather attributed his exceptionally long life to a routine devoid of variation. Living was grooved into place for a remarkably fit and healthy ninety-seven years. Meal times arriving like Swiss trains and he went to Harrods once a fortnight for a haircut and some ham.
Mrs. Milburn's Diaries
Tuesday 28th April 1942
There is much raiding by the R.A.F. Oh dear, what terrible destruction everywhere - a terrible war! Norwich was badly raided last night, while we went for Cologne, and Exeter has had it now and Bristol again. Hitler is surely Satan let loose.
The War and Uncle Walter
28 April 1940
This morning at home I heard the cuckoo for the first time this season. The wandering voice with a welcome message.
The Urban Gardener - Elspeth Thompson
28 April 1996
It's a long time since I've been this tired and this dirty. I have not taken up mud wrestling (though to look at me two hours ago you might have thought I had), nor some other grubby hobby. No - I have just taken on an allotment.
Helen Dillon on Gardening
30 April 1995
Silver foliage is a brilliant mixer. Adding something with silver leaves has a miraculous effect on an existing group of plants. It's like buying a tube of white paint for the paint box - suddenly you can make lots of new colours and paint highlights into the borders with little patches of silver.
A Tale of Two Gardens - Elspeth Thompson
30 April 2000
Lovely fresh spring growth is everywhere - but so, unfortunately, are the pests that love it, too. My morning walk around the back garden is peppered with excitement and anxiety in equal measure. Look! The climbing rose is covered in pink-tinged new leaves and buds - but just look at the greenfly all over them.
Notes from Walnut Tree Farm - Roger Deakin
28th April
When you look at the water, you look at the surface, as most of us do, most of the time. But there are literally millions of tiny creatures existing beneath the surface. So the interesting thing to do is to look beneath the surface, to inhabit that strange land. Going down into the water is just the same impulse as going up into the mountains, leaving the median territory of ordinary day-to-day life. You could spend a lifetime studying a hedgerow, or a pond. Some years have elapsed since Small is Beautiful.
The Kitchen Diaries - Nigel Slater
28 April
A still, quiet morning, as humid as a Turkish bath. I sit barefoot in the garden, sipping green tea and listening to the sound of church bells. The Mirabelle plum tree at the bottom is a mass of infant fruit the size of a peppercorn. Now in its fourth year, this will be the tree's first real crop. The damson, for so long a spindly and struggling bush, has got a spurt on this year, and is dotted with young fruit. I worry, though, that it will never produce enough for a pie or a pot of jam.
The Tree House Diaries - Nick Weston
26 April 2009
I woke to glorious sunshine on my face. The weather forecast had unreliably predicted rain - and not for the first time. As I rolled over I saw Chris sitting up staring at something. I followed his line of sight and saw what had caught his eye - a muntjac - the smallest of Britain's deer species. It was about 15ft away, having a gentle stroll past our camp. It wandered up to the tree and had a sniff about before Tim rolled over with a groan and a loud fart. The muntjac, startled by Tim's bodily functions, beat a hasty retreat into the undergrowth.
Each of these entries for the end of April, is unique to that particular person, and shows how interesting and varied individual lives are. If I were writing a diary entry for today it would say - Raining again, when is it going to stop.
 |
| via amazon |
30 April 2006
Sarah says that I am like an old dog plodding round the same beat morning and night, but for me the walk is measured with constant change. Routine can be rhythm. My grandfather attributed his exceptionally long life to a routine devoid of variation. Living was grooved into place for a remarkably fit and healthy ninety-seven years. Meal times arriving like Swiss trains and he went to Harrods once a fortnight for a haircut and some ham.
 |
| via amazon |
Tuesday 28th April 1942
There is much raiding by the R.A.F. Oh dear, what terrible destruction everywhere - a terrible war! Norwich was badly raided last night, while we went for Cologne, and Exeter has had it now and Bristol again. Hitler is surely Satan let loose.
 |
| via amazon |
28 April 1940
This morning at home I heard the cuckoo for the first time this season. The wandering voice with a welcome message.
 |
| via amazon |
28 April 1996
It's a long time since I've been this tired and this dirty. I have not taken up mud wrestling (though to look at me two hours ago you might have thought I had), nor some other grubby hobby. No - I have just taken on an allotment.
 |
| via amazon |
30 April 1995
Silver foliage is a brilliant mixer. Adding something with silver leaves has a miraculous effect on an existing group of plants. It's like buying a tube of white paint for the paint box - suddenly you can make lots of new colours and paint highlights into the borders with little patches of silver.
 |
| via amazon |
30 April 2000
Lovely fresh spring growth is everywhere - but so, unfortunately, are the pests that love it, too. My morning walk around the back garden is peppered with excitement and anxiety in equal measure. Look! The climbing rose is covered in pink-tinged new leaves and buds - but just look at the greenfly all over them.
 |
| via amazon |
28th April
When you look at the water, you look at the surface, as most of us do, most of the time. But there are literally millions of tiny creatures existing beneath the surface. So the interesting thing to do is to look beneath the surface, to inhabit that strange land. Going down into the water is just the same impulse as going up into the mountains, leaving the median territory of ordinary day-to-day life. You could spend a lifetime studying a hedgerow, or a pond. Some years have elapsed since Small is Beautiful.
 |
| via amazon |
28 April
A still, quiet morning, as humid as a Turkish bath. I sit barefoot in the garden, sipping green tea and listening to the sound of church bells. The Mirabelle plum tree at the bottom is a mass of infant fruit the size of a peppercorn. Now in its fourth year, this will be the tree's first real crop. The damson, for so long a spindly and struggling bush, has got a spurt on this year, and is dotted with young fruit. I worry, though, that it will never produce enough for a pie or a pot of jam.
 |
| via amazon |
26 April 2009
I woke to glorious sunshine on my face. The weather forecast had unreliably predicted rain - and not for the first time. As I rolled over I saw Chris sitting up staring at something. I followed his line of sight and saw what had caught his eye - a muntjac - the smallest of Britain's deer species. It was about 15ft away, having a gentle stroll past our camp. It wandered up to the tree and had a sniff about before Tim rolled over with a groan and a loud fart. The muntjac, startled by Tim's bodily functions, beat a hasty retreat into the undergrowth.
Each of these entries for the end of April, is unique to that particular person, and shows how interesting and varied individual lives are. If I were writing a diary entry for today it would say - Raining again, when is it going to stop.
Yes, it's raining here too. A great collection of diaries there, I haven't read any of them.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's raining here! It's lovely to read others' thoughts and you have a good collection. Patricia
ReplyDeleteI like reading diaries but not modern day ones. The ones I like were written in the 1930s and 40s. Mrs Milburn's Diary I have had for many years and it's dog-eared from being read so many times. Have you come across Betty's Wartime Diary 1939-1945? I think you might enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteRaining again here too! I have a copy of The Kitchen Diaries on my bookshelves too as well as a couple of Elspeth Thompsons's books. There is something quite fascinating about diaries, I expect it is being allowed into someones everyday life and thoughts - you have a lovely collection:)
ReplyDeleteI think blogging is a lot like reading people's diaries. I used to love having 'pen friends' when I was at school. I see my time spent posting as a 21st Century version of this! All the best, Jx
ReplyDeleteWas intending to comment earlier but got distracted. Opening line was going to read about our lovely weather but alas it has changed in my moments of distraction to rain and wind here also. Lovely selection of diaries some of which I have flicked thru others I've read. Thinking of keeping one myself given recent events in my personal life. Did so as a child and like you had many a pen friend while at school. Suppose social media and blogging is the modern day equivalent to pen friends and writing in your diary :)
ReplyDeleteNice post! I love diaries too.I think it is great to be allowed into the lives of others in this way.I must read the Monty Don one.
ReplyDeletelol