| Description | Charlotte's diary for the early part of the year is dominated by her illness, which she has been suffering from since December of 1911. On 13 January she writes that her temperature is up to nearly 100 degrees. The diary is then blank until 14 February. She makes her confession to Father White, and he takes communion in her bedroom, using a portable altar. The diary is then blank again until 15 March. She keeps to her bedroom, and occasionally sits in a chair. She dispenses with the services of her day nurse on 18 March and Mary takes over this role. She now receives visitors, and writes letter and manages to get to the drawing room on 30 March. Easter Communion is taken in her room on 12 April and she takes her first walk with the nurse the same day.
She continues to report that she is 'ailing', and suffers from bladder trouble on 17 May. Her temperature again rises to 100 degrees on 18 April and Mary sends for Dr Ward. Charlotte reports being unwell with a bad headache, backache, and a 'bad tongue', 22 May, and Dr Bland suspects influenza. Other ailments described by Charlotte include attacks of gout or spasm in her hand in July and an attack of giddiness at the stores on 16 September. On the last day of the year, she gives thanks for 'putting it into the hearts of my dear brothers and friends to help me so generously to bear the heavy expenses of my operation and sickness, and for the tender loving care of my very dear Mary and for the kind nurses who watched over me by night and by day'.
Charlotte travels to Folkestone on 23 April to convalesce, with Mary and Nurse Clarke, and is able to go out in a bath chair, to the Leas and Madeira walk, and to attend church. They also stay in Folkestone for their summer holiday in August. Charlotte goes out in a bath chair, and Mary takes seawater baths. Charlotte writes that she 'saw an aeroplane' on 17 August. Other entries include Mary's attendance at the Bishop of London's garden party 18 July and a trip to visit Ena Duckworth at Frome on 4 November.
Mary takes a bible class and continues to be involved in committee work, and Charlotte is still able to do some hospital visiting. Charlotte also reports the birth of a son to Cecil and Ethel on 18 May. He is named Charlie, and Charlotte reports making him a mattress on 15 December.
Reading matter includes a 'book on Anglian orders', 'autobiography of Dean Gregory', 'Soldiers of the Cross', 'K. Little on Guardian Angels', 'Father Tyrell's Life' and 'Across Australia'.
The diary contains loose enclosures: two letters to Charlotte from Father White, one dated 25 December 1911, the other dated 17 October 1912 |