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Location
At Sea
Age
17 Years

20 April 1940

MY 17th BIRTHDAY

Never in all my life have I dreamt of a day like this for my birthday. I was on watch for the latter half of the night and, when I came off watch the sun was just about to rise. It was indescribably wonderful to watch and if I never see a better one, I shan’t worry. And now, (about 10:30 am) the sun is scorching down, the sea is calm and blue, and I am sitting in it all (in a pair of shorts) writing this. Needless to sayWe were ordered to put on whites today. The sun makes them look really white and it is almost unbearable to look at anybody else wearing one. We ought to be at Curaçao by 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. During the early hours of the morning, I saw three islands, one with a lighthouse on it. I have had a bath and a hair wash, and after the inspection which the captain does every Wednesday and Saturday, I shall do some washing! I have already cut the sleeves off my tennis shirt and sewn up the same in my tie where I had split it for! I have now Completed the washing and shower now have to do the ironing!