23rd October, 1943: Thinking of Christmas

We spent much of the morning lying on our beds eating fruit. Having been for years without hardly any fruit to eat, we making up for lost time so to speak. Fruit is not as cheap out in India as I had expected. Oranges 2 annas; apples 12 annas; grapes 12 annas a lb; nuts 3 annas; coconuts 4 annas each; dates 4 annas. Anyway, we ate to our hearts' content, and occasionally found this resulted in our stomachs' discomfort. 

After tiffin, we prepared for going into town. Once more, we could look at a shop window without blushing. Knowing my own weakness, I never carried all my money around with me. I have learned, through bitter experiences, that one weak moment may result in having to go short for a period of a week or more. It is so easy to forget that a fortnight must go by before another pay day comes along. We came back for dinner because we had to change into evening uniform. 

We left camp with the intentions of going to a show, but we arrived to find that all seats had been taken. I find that there is one thing one can always do, that is, to eat. We went to the E.W.O. Chinese Restaurant. Having been very unfavourably impressed with a Chinese dish only yesterday, I was wary of running into a similar trap. This time I ordered a European dish to my liking. Strange to say, I had up to now spent very little of my money. I could see myself being a rich miser in no time. 

However, my thoughts turned to Christmas, and at once I realized that money was not meant to keep, I would have to buy a few presents for those at home. However selfish we are as mere human beings, it is strange what happiness most people get in buying gifts for others.