Saturday, January 6, 1945

Club Dance - F/Lt Parker out to the club where we drank beer only, and chattered our teeth off. Then over to the 192nd where Maj Kirk bought us beers in lieu of our not having guest cards. John doesn't know the meaning of the RAF motto: per ardva ad astra - having been too busy the last six years to learn it, especially on Gibraltar. We decided on the free translation of "through danger to the stars" as being the most satisfying. John was modestly pleased at (yesterday) receiving a commendation from the King on his meritorious service in the RAF. Actually he was overjoyed, and had tried to call me last night to tell me about it. Thinks it was for evacuating his unit effectively from "Gib" in 48 hours last winter. We went over to dance as I said, but remained to talk far into the night, as usual.

Shopped this morning in town - bank, and needles, and tarts. Short-changed a ten shilling note, but recovered it later. The fog was bitter cold - glad for a ride home in a 192nd staff car.