‘By 3 the rain had eased up, so went out for a walk across the Common as far as the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Wonderful contrast of green heather and golden-brown bracken. Bare trees all phosphorescent with lichen. Discussed “Lord of the Rings” and other topics. Spoke about proposed order…. Stephen continued rewriting his novel, while I read “Zen Catholicism”. Wrote a poem, “The Mask”. Puja and meditation. Slept soon after 12.’

Diary, Thursday 18 January 1968