This page was entered manually from the paper originals, mainly between 6 December 2014 and 12 February 2015. The entries for 2 April 1963 to 4 April 1963 were added on 26 April 2017. Items in italics, like this, were added during this time.

Monday, 1 April 1963	KCT
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Today was April Fools day, but the various things I had planned did not exactly work out. In the morning, my temperature was normal, and I felt fine, and the doctor said that I could get up after lunch — why is it always after lunch?

When I went in to see Green, he actually tried to fool me by telling me that the whole school was going home today. he had hopes.

Gladwell was at the fort when the drinks came round, so I had to do the skivving. Not that absolutely unbearable, I suppose.

After that, I started to redraw the circuit for the communications receiver, and had got about as far as the end of the converter by lunch time.

After lunch, we decided to wait until sister told us to get up, and meanwhile watched Rose give a good imitation of Mansell in corps, with Mansell within earshot, of course.

After a while, Marke and Gladwell decided to get dressed, but I could not be fagged to.

About half an hour later, I heard a row going on about me next door, went in, discovered Burnfield and his radio, which had a defective pot. Quite a good job otherwise.

Nothing after lights out, so I went to the fort, read for a while, and then went in and talked to Green.

Tuesday, 2 April 1963	KCT
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I woke up this morning feeling none too good, and had a temperature of 37.8°. As a result, when along came the doctor, I was allowed not to get up. However, as I had traced my temperature to the fact that I had capok pillows, and my allergy was coming back, I asked nurse for a foam filled pillow, but she had none and couldn't be fagged to look for one. In utter disgust, I went in to Greens ward and started an argument about how civilized Malaya was. He has read a book about Malaya by an american “Anthropologist”.

In the middle of it all, Mrs Wilson walks in and tells me to go back to my ward, whereupon I reply that I have an allergy to the pillows, and ask her to tell nurse - as a result, she takes it as rudeness, and causes quite a row.

In the afternoon, Masheder lent me this month's Wireless world in exchange for a P.W.

Tea was horrible, but nurse did not find this any reason for blowing me up for writing “POISON” on one of the second hand spam sandwiches. Even said that she had told the weed (now absent). She afterwards threatened me with expulsion, and I asked her to bet. Blew me up, went to Clod and told him a pack of lies, including some about Green.

Clod came over in due course and threatened me with a beating next term, but will learn the truth from me.

Wednesday, 3 April 1963	KCT
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I woke up this morning with a temperature of 37.2°, and nurse decided that I was far too ill to get up. Just because she couldn't be fagged to get me a foam rubber pillow in the first place.

Sister is obviously in a furious bate with us, and came along during breakfast to say that if anything was left over from breakfast, nobody would get any lunch. The fort [toilet] got most of it.

I was tormented by the sight of people walking all over the place in the morning, and Walker offered to get me some food, and also my money from house bank.

He came back at about 2.30 with 1/-, which he told me was all I had, and I was fool enough to believe him. He then produced another £1, which was just as well.

He came back in another 10 minutes with a couple of packets of biscuits, for which I am to pay him in the holidays - if I ever get out. I won't tomorrow, according to Masheder.

Rose had a Gilbert and Sullivan fit at about 4.30, and carried on trying to sing various types of queer music until supper, which, being an end-of-term affair, was better than most.

Had a horrible night - again no pillow.

Thursday, 4 April 1963	KCT
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I woke up this morning at some unearthly hour, but could not go back to sleep for thinking of all the lucky blighters who were going home today.

From about 7.30 onwards, a great haste and bustle arose from those “doing” their night-cases. By 8.00, all but Green & Walker had left, and Green did too as soon as sister had given him some pills for the holidays. Walker, however, stayed for some time, his parents arriving late.

When everyone had gone, sister completely changed her views towards everybody, including me - alas, 'twas but a ruse to make me get up and help her do the skivving on the blankets, sheets, etc., However, I abstained once more on grounds of allergy, and listened to “Turtle Beach” by Radio Malaya, a monologue by Leslie's father on his favourite subject. Quite good

Leslie Hendrickson was a girl I had known in Kuala Lumpur before I came to England.

In the afternoon, sister let me go and pack, and apart from the fact that I had to see that old battleaxe Matron, all was well.

I was due back for tea by 3.00, but tea itself was not until 4.00, and was down in the waiting room with Zebedee and Rees. Quite an amusing conversation, really.

Supper followed en suite, and it was bloody good. Must have been the school prefects stuff. Roast chicken, etc.

After supper, I packed most of my night case and also noticed some coins which Green had left behind, and pocketed them.

Friday, 5 April 1963	KCT - NETHERTON HOUSE
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I was awoken this morning by sister shouting up the lift shaft that breakfast was ready. After that, I went over to the school, and an argument with the battleaxe. In the end, she made me leave the trunk, and as a result the taxi, who was already pushed for time, was late, and I missed my train, and I had to wait until 1000 hrs.

When I got back to Netherton, everybody was extremely pleased to see me (ahem!), and I discovered that the 52 receiver had been lying at the bottom of the coach house stairs for some time.

This is, of course, a photo from the web. In fact, it's not the way I remember it, but that's probably my recollection.

I promptly hauled it upstairs, unpacked it after lunch, and got it up on the table. However, I had yet to do the power supply and spent most of my time screwing an MT/AT on to the existing power supply chassis.

At about this time, Raymond, a new type, who is interested in radio, came in. Maybe it was his influence, but the power supply was a flop. I then took to rebuilding it on the original chassis that I got the unit in, and with a couple of additions and alterations managed to get the whole horrible looking mess going, and working. It works quite well apart from the fact that as anticipated, the voltage fluctuations and the potentiometers which drop the voltage are a bit noisy. Apart from that, it works fine.

Saturday, 6 April 1963	N.
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Slumbering peacefully at about 9.30 am0830 hrs this morning,

Clearly one of my first attempts to move to a 24 hours clock.

I was suddenly rudely awakened by Bev at the window, having climbed up the ladder outside. She then came in and asked for me to get up and to go to town with her, and she was sure that she would get lost otherwise. Damn her! However, out of the kindness of my heart, I got up and got dressed - obtained 10/- each from Mrs Baudouy, and went into town, where we bought some easter cards for Mum & Dad, Lalat, etc.

After that, I bought PW, some nuts and bolts, etc, and being desperately short of money, blew the rest of it on food from Madge Mellors. Then a long wait outside Parkona, while Paul said that Gui was a “something something”, whatever that is.

In the afternoon, Bev wanting to come down to the coach house, we gave it a spring clean, which did my asthma no good. However, when we went down to the house, Mrs Baudouy allowed it, and we moved Bevs sheets down. Then obtaining 5/- each from Mrs Baudouy, we went down to the village, to post our cards, and to obtain materials for a midnight feast, and we got quite a few interesting things. In the evening, Mrs Baudouy asked me and Bev to go to the stables with the new spanish maid, Quirnice [?], but can't speak a word of english.

Sunday, 7 April 1963	N.
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William woke us up rudely this morning to tell us the the [sic] van was leaving immediately for church. I got dressed, but could not find my socks. I started down to the house, saw the car still there, and went back under the pretence of looking for my socks, and actually looking for suitable power resistors to drop the voltages for the 52 - the power does something nasty to the pots. Soon Cynthia poked her head into the window. I must remove that ladder. She had come to get Bev's radio for Ann (Van had gone).

In the afternoon I was shoveing [sic] the coax through the window feeder, and I broke the connection between coax and flex. There and then, I decided to change it into open wire line, which I did with Bev's help and some very convenient-shaped pieces of wood rulers, etc. 'Twas fun, but it took its time.

Then along to the house to watch TV, and Cynthia pinched my thongs, I pinched one of her shoes, ruined it, got Puki to help her recover mine, and headed to the coach house, which Puki entered, and we were promptly beseiged [sic]. That ladder is a damn nuisance., but the molten lead generator (soldering gun) was useful. As Eric was well battering ram, about to knock down the door, I let them in. 'Twill not happen again. Science will triumph. I registered my complaints to Mrs Baudouy.

[change of writing] Caroline says she will never speak to me again.

Monday, 8 April 1963	N.
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Puki woke me this morning at the window to advise me that there was a note at the door for “Bevily”, threatening that Paul & mob (from last night) were after her guts. I replied on the back, but Puki delivered it not.

Soon I got up, and decided to go up to the house, but little of interest happened, except that I gave the note to Puki to deliver.

The two sittings of meals is rather a nuisance, as Bev goes to 1, and I go to 2. Today I spent most of my time talking to Raymond, who was about to spend the afternoon repairing his radio, but then heard there was a film, and went to get some money, and it was promptly canceled. Then Bev and I went to get some money to go by ourselves, or at least I did, and by that time Bev had changed her mind, and so I went down to the coach house in disgust to strip the CRO. She then came along, I went for a walk with her and came back full of the idea to build a ham AV system. Then Bev came down to tell me that first supper was over. I went down, discovered James, who was back, had pinched my triple adaptor [sic], which I regained, and headed down to the coach house with Raymond's radio, and lent him some coil wire. When I went back up, was promptly landed the job of installing a radio for Theresa, and had to fit a radio and a lamp on the same 5A plug. Difficult. Nearly finished AVC system and letter to Mum & Dad.

Tuesday, 9 April 1963	N.
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Bev woke me up this morning at about 1000 hrs and I promptly fell asleep again. Finally, I got up at about 1215 hrs and headed towards the house, where we found a letter to us from Mum, which told us of the fate of Heide's pups.

After lunch, Bev & I wanting to go into town, finally coaxed Mrs Baudouy to issue £2·10·0 for Bev's records, etc.

We finally got into town and discovered that only 3 records were obtainable, and ordered the other 3 paying in advance.

In a hardware shop I bought a thermometer, and by the time we had finished, it was only 1540 hrs we decided to walk home, as we had not to meet Gui until 1800 hrs.

When we got back, I discovered that the stylus we had bought was different from the other, and when I had finally fitted it, discovered that the cartridge had had it.

The thermometer was installed and registered 19° C. Warmer than I thought.

After supper, we decided to tidy up the coach house, and did this rather more successfully than usual, and then I used some of the flex that I had bought today to fix up my soldering gun and power supply. Unfortunately, the bit broke, and I could find no more copper wire in the fence, and gave it up as a bad job and proceeded to use an 884 for a stabilizer.

Wednesday, 10 April 1963	N.
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Today was one of those days where nothing goes right. To start with, Bev kept on waking me up and asking me what the time was - my watch had stopped of course.

Afterwards, I decided that it was high time I tried the hang [?] AVC out, and first of all plugged each valve in separately to see if they were all OK. They were not, of course - when I plugged in the 884 - never been used yet - the heater burnt out. Still under guaruntee [sic]

When I connected the AVC line to the PCR, nothing seemed to go wrong for a while, but suddenly there appeared a thin wisp of smoke from the RF section. Fortunately, nothing was damaged. While I was at it, I also stripped the rather unsuccessful ANL of last holidays, and had a hell of a job to make the volume come through properly again.

When I had finally finished this, I turned my attention to the 52 and decided to remove all the valves and dust them down, Bostik them up, etc.. All went find until I got to the BFO, a 9D2, when while removing the shield I also removed the top cap. One 9D2 down the drain.

In the evening, I spent most of the time talking to Bev, but once more the speaker conked out, and I connected it across to the O/P Xformer.

Thursday, 11 April 1963	N.
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I woke up at about 1130 hrs today, turned on the radio, and was promptly repulsed by a broadcast of the Maundy Thursday service. I then had an idea to keep another temperature chart similar to the one I started yesterday, but going in 1 hr intervals instead of 6. It seems to be going quite well.

In the afternoon there was an expedition into town, but was it was only a film, Bev & I went down to the village, she to post some letters, I to order a couple of 9D2's (1 for a spare), and promptly blew 10/- on some food as well (PO to 9/3).

When we got back, I went up to the coach house and did a bit of tidying up, etc, but didn't really do much apart from eat and try to read, and put an ordinary plug inside a coax one.

When I went down for supper, there seemed to be a bit of confusion as to which sitting was which, and when Raymond and I went into the dining room, we even had our places pinched from us.

After supper, I finally got another table from Mrs Baudouy, this action arousing an argument between Bev and me as to how we should utilize it, but I finally persuaded her to accept my idea, and put my radio on it, but the antenna will not reach.

I was suddenly hit by a crowd at about 10.30, waking up Bev and just generally looking around.

Friday, 12 April 1963	N.
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Good Friday is one of the least appropriately named days in the year. It is nearly always bad.

I tried out the idea of stripping down the AVC chassis and building another one on a breadboard and attatch [sic] it to the 52 chassis. The stripping of the chassis took me a long time, and I burnt myself several times. (Typical “Good” Friday).

Meanwhile, Bev went riding, and of course fell off - what else could happen on Good Friday? Actually she seemed to enjoy it, and spent a lot of time talking to me about it.

When I went down to house for supper, I noticed that the antenna had fallen down - typical, as I said before. During supper, I recruited Raymond's help to fix it up, and we ended up hanging it to a tree near a power post. Then we took the next half hour anchoring the feeders with Bostik and other muck. Then James came up and started a conversation.

When I came down to the coach house, I forgot to bring a bulb down with me - the last one had gone at 0001 hrs - good start to the day. When I got there, Raymond was talking about soldering irons. He was thinking of buying two Weller soldering guns. I finally managed to dissuade him, and tell him to get an autotransformer and came down to burn myself again. Just after midnight I had an attack of asthma.

Saturday, 13 April 1963	N.
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Today was just one of those days when hardly anything happens. I woke up at about 1130 hrs, and when I got up to the house, Ann nearly fainted to se me up so early.

In the afternoon, I decided to get going on the CRO, stripping it and mounting the bases, with the result that I changed the valve complement. I am now using EN31 relaxation oscillator, 6BA6 horizontal AMP, EL33 horizontal O/P. The vertical amplifier has 6BA6 first stage, then 2 ECL80 for the push-pull output.

I went up to the house at about 1700 hrs to see what was going on, nor was I disappointed. There was apparently a party on, but unfortunateley [sic] we had to be invited, and Gui never invites me. Must be jealous of me.

However, some of the other younger people did not like this, and rebelled, having a twist session in the big boys dormitory. Mrs Richards could not cope, and I went up to see what I could do.

Bev was there, and when we went out, slammed the door in Mrs Richards face. What manners! Later she had a breakdown in the kitchen, while I looked on, guzzling greek olives (very tasty).

I spent most of the evening working out worthwhile improvements to the 52. Think I'll repanel it.

Sunday, 14 April 1963	N.
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I went to sleep at about 0315 hrs today, and as I would have to get up for mass at 0900 hrs, I was by no means looking forward to it. However nobody came down to wake us up, despite the fact that it was Easter Day. Ah well.

When I rolled up at the house at about 1200 hrs, Jean seemed to be trying to attract my attention. I wonder why? Also Ann nearly fainted again. It really is going a bit too far.

In the afternoon, I went down to the coach house to work out how much the alterations would come to, but soon decided to draw a circuit of it, again not getting far.

Then noticing the atrocious mess that the coach house was in, I decided to redouble my efforts of January 6th, and got a bit further, although once more I did not finish. However, when I went up at 1700 hrs, Mrs Baudouy promised/threatened to come down and tidy up the place tomorrow.

When I arrived in the kitchen (which I seem to be haunting lately), Miranda asked me if I felt like soup, and I replied that I felt quite well. This was her dispair [sic], for apparently Ann had replied in almost exactly the same manner twenty minutes before. Poor Simone!

“Miranda” was Simone's nickname.

For once, I decided to watch TV in the evening which was Sunday night at the London Pd. However, I sent most of the time reading a comic, with Raymond waiting for me to finish

Monday, 15 April 1963	N.
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Lunch today was only one sitting, and after it I went down to the coach house and started to do a really good circuit of the 52 [illegible] alterations.

However, I once more tired of this, and decided to realign the RF section of the PCR2, and was in the middle of this when Mrs Baudouy entered, true to her promise, purged the room and exited, although not before giving both Bev & me new sheets, and making the beds.

Because of the difficulty of getting a good strong signal of known frequency on S.W., I did not do this. However, I did end up with the dial calibration for long and medium correct. Must recalibrate it in kc/s.

I went down to the house at about 1800 hrs, headed for the kitchen, and was promptly bagged for helping for supper. At least I got a big one.

There was a party after supper, supposedly in honour of Puki's birthday on Saturday. Can't help thinking what happened last year.

Which is long forgotten and undocumented.

The party itself was run by Anis and Van, and Puki slipped off half way and did not come back until the end.

Among other things, we had spin the tray, and of all people, Charlotte called me. It all seems to lead up to one thing, all her actions of the last two weeks. Dancing too. God! CAN MIRANDA CAN-CAN!! Yes. WOW! Sexy.

Tuesday, 16 April 1963	N.
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I was rudely awoken at 10.300930 hrs today for a dental appointment. When we finally arrived in town and found the right dentist, it was 1025 hrs. I went in at 1030 hrs, and discovered it was the wrong appointment, and the right one - Miss Smith had taken the day off (Pregnant, according to James).

No, I don't understand either.

At 1100 hrs I got 10/- from Gui and headed unerringlty to Pollards, where the 1000µf condenser was waiting. Bloody big. When we were about to return, Bev went and got some chips, and Gui couldn't be fagged to wait. I finally got my chips after lunch, when Van had picked them up.

After I had eaten my chips, I finished off the order letter and went and got £5 from Mrs Baudouy. Used nearly all of it too. I wonder when I'll start getting the stuff.

When I got back, and had given Mrs Baudouy the 10/- that she had asked me to change for her, I went into the TV room, which was deserted. Soon entered James, Ann, Wojtek and Van, and before we knew where we were, we were discussing Freudian Psychology. Whew.

Back to the kitchen again. I seem to be inhabiting that place.

I am sure that Ann Cootes is after me. She seems to be specially interested in me, anyway. Hope its not just a biological study.

Wednesday, 17 April 1963	N.
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Bev went riding this morning, and as a result I slept soundly - too soundly in fact, with the result that I did not wake up until 1230 hrs, and nearly missed lunch.

During Lunch, Fadel, with an incredible memory, told me everything that was written on the parcel that had arrived this morning. It turned out to be a couple of 9D2's from Bentley and mob.

I went down to the coach house, plugged in the valve into the BFO socket, and turned on. Nothing happened. The rectifier had had it (6X5GT). I had no spare, of course, only following EZ80, EZ80, 5Z4G, U50. Lovely prospect, but in the end I settled for the 5Z4G. After a long afternoon's work, during which time I discovered that one of the 9D2's was dud, and that a socket could be wired to accept either a 5Z4 or 6V5, (Pleasant prospect), I went down to the house, and was given some cheese to grate for welsh rarebit.

After support, I came down to the coach house to finish the work on the power supply. The 5Z4 is a very bright heater, but I suppose it has to dissapate [sic] 10W somehow. However, the U50 does it better.

Bev was rather annoyed because I had yet to do some work on the PCR2 when we came down. However, it did not take long.

Another light bulb went today - lasted 5 days.

Thursday, 18 April 1963	N.
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Aiming for 1200 hrs, I woke up late again today at 1225 hrs. When I got down, there was a 12SC7 waiting for me. Of all the coincidences, it was a Marconi one, made in Canada!

The 52 receiver was made by Marconi in Montréal.

Raymond assured me that second sitting had not started, and as a result we were very late. After that, David came down with me to have a look at the 52. However, he made a nuisance of himself, and soon I was down at the house again seeking Raymonds help to electrify the coach house against further attacks of the kind of the 7th of this month. However, Raymond decided to fix up his radio, and spent a good deal of time, while I decided to give the 52 a dusting down. After that, I decided to rebuild the power supply to take on both receivers at the same time. This required a choke input filter, as the combined current was 144 ma, and a capacitor input filter could only supplly [sic] 125 Ma. I spent a great amount of time on this, and finally we headed down to the house at about 1650 hrs, where we found half the house going to see Russ Conway. Less work for the kitchen staff, anyway.

When Bev came back, she was feeling pretty lousy, and so did not come down, but stayed up at the house. I finished the power supply at about 1130 hrs [? 2330 maybe?], and it worked without anything more than shorting out the low-pass filter. 52 needs re-alignment. Wait until 12K13 [?] come.

Friday, 19 April 1963	N.
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I did a bit of SWL'ing today, and went to bed at about 0400 hrs, but as dawn was about to break, I got up at about 0430 hrs, and got dressed, and removed the 5Z4 from the power supply, replacing it with an EZ81, which seems to be able to handle it quite comfortably, although it gets just as hot as the 5Z4, and gives considerably greater output than it (265V as compared to about 190V for the 5Z4). However, the insulation of the 300Ω 10 W resistors broke down, and produced quite a bit of sparks in the process. As a result, when I got down to the house, I was trembling all over in fear of what might happen, of the manner of what happened on the 21st January. When I got there, Mrs Baudouy made me have a bath. The chassis came today, along with a bill for 4/6. While listening to the radio, the 12Y4 went, and I went into town to see if I could get a new one, but of course was out of luck. When I got back, I went back to the coach house and was out like a light until 1630 hrs, when I went up to the house to help with the supper as usual, and helped myself to a large helping.

When I got down to the coach house, I felt tired out, but I soon got over it and decided to build a very low-power transmitter, which did not take long, although I did not do it very fast.

The coffee tonight was disgustingly oily.

Saturday, 20 April 1963	N.
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Despite the fact that I had replaced the dud 12Y4G with the ANL one, reception was very poor, and I decided to give it a thorough alignment. First of all I tried the 7-16 Mc/s band, which was almost dead. The AVC seems to be a delayed type, although I cannot see how this is achieved.

The oscillator trimmer is extremely sensitive, and rotation of 10° can be sufficient to go from one side of a signal to the other. However the oscillator coil is not so sensitive, and it is only through this that it is possible to align it. I then went along to the IF stages, and when I had finished, the AVC was capable of going up to -50 V on a strong signal. Far cry from the 0 V when I started.

I went to sleep at about 0430 hrs, and finally woke up at 1430 hrs, having missed breakfast and lunch and being flipping hungry. When I got to the house, to make things worse, no parcels had arrived for me today. I went back to the coach house, and replaced the 12Y4G which should have been in the ANL with an EB34. The antenna has been slacking, owing to either slipping or stretching, and with the help of the strong winds we were getting today, it was nearly touching the power cables. That was rectified.

After supper David came down to have a look at the transmitter. I did not do much work on it, although David made himself useful by stripping down the old BC receiver.

Sunday, 21 April 1963	N.
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In the small hours of this morning, I noticed a very distracting AC hum in the output of the 52, which was worse when the ANL was turned on. As a result, I scrounged out all the old electrolytic condensers, and the large paper 1000 VW ones that I could find. The net result was that I had a total capacitance to hand of 64µf and a total inductance of 10 H. I hope it is enough. After all that, I read an article on electrolytic condensers in the Radiotron Designers Handbook, which did not think much of it. I finally went to bed at about 0500 hrs just as dawn was breaking. I seem to be standardising myself at this time - just out of reach of breakfast.

Raymond and David woke me for lunch, after which I went back to sleep, to be woken at 1615 hrs, as requested, by David, and I then proceeded to help in the kitchen. Raymond and I making a lovely mess of the soup, and having a lump of ham chucked in by Mrs. Baudouy. And I got the skin in my helping.

Bev was allowed to stay another night up at the house, and as a result I could carry on with my nocturnal habits. Tomorrow I may have to stay awake until Bev gets up. At least I will sleep better. Stripped the transmitter, and put filter components on chassis. David will love that.

Monday, 22 April 1963	N.
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As is my usual lately, I did not sleep this morning, but after Luxemburg [sic] closed down, I did some SWL'ing, but the QRM was rather bad, and I simply tried to get Radio Moscow. All I got was a station in Roumania [sic], which is almost as bad as Moscow.

Then, noticing that the reception was almost as bad as before, I had another go at aligning the receiver, which did help a bit. Then I read the book on communications receivers, with its advice on starting at the back, and working front. With this method, I got up to 65 V AVC on zero beat from the calibrator.

After breakfast, I had a go at doing the antenna again, but did not have much success. Then I went to sleep, nor was I woken for lunch. Just as I was about to sit down for supper, a telephone call came through from Ian Walker, who is coming over tomorrow.

Cynthia was not very well today, and she was isolated as a result. The isolation was in Raymonds room, and as a result he had to go down to the cottage, but I finally managed to persuade Mrs Baudouy to let him come down to the coach house, and let Bev sleep in Cynthias bed.

Raymond had a bath for the first time this holidays, and as a result, as I waited for him, and we got down at about 2200 hrs, where we found Bev's Pajama [sic] legs. Poor Bev.

Tuesday, 23 April 1963	N.
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As Walker was coming over today, I got to bed comparatively early hour, 0200 hrs. However, I could not stay asleep long, and woke up at about 0600 hrs, and before breakfast had hauled in the feeder for the antenna, and then went down to the house, where the parcel from Henrys radio had arrived. They did not have a 100×200 µf electro, and for once they gave me a credit note.

After breakfast, Raymond and I had a go at removing the old panel, but we ran into trouble over the tuning dial mechanism, and so we just replaced it with the new knobs.

While we were trying to do this, Ian [Ian Walker] Walked in, and attempted to help us. He didn't know what he was in for.

At about 1100hrs we went down to the house, and I showed him round. Soon everybody returned, and Ian seemed very interested with the appearance of Marie, who did look very impressive. Alain reckons there is something going on between William and her. So it seems. Pity though. Wouldn't mind her myself.

After lunch, Ian had to go and meet some of his friends (female) in Dartmouth, and went at about 1330 hrs, and woke in time for supper, which looked so disgusting that I went back to the coach house and slept until 2100 hrs, when I was woken by Raymond. I still...

Wednesday, 24 April 1963	N.
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... felt quite tired, but did not go to sleep until 0200 hrs, despite the fact that he did not bring any coffee.

I seem to have lost the ability to sleep lately, and woke up at about 0530 hrs, and when I went to the house, the 3 - 12H6s and 6V6G had arrived, but the 12K7 GT's will come in under a week (!)

When I connected in the 12H6's, one did not work, and in this case I can return it. The work on the detector was rather annoying, as the octal socket was considerably smaller than the UX5 socket it replaced.

To make me feel worse, Raymond thought that I had been asleep, and told everybody so.

In the afternoon, I decided to go into town, and so went in with Teresa, who had an eye appointment at 1415 hrs. At the last minute came Marie, penniless but decided to come with me. Seems to be going off William. Could get somewhere with her if I tried. I'll try. Hope she comes in the Christmas holidays.

As I might have guessed, she decided to help with the supper. I'm sure she is trying to get somewhere. With those statistics she should. She must be at least 37 round the bust. Pleasant thought, anyway, and with that same thought I went to the coach house and promptly went to sleep to be woken at 20.45 hrs...

Thursday, 25 April 1963	N.
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... by Raymond, and I promptly took over my shift. As I mentioned earlier, I seem to have lost the ability to sleep: after going to bed at about 0415 hrs, woke up, feeling tired out, but unable to get to sleep at about 0930 hrs, with Raymond making a hell of a noise turning over the pages of my wireless world (Masheders, actually). He went down to the house, and I stayed for another hour until 1130 hrs, when I was obliged to go to the fort.

In the afternoon I successfully borrowed an [sic] hack saw from Mr Baudouy, and hacked off one of the protruding pieces of steel that would have been in the way of the new panel, and afterwards to remove the old one, but I ran into difficulties over the tuning dial mechanism, and once more had to give in. I must borrow a large screwdriver from Mr Baudouy. In the meantime I started to drill the panel, and had started most of the holes.

During supper, Mrs Baudouy and Miranda [?] tried to do it by themselves. What a mob in the dining room. Marie is doing her best to have me near her.

After being woken by Raymond at 2215 hrs, with coffee for once, I got into a discussion on various types of valves, and produced dozens as illustrations. I was so intrigued by the 6 - EF93s, which I had nearly forgotten, ...

Friday, 26 April 1963	N.
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... that I tired to see how the went in the PCR2. Got quite a bit of oscillations. Traced it (?) to the screen bypass. Will try one closer after I get up.

What finally did it, however, was the multimeter across the anode. It seems to be a reactive rather than a resistive load - 2.2 M resistor had no effect.

I was woken up by Puki for a dental appointment, but by the time I got up to the house the car had left, and as a result I had to have another appointment - before Tuesday.

In the afternoon I decided to put in a switch, in the form of an octal socket and shorting plug in the power supply, so that I could also take current measurements. 2 receivers used 140 ma between them. How close can you go? Must put in droppers to 150V again.

Before supper, Bev persuaded me to play some games, including british bulldog, at which I excelled. Carried on after supper, but soon the girls were chased down to the stables, and I found them, waiting on the coach house staircase. Let in Marie (wow - got half undressed. Looks even more impressive), Joy, Nadia and Cynthia, as well as Peter and Fadel. Started a twist session, but as the light had gone, pinched a 100W from downstairs. Sure Marie is still going for me - was sitting next to me in TV. In the evening she was the only person to say goodnight to me - concerned. As a result, I lent her my Xistor radio - would have done anyway, but even so ...

Saturday, 27 April 1963	N.
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... I could not find the screws for the back.

Apart from trying the EF93 in the R.F. amplifier position of the PCR2, with reasonable success, I did very little work, although I did tidy up a bit. I then took to looking through QST for some really decent communications receivers. Not many really good ones. Propagation was bad this morning.

After getting to bed at 0500 hrs, I was woken at 1100hrs by Fadel, who just wanted to pop in for a chat, and was followed by Christopher, who wanted to borrow 2 Blockflöten.

I did little in the afternoon except play Blockflöten, and lent White to Christopher.

Supper does not have the same ring about it that it used to have. After it, down at the coach house, Raymond told me there was a party. There was. In musical arms, I got Nadia 5 times, and Marie 4, out of a total of 12 times. Back to Nadia anyway, but not off Marie.

Spin the tray - Simone 2, Jean 7, Nadia 1, but Marie had left. Got Jean about 6 times with the bottle.

Having watched TV until 2200 hrs, I went up, washed, and saw Marie in dressing gown. Her bra is not padded - God she's well built, even though most people don't like her looks. Can't find any fault with them. It seems that both Nadia and Marie are trying to ....

Sunday, 28 April 1963	N.
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... get on with me. Marie - wow, same for Nadia.

Was, for the first time this holidays, woken for church, - by Marie. However, when I got down there, I noticed that they had gone, and so went back and pinched one of Bev's pads. When I told her about it, she was rather peeved. I wonder why.

In the afternoon, I first watched Bev win at pontoon - got an 8 card trick. After that, went outside with Miranda (!), but it developed into of all things, a game of baseball, in which both sides were constantly out for 0. I then went down to the coach house, but went up again to the fort, and was greeted by Miranda, obviously trying to make a pass at me.

When I got down to the coach house again, I took one of the small books I had bought for valve details and did the beginnings of a 1-page circuit of the 52 as it should end up. Probably the most successful yet.

I spent some time after supper reading back issues of QST, and then the inevitable happened - the bulb went - an average of 1 every 5.79 days. Not bad. I got so disgusted that I carted all of them down to the house and got a 60W for the bedside - brighter all the time. 100+60 instead of 60+40.

There was quite a bit of fun about poachers earlier this evening, and Anis, true to instinct, made friends with them. Round about 2345 hrs...

Monday, 29 April 1963	N.
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... did I some clarinet practice, after which, being very tired, I went to bed at only 0200 hrs, and was out like a light until 1500 hrs, having, of course, missed lunch. I was quite peeved at this, and when I went up to the house, I discovered everybody had hopped it to the flicks, which was rather annoying. As I still felt rather tired, and no mail had arrived for me, I went back to the coach house, but could not get to sleep, and just stayed there listening to the squealer box until 1630 hrs, when I went up to the house to help with the supper, to discover that Mrs Littlewood was doing it, and so went in to watch TV, and discover that Malcon [?] had had his hand nearly removed by James (accidentally), and now had it in a sling.

Supper over, and feeling very full, I started to head down towards the coach house, when I was interrupted by Selma, asking me my age, etc, apparently for Nadia's benefit. I wonder why she wants to know that? (!)

When I got down there, I decided that it was worthwhile building an outboard EM 84 tuning indicator, and did all the building except the actual installing, and then decided to go down and see what Nadia was doing. As most were - watching TV. Then went up to the boys dorm, where they were in the Massage Parlour business - not the Malay style, as Chris was quick to point out - and had made a lot of ...

Tuesday, 30 April 1963	N.
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... money on it. When I got down, I went to sleep early once more, and woke up just in time for lunch, although I was worried for a while as my watch had stopped.

After lunch, Gautam reminded me of the Oxfam campaign, and we managed to collect about £1 between us in the course of the afternoon - even got a bill collecter [sic], which wasn't bad going.

After that, I went down and installed the EM84 unit, but the shadow overlapped all the time, and I was just changing the 4.7 K anode resistor to 470 K, which did the job, when in came Chris, just to have a look around, and look at the backs of the Squealerbuchsen, which “intrigue me”.

After that, I went down to the house, and being at a loose end, did some recorder practice.

Supper once more had the Littlewood trade mark, and was egg and chips.

After this, I went down to take some measurements of various kinds, and noted the amount of effect the Æ trimmer had on the AVC. It is a lot sharper in adjustment than I thought.

I then went down for coffee, had an argument with Alain, and went down up again, and discovered Lydia admitting that she was violently in love with me.

Selma, being all alone in the dorm, found this an excuse to be terrified, and asked for Nadia - anything to speak to her. Tried to internal power supply the ...

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