Dec 081942
 

Tuesday
Chiswick
Dearest,
I hope that date is right, but I never know what day in the week it is these days! And, like you, I feel the days slipping by. That is all to the good, for today a notice appeared on the board saying leave would start forthwith and specifying the order in which ratings will go on leave. Our batch is last on the list, of course, and without working it out in detail I reckon it will be roughly three months from now before I get away. Oh well, it gives us something to look forward to. The rush of getting Xmas over will make two or three weeks go quickly enough and that will help to shorten the time for you.
Now I’ll answer, briefly, the points in your welcome letter received yesterday. I’m getting as bad as you for hating Sundays because there is no letter. Here goes then. By now, of course, you know that Hughie has written and I have replied. I hadn’t thought of presents from India arriving late but will CABLED money be in the same category? Anyway, I won’t bank on it. Thanks for the coupons and suggestions, love. Don’t worry, I won’t buy them all unless I have a windfall. While I have had a little stock of tobacco I have been able to save a few bob – not a lot, but it will help – I got 5/- from the office fund yesterday. The letter was posted Nov 27 and has been wandering all round the country ever since. Your suggestions will save me peering aimlessly in shop windows.
Have we the negatives of Michael anywhere? I can’t remember if we have or not.
I’m glad you had at least one pleasant surprise in connection with Michael’s coat, which sounds a lot cheaper than Wendy’s. Like you, I’m looking forward to seeing him in a school cap. Wendy’s encounter with the dog has not, I hope, made any deep impressions on her.
Those, I think, are the main points in your letter. Your roll-on, if one is obtainable, is a medium size, isn’t it?
Last night I went with Charlie to the Saville Theatre (10/6 seats) and saw Leslie Henson, Stanley Holloway and Douglas Byng in ‘Fine And Dandy’. I got a programme to send to you and have left it in my case in the office but I WILL try to remember to send it tomorrow. It was a nice bright show on the whole, although I thought the dancing and singing not up to the general standard one expects. I’ve always been super-critical of stage dancing, which has to be good to be at all effective and Dorothy Dickson, who is the chief dancer, has a daughter of about 25 so she is no chicken! There are several good scenes packed with Henson humour, however, notably one where he is a cutter in a fashionable West End ladies’ tailors. The things he does to the clients are nobody’s business, but one of them flies from the fitting room clad in her scanties, to the great delight of the lads! Another good scene is a radio burlesque, first of the “Sweetheart of the Forces” (a little malicious I thought, although I agreed heartily with the general sentiments) and secondly of ‘The Brains Trust’! Henson was Prof. Woad! Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick out the really funny stuff from the programme. In the sketch ‘Fate’, the audience were invited to dictate the actions of the characters in this “eternal triangle” drama. As you can imagine, Henson made the most of it, to such an extent that the woman in the play was herself in stitches at one point. A very pleasant evening but Charlie and I agreed certainly NOT worth half a guinea. Such is gratitude!
There is not a great deal more to tell you, angel. The weather has, thank goodness, been absolutely wonderful ever since we came here and in London that means such a lot. Jack said the other day that there’s still a fine show of spring flowers in the Royal Parks each year and that, as the bulbs are the gift of the various seed firms, you can, if you go the right way about it, get some of them when they are lifted. It’s looking a long way ahead but it is worth considering.
Oh, precious, it does seem ages since I saw you, but somehow you have been very close to me lately. I see you often and sometimes I just shut my eyes and call you up. When you come to me a warm glow goes right through me and, as this often happens on the train, I’m sure people must wonder what I’m looking so smug about. But then, they don’t know you, do they? I’m looking forward to what Rees has to say about you, so don’t forget to let me know.
Give my love to the children and tell them I often think of them, too.
Bye for now, sweet, and all my love.
Ever your own,
Arthur X