Advent Calendar: 22nd December

22nd December 1660
“All the morning with my painters, who will make an end of all this day I hope. At noon I went to the Sun tavern; on Fish Street hill, to a dinner of Captn. Teddimans, where was my Lord Inchiquin (who seems to be a very fine person), Sir W. Pen, Captn. Cuttance, and one Mr. Lawrence (a fine gentleman now going to Algiers), and other good company, where we had a very fine dinner, good musique, and a great deal of wine. We staid here very late, at last Sir W. Pen and I home together, he so overcome with wine that he could hardly go; I was forced to lead him through the streets and he was in a very merry and kind mood. I home (found my house clear of the workmen and their work ended), my head troubled with wine, and I very merry went to bed, my head akeing all night.” (Samuel Pepys)

22nd December 1940
“Spent morning in office and after lunch started for Boulogne by car with Michael Fox. Dense fog and very cold. When we reached Arras decided that the fog was too bad and changed to train. A six hours slow journey with many stops brought us to Boulogne by about 11 pm where we spent night.” (Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke)

22nd December 1940
“The mystery of our remaining here deepens and must really lie in the dilatoriness and inefficiency of the crew who seem unconcerned by the delay. They are garrulous, ill-mannered and given to drink. This is my fourth day and there is a ghost-train atmosphere of hopelessness. I woke, feeling liverish, had breakfast on the sunlit balcony and later had a few sharp words with the Captain, who blandly assured me that we should get off on Tuesday the 24th. I retorted that if we did not I should cable the Air Ministry and that Captain Balfour happened to live with me. He was impressed.
One should always avoid Sunday in a Latin town: the dancing, noise of extra buses and louder radios was appalling. And I spent most of the day on the lulu seat. Took David Keswick, whom I am beginning to like, for a long walk amongst the pretty villas hidden by trees and bougainvilleas; I thought how lovely it would be to live in one with Peter and write books … later David and I dined in a bistro by the seashore. He and all my companions call me ‘Diputado’.” (Henry, ‘Chips’, Channon)

22nd December 1944
“German offensive appears to be held in the north, but I am a little more doubtful about the south. Patton is reported to have put in a counter attack. This could only have been a half baked affair and I doubt it’s doing much good. Alexander evidently worried about the Greek war and the instruction he is receiving from the Prime Minister! I predict he will be much more worried before he finishes his present job!” (Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke)

22nd December 1956
“Read C.P. Snow’s The New Men about Whitehall and the atomic research scientists during the war. Behind a very moving story is the fundamental decency of men, even when tempted by power.” (Kenneth Rose)

22nd December 1942
“The Duchess of Kent, looking radiantly lovely and even gay, came to tea bringing Princess Olga. It was by way of being a farewell; they had been told that Princess Olga and Lelia must be ready to leave tonight! It is all a bungled mystery: they are travelling under Dutch names in the Queen of Holland’s private plane. She was to have accompanied them as far as Bathurst but her doctors forbid her to fly high because of her ageing Orange heart, and so she is not going. Even the pilots are not to know whom they are to fly. I at once rang up Harold, who made an investigation and called me back to say that there was no question now of Princess Olga leaving before Xmas. I am so very glad … They stayed for an hour and we were joined by old Baroness Stoeckl and Lelia Ralli, who brought me a Capo di Monte statuette – Ganymede and the eagle … This long protracted tea party prevented me from accompanying Emerald to the National Gallery, where Kenneth Clark had been waiting to receive us and show us the French pictures … (Emerald has hinted that she may leave me one of George Moore’s famous Monets!)
Rab as he dressed this morning, was pagan in manner, indeed. He can be very charming and boyish, the President of the Board of Education, particularly when he is alone! He dines this evening with Kenneth Clark.
And meanwhile as Princess Olga is further delayed my poor Regent languishes in Kenya …
I have had several sumptuous Xmas presents including six fresh eggs from the Red Cross at Kelvedon!
How transitory is human attraction: when Alan Lennox-Boyd left me this afternoon a wave of tenderness for him came over me and I could not bear to be parted from him even for a few long hours; yet when Gage rang up begging me either to dine with him or give him dinner (preferably the latter, I am sure!) I refused although I was doing nothing. Yet thirteen years ago he was my whole life and I loved him deeply for three or four years. Now he is a comic and an old bore. Alan came back at ten and we talked for an hour until he left me to call on Godfrey Winn, who has returned for a time – he is a sailor now. Over the telephone he confided in me most indiscreet things about poor J. J. Llewellin! I was shocked but fascinated.” (Henry, ‘Chips’, Channon)

22nd December 1943
“Young Wilfred Thesiger and his mother, K. Astley, lunched with me. Wilfred is a most impressive chap. Born in Abyssinia, he is one of the few Englishmen who really understand that unhappy country; Haile Sellassie, who has known him from birth, has now asked for him as bear-leader to his son and heir, Asfa Wosan.” ( Sir Alan Lascelles)

22nd December 1944
“Clemmie rang up this morning and asked John Julius and me to lunch at Downing Street. Bobbety and the Bishop of Winchester were the other guests. I gathered that they had asked the Bishop to see what they thought of him as a potential Archbishop of Canterbury. I liked him very much but Bobbety said he preferred the Bishop of London, so I expect the latter will get it.
The P.M. was in excellent form and extremely cheerful. We stayed there until about half-past three, with the King of Greece and Anthony waiting upstairs from 3 onwards. In the evening Victor and I took John Julius to Blithe Spirit, in which Pempy Ward is acting. She does it very well. I hadn’t seen the play since I went to the first performance three and a half years ago with Caroline.” (Duff Cooper)

22nd December 2003
“The papers say that David Blunkett has been taking part in a broadcast quiz. Of all things he chose as his special subject the Harry Potter books – and was beaten by a pop star. What an epitome of the Blair government.” (Kenneth Rose)