Fiona's Diary

Many years ago when there still was a British Empire upon which the sun never set, I lived with my father and mother and my two younger brothers in Shabani, Southern Rhodesia. My parents decided to take a trip to England and Europe, and took all of us along. In March 1937 when our trip began, I had just turned 15, my brother Bernard was 10 and my brother Leonard was 8. My mother suggested that I should keep a diary of the trip. She pointed out that I would be missing a whole school term and should do something to keep my hand in. Ever amenable and obedient, I did what I was told and kept the diary. In 2001 I was looking for old photographs when I came across my diary and read it for the first time. I thought it might be of interest to my children and grand children, so I typed it up. And here it is unchanged in every respect save for the names of some people who are still living.