20th and 21st February, 1948 - Guard duties continuing, rumours flying and the end of term is in sight.

Friday, 20^th February, 1948

Today was very dull on duty.  The weather was quite fair but not very warm.

I took a book with me to the P.B.S. and this helped to pass the slow creeping time away.

More rumours are flying about our prospects of going home.  It is now said that on the 13^th of next month there is a boat sailing on which the married families are travelling.  There are 50 vacancies on it to be filled by B/Cs under 19 years of age.  The remainder of the 19s will sail on the 28^th together with some of the under 20s.  I wonder if I shall be one of them.

Saturday, 21^st February, 1948

So another week has come to an end without event.  We are all being very careful now that the boat is in sight.  We are all expected to be out by the end of April except for some stores people who are being asked to volunteer to stay behind in Haifa.

Today was very quiet again with just a few sporadic shootings.  I felt rather off colour today but much better this evening.

14th and 15th February, 1948 - Ron's on duty at the Palestine Broadcasting Studios

Saturday, 14^th February, 1948

For the last few days there has been little or no firing or explosions in the city either at night or in the day.

The weather has been very nice for a few days.

The sun although weak does shine at least on most mornings.  This week’s duty with its additions of refreshments and a fire has passed quickly and has been reasonably pleasant.

Next week I am on duty in the Palestine Broadcasting System’s Studios.  I am working from 12 mid-day until 6p.m. every day.  I should find this very interesting and be able to compare the studio here with the ones I know at home.

I don't have a photo of the actual studio so this one will have to
fill in - a state of the art recording studio from 1948
source: http://www.rundfunkmuseum.fuerth.de/english/tour-06.htm

Sunday, 15^th February, 1948

Today I started my guard duties on the Palestine Broadcasting Studios.[1]

I naturally made a tour of the Studios and introduced myself to the Chief Engineer.  He told me I could wander around as I liked.  The eight studios are housed in a small building and are therefore very small themselves, the largest being only large enough for a very small orchestra.  They have one steel tape recording room and one disc recording room.  The control room was a very small one and controls all the studios in Jerusalem.  I was told by the Engineer that very few Outside Broadcasts are done.

In fact I was very disappointed.

[1]Palestine Broadcasting Studios