19 August 2026
Wednesday. Fourteen cousins, one grandmother and a birthday cake arrived at Hay Street this afternoon. They wished to go into the tomb together. I explained that no tomb, however ancient, takes fourteen.
Eight is the most the Perth study holds and eight the most the old structure along the way holds, and the management will not stretch either. So I did what the Doctor never could and organised a family. Seven went into the study, seven went down past the camp, both at the same hour, with the grandmother in charge of the cake.
They came out arguing about which half had the harder time, which is the mark of a successful outing. One of the cousins, a quiet girl called Saoirse, said they should swap and come back next month. They have booked.
For parties who are not related, the management has a team for that sort of thing: works outings, large groups, people who need someone else to do the counting. I have given them the address. I am a secretary; I know when to delegate.
— H. Plumb (Miss), Expedition Secretary
