Monday
Chiswick
Dear Michael,
I have just been reading your letter again and am looking forward to seeing your big fort. Wasn’t Mr Black good to make it for you? It sounds, from what you say, as though it is a really nice one and perhaps we will both play with it one day when I come home, eh?
Could you feel your stocking on the bed when you kicked your feet on Xmas morning? I’m sure Father Xmas could not put the fort and the wheelbarrow in your stocking, could he? They wouldn’t even go in mine! You must have quite a lot of soldiers now. Do any of them ride on your tank? You certainly did get a lot of things and I’m so glad you had a nice time. Was Jennifer pleased when she saw her Golly? She would be surprised. Mummy stayed up late when she was at Grandma’s, didn’t she, and then was a lazybones – like you! – in the mornings. As you know, Daddy always used to get up as soon as he was called, didn’t he? Well, if not always, at least sometimes!
Who wins when you play snakes and ladders? For Xmas I got nice comfy slippers from Mummy, which I put on as soon as I come in every day; stamps from Wendy, one of which is bringing this letter to you; your cigarette papers, for which thank you very much and I will use them when Grandma sends me the tobacco; some pennies from Nanna (4/-); some pennies from Uncle Eric; some pennies from Uncle Bert (10/-); and some pennies from Auntie Geo (5/-). So I did get a lot of pennies, didn’t I? Auntie Dot and Uncle Jack gave me a case to keep my shaving things, hairbrush, soap, flannel and nail brush in. I’ll show it to you when I come home if I can find room in my case for it. And they also gave me some cigarettes and a diary. Wasn’t I lucky! Did you have a nice day in town when Mummy bought her frock?
Now I’m going for a little sleep. Bye, son. Be a good lad until I come home, which I hope won’t be long.
Lots of love,
Daddy
Dear Wendy,
Thank you for your letter, which I had been looking forward to receiving. I was going to write to you soon after Xmas, but I wanted to hear from you about all your presents. Somebody IS a lucky girl, isn’t she! I am so glad you had a nice Xmas and I only wish I could have been at home with you. Was the tree which Uncle Vic brought a nice one? The books I bought for you are written to help little boys and girls to learn to read and you must be getting a clever girl if you can read some of the words already.
On Xmas morning I did miss you all and I wanted to lie in bed with Mummy while we all opened our parcels on our bed like we used to do. I was disappointed that I couldn’t be with you, but I have got over that now and I’m looking forward to seeing you all when I come home on leave. We have to take turns in having leave and while the other men are away I will have to work harder, but it will be worth it. The man has not said yet when we can come home. They always take a long time to make up their minds, don’t they? Anyway, I think perhaps we might know when we go to work tomorrow.
You didn’t tell me how long holiday you have got from school. Are you still on holiday? Mummy told me you had a nice party at school. We used to have a lot of fun when I was a little boy and we had school parties.
Auntie Doris and Uncle Jack are at work and in a few minutes I’m going to lie down on my bed and have a little sleep because I’ve been working hard all night. I’m glad you liked the beakers Auntie Dot sent. They’re lovely, aren’t they? Well, Wendy, this is all for this time. Bye now. See you soon, I hope. Until then, be a good lass.
Lots of love,
Daddy
P.S. Thank you very much for the stamps. The one on this letter is one that you sent me. I should have said that first, shouldn’t I?