70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

((More about Yvonne's birthday party on the 6th ...)) Maudie had invited both of us to have lunch with her! I should think that was making history in Stanley - except perhaps amongst the more fortunate Americans. It was really very pleasant to have a change of scenery on this special occasion - not that we dislike our stable companions by any means! - but it made it seem much more of a special occasion. Maudie had prepared a lovely luncheon with no rice! She had invited Mrs Johnson, Mr & Mrs Hyde-Lay and Mrs Mack, all of them members of ‘C’ bungalow.  ‘C’ bungalow is, at present, rehearsing for a concert, and as we approached, Mr Langston shouted, “Maudie”, and immediately the chorus of the concert party stopped their rehearsal and sang, “She’s twenty one today!” A really good welcome. 

We sat down to lunch at about 12 o’clock (usual time!!) And we had tunny fish with tinned beetroot and tomato, which had all been chilled in the refrigerator, and Melba toast. Then for sweet we had a lovely rain tart which Maudie had provided and Mrs Mack had made. We finished off with coffee and cigarettes. It was a delicious meal - such a change from our interminable rice. A Mr Oscar Eager (bungalow representative at ‘C’) had made a bottle of raisin wine and it was just about ready for opening, so he very kindly popped the cork and brought along a beaker full for Y. We all had a sip and wished her, “All the best”. So a cork was drawn for the occasion after all!

At this party the Hyde-Lays gave Y a tablet of Lux toilet soap and so did Mrs Johnson. At the tea party she had several other presents too. Joan Walkden gave her a kind of diamante brooch and brought some packets of cigarettes for her from Mr and Mrs Mason; Buckie gave her a set of flat mother of pearl buttons and belt clip; Pam Pritchard a handkie; the Hacketts a tin of pork and beans, the Corras sent a little tin of pate de fois gras; Olive Burt gave her a lovely bottle of Yardleys bath crystals: Winnie Deane (who had called in the morning) gave her a very gay and pretty sun top that she had made by sewing together little sample squares of brightly coloured prints. Mrs Dawes has since given her two pairs of her shoes (unfortunately high heeled) and a very pretty evening dress which Y is going to convert into a beach suit with shorts and skirt. Christine Wyatt gave her some powder puffs.

We had a rest after lunch and then I went round to the Armstrong’s room to see that everything was ready. They had very kindly suggested that we held the party in their room, and we jumped at the offer. Our room is much too crowded with permanent fixtures such as double beds etc., while they have more movable things like camp beds. Also, with Adrian and all his toys (so many of them!) and paraphernalia, and all our shelves, it is difficult to make the room look tidy.

The Armstrong’s have made their room look really quite attractive (Mr Yamashita was able to get quite a lot of their gear from their house for them) though they have no balcony. We collected all the china cups and bowls we could muster and also took along our two chairs. There were twenty one guests, or rather people at the party. They were: Mrs Minhinnick, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs Buckland, Mr & Mrs Pritchard and Pam, Jack and Vera Armstrong, Billy and Kitty Hackett, Mr Lammert, Harold and Elsie Bidwell, Isa Watson, Joan Walkden, Olive Burt, Tim and Marjorie Fortescue, Winnie Deane and our two selves.