A background to the 1928 diary

A year or so back, whilst rummaging through the many boxes of old letters and photos that make up my family mementos, I came across a diary. At the time I didn't pay much attention to it as the covers were gone and it appeared to be more of an almanac because of the many pages of advertising, tide tables and other data at the start. A gave it just a quick glance and set it aside with the intention to get back to later. Unfortunately, this delayed me in realizing what a little treasure I'd had in my hands.
I've read it through several times now, and each time I find some new tidbit, and it's become the "text" that was missing from many photographs. I'll try to elaborate on this as I go along and add the corresponding pictures wherever applicable.
 The diary was actually purchased a week before it begins, but they filled in the entries from the 1st of the year so as to make it complete, but I'll post the entries as they appear in the diary. I may give an explanation if I feel it's needed.

The diary was written by my mother, Iris Maud Hunter, aged 17 and her sister Nora Eileen Hunter, aged 15 during their final year of school in England.

Nora Eileen Hunter abt 1925                                               Iris Maud Hunter  abt 1925

They were born in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, to British parents. My mother was born in 1911 and her sister in 1912. Sometime about the end of WW1 (1918-ish) the family moved to Shanghai, where their father Tobias Hunter was to join his sister's husband in business. The move was a good one and the family prospered. While they were by no means wealthy, they were still able to afford a household staff of Amahs, a cook, and a chauffeur.
As was the norm for the European community, the children were sent to England to complete their formal education. As this involved a lengthy passage by ship, the children were boarded at school and spent their vacations with friends or relatives in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.
My mother and her sister were sent away to school in 1924. Their father and mother accompanied them to England but once they were settled in, they returned home to Shanghai. It would be four years before they would see their father again. It was the last time they would see their mother.

As it was this year, January 1st, 1928 was also a Sunday which I hope will make this all work out.
To any who read this:
                           
Note: March 22, 2017

 My mother passed away in 1978 in North Vancouver, BC, at only 67 years of age. Her sister Nora lived to the ripe old age of 95, and died in Laguna Hills, California in 2007.
   At the time of it's writing, they were both attending Bournemouth High School, a boarding school for girls in Bournemouth, England. 1928 was their final year after which they would be returning to their home in Shanghai, China.
  Prior to the end of the school year, they would be joined by their father, Tobias Hunter (my grandfather) He would travel to England overland by train from Shanghai via Berlin, beginning in mid March and arriving in England some two weeks later. He would spend some time visiting with family and friends and when the girls were finished their schooling, they would return home to Shanghai via ship. During his stay, they would take advantage of the time to see the sights of Europe as best as time would allow.
  It was my intention to post entries from the corresponding dates, however due to my late start, and the fact that 1928 was a leap year, the actual days of the week will not coincide from Feb 29th. From that date onward, it will be one day off.
I'll be posting a series of entries together so as to bring the blog up to date but from there, I'll be trying to do it a day at a time. I may post my own observations in the "comments" sections.
  The diary is by no means exciting but has given me much insight into the lives of both my mother and my Aunt Nora. It has also become a text, to the many photos which until the discovery of this book, were a mystery. The diary has also opened access to new genealogical avenues and even posed a few new questions.
  Though I've read through it several times now, I find that with each reading, more light is cast. Seemingly simple statements, give clear answers to some long lasting questions. I hope to be able to share some of that with the few who take the time to read along.
BHB