| Description | Charlotte often keeps to the house and reports that she neither writes nor receives letters, and has few visitors. Cecil visits most days, and she also sees Ethel and her grandchildren regularly. She spends much of her time reading, and enjoys the companionship of Miss Parker, who plays the piano for her. She attends church occasionally, and sometimes goes out for walks with Miss Parker, managing to spend time in the garden in the summer months.
Her health appears to be fairly good, although she suffers from pain in her right hand, due to rheumatic gout, and is treated by Dr Bland on 5 February. Her hand is still causing pain throughout February. Cecil tells her on 3 January that Sidney has increased in weight, but he is obviously still unwell. Charlotte writes to him infrequently, sending gifts of tobacco. She mentions on 25 November that 'Cecil came in early with an improved account of dearest Sidney'.
Charlotte records her grandchildrens' accomplishments: 'Charlie's name is put down for Westminster', 10 August; 'Helen was top of her class in the High school and Milicent in hers of a lower form' 15 December. The grandchildren play the piano and violin for her when they visit for tea on 30 October.
Charlotte's spring cleaning begins 10 May and continues all week. She writes with regret that the servants are unable to attend church on 13 May, due to spring cleaning the drawing room.
Events in the wider world are occasionally noted. Charlotte writes that: 'a band of armed men ent[ere]d yes[terda]y a P[ost] office in Westbourne Park...I do not know what they took', 2 January and she reports that Ethel has been to see the procession as it passed on the way to the Cenotaph on 11 November for the Armistice day commemoration.
Reading matter includes 'The Life and Work of B[isho]p King', 'A Tour in England and Wales' 'Book on the Lake District', 'The Charm of the Road', 'Baring Gould on the Riviera', 'Baring Gould's book on Devonshire', 'Baring Gould on Cornwall', 'Treve's book on India', 'Treve's book on China', 'Scenery of England by Sir John Lubbock', 'Rambles in England', 'From Paddington to Penzance', 'Baring Gould on Brittany', 'The Brighton Road', 'Cycle Rides round London', 'book on Shakespeare's Country', 'Picturesque Essex', 'Between Dorset and Devon' and 'Rambles in Marshland'. |