Friday 1 December
One lecture today and one tutorial. The tutorial went quite well - I even managed to get even with him on several occasions. The subject was the managerial revolution. I found it very interesting. Second night of Carouse, this evening it went off better than last night. Dave Stockwell and Mike Coleman went off very well.

Saturday 2 December
I did nothing this morning. This afternoon I went into Davids with Tommy to watch television. What a waste of a morning and afternoon. Last night of Carouse. It went quite well but not so well as last night. I went to the party afterwards. It started at 11:15. There was a great deal of drink - I walked home and got in just before Dave at 3. 00

Sunday 3 December
Today has been fantastic. We got up at 10:00 and nobody had any energy to move or talk. It must have been very funny to watch us. I found my way into Davids this afternoon and evening - and went to bed reasonably early.

Monday 4 December
I stopped in very late this morning copying up some lectures - weather atrocious. I did a bit of Christmas shopping this afternoon. Stayed in this evening doing some more work, trying to catch up.

Tuesday 5 December
I did some work this morning. Went to a 4.15 lecture. Stayed in this evening to work. Have heard that a girl called Antonina is interested in me!

Wednesday 6 December
Terrible weather again - it was freezing cold- a white frost, it became really cold. Two lectures at 9:00 and 11.00. I went to the athletic ground to watch the football and rugby matches. Went to a performance of the Messiah in the town hall. It was quite good, I haven't heard it for some time, the best part was “The Trumpet Shall Sound”

Thursday 7 December
Another frost this morning but it soon started to rain. However, instead of the weather becoming warmer it stayed just as cold, so cold in fact that I didn't go to this afternoon's lecture. I did go to two others so I haven't done so badly really. I wrote my last essay for this term this afternoon. I went to Kinema this evening to see “The Lady Killers” a comedy about some crooks and how they were foiled by an old lady. The setting was by Kings Cross station - most of the gang were disposed of by being dumped onto northbound goods trains. I've been asked to a party with Antonina - I don't know what I have let myself in for.

Friday 8 December
Much warmer today. I went to a tutorial and a 3.15 lecture, but was back in David's in time to see Huckleberry Hound. I have been working this evening.

Saturday 9 December
I packed my case this morning to be sent home by train in advance - I took it down the station with Dick I went down to Reading General  for about 1½ hours today.  The most unusual thing was a King 4-6-0, I think it was 6019, going light down platform 8.  It has been fitted with a modified type of cab so that the forward lookout, instead of being square with the side plating, is sloping at an angle to it.  (a remainder of the pre-war streamlining experiment?)  One of the signals on the down main failed and fell into the off position although it was nearly vertical.  I have never seen this happen before.I went into David's this afternoon to see the wrestling, have stayed in this evening.

Sunday 10 December
Very mild this morning with some slight drizzle I've done some work and also went for a bike ride, calling in at Davids in order to collect a shirt. Messing about this afternoon - More work. I went to a party this evening given by the Catholic Society I was invited, presumably, by Antonina. It didn't go too badly free drink and food. The party broke up at about 10.45 and I went back to Tanfield with Antonina and stayed there until 3:00. I enjoyed myself but I am not quite sure that I want to go around with Antonina.

Monday 11 December
Very tired this morning. Did some work and went into the university via the library. Did some more work this afternoon and also went around town. Very tired this evening, I have just been reading. There have been hints for the last few days that some or all of us will be thrown out of Connaught Road at the end of this term. I shall not mind - I'd really go if I found somewhere decent to go. What will annoy me will be if only one or two are thrown out.

Tuesday 12 December
I went to my last 9.00 lecture this term - tomorrow's has been canceled. I came back to Davids and copied up some notes. Watched the Varsity match this afternoon between Oxford and Cambridge. It was quite an exciting game, it was a 3-3 draw until about 10 minutes from the end. Cambridge then scored twice, one try and a dropped goal to win by 9 - 3. I went to David' party this evening with Antonina. It went up quite well- I got on well with Antonina but I don't know if I should go out with her again. She is quite pleasant but...

Wednesday 13 December
I went in at 10.00 to do some work and went to an 11.00 lecture with Dr. Budden. He was very good today. I have seen Professor Campbell so I can go as soon as I can pack tomorrow.

Thursday 14 December
I packed my case first thing after breakfast and said goog bye to everyone for Christmas.  I caught the 1028 from Reading South which arrived at waterloo at 1200. I just missed a train to Orpington and had to wait 30 minutes,  Got into conversation with a driver on the train. He drives the big diesel hauled expresses to Carlisle and Manchester. saw Dave Wright this afternoon, been reading this evening

Friday 15 December
I went to the library this morning, found one or two interesting books. I've got a small job for Christmas I am working in the green grocers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I did some shopping this afternoon, at last I have brought some presents. Dave Trezise came around this evening to see if I could play tomorrow - I haven't done any training but I said I would. I hope my knee and back stand up to it.

Saturday 16 December
Played my first game of rugger since April.  Of course, I wasn't fit and found it a bit tiring.  Unfortunately my spine hurts a great deal where I hurt it in the summer although I didn't knock it.  I played for ,Combe Colts against sevenoaks Colts.  We lost 6-3 having been 3-0 up.  Unfortunately we only fielded 13 and this told in the end.  I had a lift back from Sevenoaks to Goddington and ran into Dave Tyler who came back and stayed the evening.

Sunday 17 December
My back was very painful again this morning. I have been writing my Christmas cards and wrapping some presents. Uncle Jack came down this afternoon to take us up to Oakland.s It is cold out at present and the house was rather like an icebox. I had a look in at the oo gauge railway layout of the club up there. Had to play Uncle Reg's games - very boring - glad to get home to the warm.

Monday 18 December
I had a very pleasant surprise this morning. A letter came to tell me that I had one first prize in the Penzance and Newlynn RFC Christmas draw. The prize was a turkey and a bottle of Port but they sent me a check for £4 because they couldn't send it to me. This will be very handy indeed. I went over to Bromley with Mum this afternoon to do some shopping. Dad has brought me a fawn pullover for Christmas. It is very cold still and there has been a frost all day. I have a bit of a cold, at least I should get rid of it before next week.

Tuesday 19 December
I saw Peter Jones on his Christmas post-round this morning and asked him in for a cup of coffee. I went up to Pound Court to see Auntie Winter and Auntie Hutch this afternoon. Still a very thick frost all day. Mum and Dad went up to Auntie Edie's this evening so I have stayed in and done some reading.

Wednesday 20 December
I half expected Dave Waywell round today - I don't suppose he has received my letter yet because of the Christmas rush. John Palmer called around this this morning and stayed nearly until dinner time. He seems to be enjoying life at Newcastle very much. This is Dad's half day. I went shopping with him this afternoon. Had two parcels come for me through the post today, one is from Mrs. Banyard and the other presumably from Pat. I also had a letter from both of them this morning. I haven't heard from them for a month or so.

Thursday 21 December
I started work at the greengrocers this morning.  It is not really hard and requires very little initiative but is quite boring.  I have been trimming cauliflowers and celery and seem to spend most of my time opening crates and putting them out in the bins.  WEnt up to Auntie Vi's this evenoing. It is Uncle Jack's bit=rthday. Uncle Jack brought us home.

Friday 22 December
Working in the shop today.  I did more serving.  It was much busier, particularly in the afternoon and this evening I am quite tired. Dave Waywell came down in the evening. We are going Youth Hosdtelling next Thursday.

Saturday 23 December
Bitterly cold today has made working in the shop quite cold.  Not quite so busy today as yesterday - surprising.

Sunday 24 December
t seems funny to have Christmas Eve on a Sunday. Mum had to make sure that all her shopping was done yesterday. We have spent most of the day preparing for tomorrow. There was a carol service on the television this evening - there was a link up with choirs in several European countries. I spent a few hours with the Ogden's this evening.

Monday 25 December
Christmas Day, I have been very lucky with presents I had several pounds giving me and also slippers, shirt, ties and an alarm clock. Mrs Banyard gave me a pair of hand knitted gloves while Patsy gave me a tie. I didn't send them much and of course I now feel very guilty- they are not going to let me forget them. They even sent me a photo of the cat. I have been visiting and had visitors this morning. The family came down to tea. Hilary has grown since I last saw her. She is going to school next April. It's the first time I have seen Astrid.. We played word games and pontoon after tea which was very good - I was really full up afterwards. Len rather spoiled the card game because he took it so seriously I went to bed at about 1.00

Tuesday 26 December
We didn't get up until late. I suppose it's not surprising. I had a late dinner and went up to Spur Road for the afternoon and evening. A couple of Trevor's friends dropped in for a while. We played pontoon again. I won this evening and just about broke even on the two days- even so I lost about ten times in succession. It was very cold when we left. Uncle Alf brought us back.

Wednesday 27 December
I spent the day on our own, nothing spectacular has happened. It has been cold and there have been a thick frost all day. Weather conditions are very bad and there's ice on the roads for the north. I have packed my rucksack, I think we will still be going tom

Thursday 28 December
I caught the train to Charing Cross and met Dave Waywell.  We then tok the tube to Stanmore.  We started hitching and soon got a lift up the M1 to the Blue Star cafe near Newport Pagnell.  This is the first time I have been on the motorway.  I found it quite boring after a while.  We were then taken by a lorry driver all the way through to Bolton. We went up the M1 and M45, round the Coventry by-pass, Coleshill, Litchfield, Rudgeley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Knutsford and the manchester motorway.  We didn't go very fast and didn't make Bolton until about18.00.  It was very cold. We hitched on an OPEN lorry to Chorley and from there we were given a lift to Kendal, arriving at the hostel at about 20.15.  It had started to snow about the timewe came to the Lancaster by-pass.

Friday 29 December
It had been snowing in the night and there is about an inch of snow - the first I have seen for sme time.  We walked along the Windermere road, were given a lift to Ambleside.  From there we walked along the Rydal road and climbed up Loughrigg Fell.  At the top we turned off the path, walked north westwards and climbed to the summit.  There was a strong wind at the top but it was wrth it because of the good view over Windermere, Rydal Water and Grassmere.   We made our way down and then walked around the west side of grassmere to the village. We had intended to stay at Grassmere hostel but it was ful so we caught the bus to Troutbeck Bridge and walked to Troutbeck hostel.  Very cold.  Started to snow again.

Saturday 30 December
It snowed a reasonable amount in the night and was still snowing when we left the hostel.  The wind was very strong and gusty.  We walked down to Troutbeck Bridge and along the road to Ambleside. There was about four inches of snow but it was drifting - the snow wasn't sticking.  We did some shopping and spent a pleasant hour by a big fire in a pub in Ambleside.  The weather was bad when we set out to walk to Coniston and this made our progress slow.  We crossed the Skelwith Bridge from Westmoreland into Lancashire and soon stopped to have a brew of hot Oxo.  The weather seemed to improve as we moved south, the wind dropped and we saw a little sun although it was still very cold. Only about two inches of snow here.  Stayed at Coniston Far End hostel where there is a very warm Common Room.

Sunday 31 December
Left the hostel at about 09.15 and walked through Coniston village and up the track to the mines.  There was still a large amount of snow and ice although the sky has been a wonderful blue all day.  This made a wonderful contrast with the white hills.  We scrambled up to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston (2633 feet) and celebrated with a miniature bottle of Drambuie.  The climb was quite a stiff one, even more so because we had to carry our packs with us.  There was a wonderful view from the top.  We could see all the snow covered peaks of the Lake District and the Pennine chain stretching all the way along the eastern horizon.  To the south and south west we could see the coast and across Morecambe Bay towards the industrial part of Lancashire.  In the foreground Coniston Water stretched along to the east but Windermere was obscured by the Grizedale Forest.  We descended by the easier shoulder (ice caused some difficulty) and walked to Hawkeshead via Coniston.  The hostel's water supply was frozen.  Went down to the pub but came back to see the new year in after a sing song in the Common Room.  Snowing again.