LOVE MOVES MOUNTAINS

"For Granny and Grandpa"

S U N D A Y,  2 4   D E C E M B E R

Finished my essay on childhood. It’s for Granny and Grandpa and I’m terribly pleased with it. The covers are pieces of card covered in red linen. I’ve done three little drawings inside and some squiggly patterns on the first and last pages.

Lunch was super. The only thing is, when we have interesting family discussions it makes me frustrated to think that hardly anybody else has parents who can discuss things like mine do, and that there are all these young people who think in an old-fashioned way. We were discussing culture, or rather the lack of it, and how we live in a time when everything revolves round materialistic goods and people aren’t in the least culturally minded.

“I wouldn’t mind living in Russia - at least they’ve heard of Byron.”

It’s decadence when art ceases to be of importance. I find it terribly depressing. 

Dutch grandparents came for tea and presents. It’s so sweet they way they adore each other. “Love moves mountains,” says Grandma - it's the only thing you need in the world. I got a bead necklace and ‘The Oxford Companion to English Literature’ and ‘From Proust to Camus’ – so pleased. Chump got some gorgeous modelling clay. I made a girl’s head out of it which I’m really very pleased with. Grandma and Grandpa loved my wind and rain poem, but when I told Grandma I think it’s lousy she told me I underestimate myself. It’s not true - I don't.

Everything was a rush after supper. I had to embroider Mrs Reid’s presents, write Diary for yesterday and make two paper flowers for parents’ stockings.

The Dutch grandparents at Meares