Dobcross, Saddleworth.
Sunday, 4th October 1953.

Glass 30.1. Not a breath of wind. Mist on the water at Castleshaw at six, and gone by eight.

The clocks went back in the night, and I spent the hour I was given at the reservoir, on the last swim of the year. Forty-eight degrees, by my reckoning; eight minutes, by my count. Ned came up to watch, having told me on Wednesday that I was a fool. Charlie came to disapprove, and did so from the dam.

The wall in the top field is coming on a course at a time, by Father's rule: two over one and one on two. October came in on Thursday and I went up to meet it with the paint box. The bracken is turning from the top down, like a fuse burning the wrong way. The swallows' wire by the gate is still empty. I look at it every morning, which is foolish, since I know perfectly well where they are.

Two enclosures this week. Mother, hearing that sugar is off the ration and my tin is empty, has sent her fruitcake out on a card, with orders that it is to be kept a week before cutting. She has met Charlie. And Penny, who holds that I am not to be trusted with a boundary, has drawn out the top path against the tithe map of 1840, so that I shall stop arguing. I send the first with pleasure and the second under protest.

R.A.B.

Enclosed: Mother's card

Enclosed: Penny's map

The top path, and the boundary as the tithe map of 1840 has it. Drawn by P.V., who has initialled it in case of dispute.

The glass this week

Mon 28th · 30.1, rising · wind west, dry at last
Tue 29th · 30.2, set fair · wind north-west
Wed 30th · 30.2, steady · still; stone weather
Thu 1st · 30.0 · wind backing south
Fri 2nd · 29.9 · wind south
Sat 3rd · 30.0 · wind south-west
Sun 4th · 30.1 · mist on the water at six

The week's pages

• The Journal: The Wall, 30th September

• Poetry: The Wall-Builder's Song, 30th September

• Art: Bracken on the Top Pasture, and the October sketches, from the 1st

• Fashion: Painting the Robin and The Blackpool Costume, 1st and 4th October

• The English Countryside: The Last Swim, 4th October

If you've a mind to write back, the afternoon post calls at rufusbramble.com/letter.