MAY 1941
Mother was quiet, almost subdued for the whole of the next day and not very forthcoming in any real sense for about two weeks in all. Everything went on as usual, nothing really changed; Paula and I went to school, we had a main meal in the evening and listened to the radio in the front living room. It was just that mother never smiled, let alone laughed, she seemed to be going through the motions without actually feeling anything.
And her behaviour was suddenly strange, right out of character. She would fly into rages for no reason and shout loudly at anyone who came into contact with her. She berated the milkman for not knocking on the door as he deposited the milk on the doorstep, as she had requested. She said she wanted to bring the milk in swiftly and not leave it out wher
