PHYLLIS WARNER, 1941

This is a most un-Christmassy Christmas. I’ve sent no cards at all and only three useful tokens. It will be a Christmas without chocolates, or fruit or nuts, and short of drinks and cigarettes; there are no Christmas decorations, the stores look much as usual, and I haven’t heard a single carol.

Most un-Christmassy of all are the fantastic prices being charged for ordinary goods, holly at 6d a twig is typical of this racket.

Everything is being done to discourage travel. I’m going to stay in London and work at the offiffice as usual on Christmas day, a dreary prospect. But I’m in no spirit for Christmas cheer while P is in danger in Malaya and while Hong Kong faces its last agony with desperate, hopeless courage.”