22nd - 31st May

Friday 22^nd

Pay day once again!  Picket in the evening with an inspection by W.O.I. Rogers.  Wrac Stay from midnight to 12.30.  Naturally we didn’t wake up till the next morning until 7o’clock.

Saturday 23rd

Began the day with the awful Ulu Klang bus duty.  Brian and I were the only two B.O.Rs in today, the others managed to get the day off!  Letter writing during the afternoon.  Saw the film “My Outlaw Brother” starring Mickey Rooney, with Reginald, followed by a snack back at the Naafi.

 

Sunday 24^th

Rose at eight to a hearty breakfast.  After lunch we (ten of us and a dog) went for a trek into the belukar.  My God!  I should think I have lost a stone.  Sweat was streaming off me and I was bitten and scratched all over.  Nevertheless it was a great experience. 

Went to bed at 9o’clock, woken at 11 by the fellows Parker locked out, and consequently we were under siege until 1o’clock when we decided to let him go to bed.  However, until 2am, we held a “court of inquiry” into our actions.

 

Monday 25^th

Did not arise until about 10o’clock.  After lunch went to Kuala Lumpar with Dennis, Reginald and Nick.  After a little shopping, visited Nantos for drinks and a snack.  A most enjoyable day!!  Goodbye to Barry Parker this evening.  Naafi to complete the day.

 

Tuesday 26^th

A most pleasant day of work at the section.  At 7o’clock in the evening tried to do some overtime, but unfortunately the duty clerk didn’t know much about the keys, and I couldn’t open the door.  Never mind, another day will do.  Library in the evening completed the day.

Wednesday 27^th

Hard work again today!  After tea went to see “Lure of the Wilderness” at the AKC cinema – excellent! And so to bed.

 

Thursday 28^th

Picket again – oh ye Gods!  Finished “StrangeConflict” by Dennis Wheatly, finding it excellent reading.  Will definitely try to read some other of his works.

Friday 29^th

Commenced the day on Ulu Klang bus, followed by a usual day at the section.  Nearly landed on a charge with the pay sergeant – will definitely try to read orders in future.  Saw “Skirts Ahoy” in the evening – one of those ghastly American “wave” pictures.  Naafi in the evening completed a most pleasant day.

 

Saturday 30^th

After a laborious morning at the section, spent most of the afternoon letter writing.  Read and mused all evening.

 

Sunday 31^st

Put in a little extra work at the section in the morning.  Spent the afternoon with Chris and Brian, discussing politics, arts, women, etc.  Began reading “The Haunting of Joley Jugg” by Dennis Wheatly in the evening.

11th-21st May

Monday 11^th

A usual Monday at the studio.  Went with Khoo during morning and purchased our stocking flashes.  Had tea and then paid a visit to the barbers.  Followed by visits to the tailor (for a shirt to be made) and then the Naafi.

Tuesday 12^th

A complete day of work at A.P.I.S – trying to increase my rate of production.  Obtained “The Man Who Was Thursday” by G.K. Chesterton after returning the “Quest Forlorn”.

 

Wednesday 13th

Once again a heavy day at the office.  Reading and letter writing, and so to bed.

 

Thursday 14^th

Hari Raya began today with most of the M.O.R’s fasting.  Most of the week Staff has been out of the office – consequently there has been little work done.

 

Friday 15^th

Hurrah! Pay day.  Drat the stupid tailor – he forgot to put pockets in my shirt.  Endured my first picket under Bombardier Burnhill.

 

Saturday 16^th

Began the day on Officers Children’s Bus as orderly.  I was greatly surprised how much quitter they were from the B.R.O’s.  After lunch visited the K.L. Garrison Athletic Championship at the Sports Ground.  We (H.Q. Malaya) came 5^th out of 16 teams.  In the evening saw “Forbidden Temple” and “IKilled Geronimo” at A.K.C.   Then supper at the Naafi.

 

Sunday 17^th

A leisurely morning sunbathing.  After an excellent lunch went for an afternoon “safari” into the Ulu with Dennis, Reginald and Nicholas.  We began by clambering to the top of one of the hills to see the ruined mansions of Loke Yew, and then proceeded down to the Chinese Temple (probably erected to commemorate him)  then a visit to the Tin Mines completed a most enjoyable hike.  My!  But it was strenuous.

Supper at the Naafi and Goodbye to Sunday.

 

Monday 18^th

A most dismal and tiring day at the studio.  Hardly any work done at all.  A visit to the library and Naafi in the evening completed the day.

 

Tuesday 19^th

A road run to commence Tuesday, followed by a laborious day at the studio.  Truly Ward has character, in fact I find him amusing.  Idling most of the evening with a short visit to the Naafi.

 

Wednesday 20^th

Oh ye God!  Work at the station is truly boring.  Swimming pool in the evening was great fun with Nick trying to drown me.  The water however was a horrible green – chlorine I think.

Thursday 21^st

Alas!  Staff Ward has informed me that I will have to take the G.D.B.III course with the M.O.R’s.  Strangely enough my mosaic was not as inaccurate as I anticipated.  Cheers!!  Letter writing in the evening, followed by a visit to the Naafi.

1st May -10th May

Friday 1^st May

Began annotating today, again under the guidance of Corporal Khoo Iye Choon.

Cheers!! I was paid after lunch and consequently settled my debts.  After tea, spent the evening singing in the Naafi with Dennis, Reg, Nick and congregation.  Ended the day feeling a little dizzy.

 

Saturday 2^nd

Half day today!

Spent most of the afternoon letter writing.  Then after tea we saw the second half of the football match between the combined forces and Panag.  Then the film “Lullaby of Broadway” which wasn’t particularly good. 

 

The day was then rounded off by a visit to the Naafi.

 

Sunday 3^rd

After a late breakfast, spent an hour sunbathing at the swim pool.  Then in the afternoon letter writing, followed by a cinema show in the evening :- John Wayne in “Rio Grande”. 

 

Again completing the day in the Naafi, with the usual Dennis v. Chicko Act.

Monday 4^th

Hurrah! No road run to begin the day.  A usual day at the section with no particular events.  In the evening Parker treated me to the cinema to see “Ivanhoe”, which unfortunately was not in colour.

Tuesday 5^th

Again no road run, Cheers!  A most eventful day, with Ward promising my first stripe in 4-6 weeks with my second following shortly after.  After tea, a long letter writing session.

Wednesday 6^th

Drill parade to commence the day.  Then a usual day at the office with Staff Ward charging another unpunctual member of A.I.P.S.  Letter writing and reading in the evening, and so to bed.

Thursday 7^th

Work as usual!! Naafi in the evening at the expense of Rhis, being utterly broke myself.

Friday 8^th

Working all day on a ghastly mosaic with a hell of a lot of distortion.  Cinema in the evening with Dennis : “Rich, Young and Pretty”. 

 

Completing Friday with a cooked supper and drinks at the Naafi.

Saturday 9^th

An Awful morning still messing with that awful mosaic.  An afternoon of sunbathing followed by “High Noon” with Dennis, Nick , Reg and Chris.  Then, naturally a visit to the Naafi.

 

Sunday 10^th

Rose at 9 o’clock to a hearty breakfast.  Swam before lunch and rested during the afternoon.  Saw the film “The Fighting 7^th”, followed by the Naafi.

 

Life is truly nought but leisure,

Labouring not, except in pleasure.

Musing on the lizard quaint,

Or the moth in gorgeous paint.

Listening to the cricket chirp,

Doing ought but honest work.

Warmed beneath the tropic sun,

Warmed until the day is done.