Self-written bio (which ups this in my eyes, a lot!) of one lovely hero of a girl!
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But what could an inexperienced girl like myself do or hope to achieve when so many brilliant well-informed men had failed to make an impact on the outside world? © PLENTY, it turns out.
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Suddenly I had one of those queer sensations one can get at times. I looked, and there he was. Our eyes met and I hesitated for a second and walked quickly away. But something pulled me back and I stood staring at him for a few minutes. It was love at first sight for us both. (c)
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It was a fine, pleasant day and I soon began to feel that life was really worthwhile. (c)
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Since arriving in France I’d learnt my French by trial and error. Making mistakes is the best way to learn—you’re determined not to make the same mistake again. (c)
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The policeman was indeed fortunate that there were no more water jugs at hand; as it was, Stephanie hit him on the head with her handbag (and they were large that year) then disappeared through the revolving doors followed closely by the red-faced policeman. …
weather. It was the beginning of a long and deep friendship which although hectic in varying degrees was never dull or boring (c)
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We were young and full of the joys of spring. (c)
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The next morning I went to a recruiting office and made enquiries about joining one of the forces. They were as disorganised as I was and suggested I work in a canteen. Needless to say I was not impressed. Quite suddenly I made up my mind to return to France and to hell with the consequences. (с)
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As far as the French people were concerned their joie de vivre had vanished overnight. They had Germans to the north, Mussolini to the east, the Atlantic ocean to the west, and in the south the formidable Pyrenees separating France from Spain. (c)
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Furthermore, in spite of my high spirits and gaiety I would always be discreet and keep a secret. As a matter of fact once I had promised to keep one, wild horses wouldn’t change my mind. (c)
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Searching an imaginary room for hidden imaginary papers has never been my forte, so I probably failed that test. (c)
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But it was the psychiatrist who really got on my nerves. After all, the profession was not as popular in 1943 as it is today. He showed me a piece of paper with a big blot of ink on it and asked me what I could see. When I said I saw a blot of ink he got quite agitated and tried to put words in my mouth. He was a New Zealander. I told him he should be doing something constructive instead of wasting his time and mine. (c)
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I glanced at our reports. Raymond’s was good, and there was nothing in mine which upset me; on the contrary—I read with surprise that I had been ‘good for morale’.
From then on ‘Miss Prim and Proper’ vanished forever and ‘Miss Exuberant’ resumed her rightful place. (c)
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One morning at the breakfast table an American sergeant sitting opposite me passed me a small packet, saying that it was a present. Although Raymond Bachelor sitting on my right whispered in French not to accept it, I did so, thinking it was chewing gum or chocolate. I knew what a French letter meant in English, just as I knew the French name for it, but I did not know what a condom was until I opened the packet and saw three of them lying there together with the instructions.
I don’t know what reaction the American expected, especially at a breakfast table. There was silence all round me. Then I proceeded to read out the instructions, much to the amusement of everyone at our table except the American who, red in the face, left the table. I put them in the pocket of my battle dress and continued eating my breakfast. As we left the dining-hall the CO called me to one side, apologised for the behaviour of the American and offered to disembarrass me of the unmentionables. He was surprised when I declined his offer, adding that they might come in handy later on. We never saw the American again. He vanished. I feel sure he was reprimanded. (c)
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Jumping from a balloon on a pitch-black night, when all is silent and the parachute takes longer to open than it does from a plane, will never be my favourite pastime. (c)