Sunday
Aberdeen
Darling,
Another weekend nearly over, which means another week nearer that elusive leave! I’m always glad when a Monday morning comes round because it means I’m beginning one more week which, sooner or later, must pass, although I’m finding time drag a bit just now. In many ways I will be glad to get the next six months over and all my training behind me. Sometimes I feel as if I’ll never be fully trained. Stupid, isn’t it?
Your letter containing the plan of the plot also contains a reference to the question of that missing letter. Quite honestly, I may have made a mistake because I know there was some confusion in the postings, as you pointed out in a previous letter.
I had just begun this sentence when one of the blokes rushed in from the next room with the news of the fall of Tobruk. Not too hot, eh? I expect we have lost a few million pounds worth of stuff there, as well as the men and not a few ships getting the rest away. We don’t know the full details yet, of course. By the way, don’t lay too much store on the Anglo-Russian treaty. One clause in that is very significant – the pledge each country makes not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other. I’m not being a pessimist, but the conversion of too many of the alleged friends of Russia is too sudden to be genuine. Remembering the famous and fraudulent Zinovieff letter affair, which put the Tories in power for 5 years, I expect any trumped-up stunt to be framed in order to cancel the treaty if it suits some people. But that’s enough of politics.
We had quite a nice day yesterday. Nine holes of golf in the afternoon when Ralph had to get back early to meet a pal who was coming for a week’s holiday. At night, this pal (Les) and Percy and a pal of his (Geoff) who is staying with us for a weekend, went on a pub crawl to celebrate another fellow’s birthday. Quite a pleasant night, too. Both Les, who is a civvy, and Geoff, who is in the Fleet Air Arm, are very nice fellows, and we all got along famously together.
Many thanks for your very welcome letters. The women in Morningside seem to be having a whale of a time, but I should think you are wise to keep clear of it if you can. Still, I enjoyed hearing about it all, and I enjoyed, too, reading of your gardening efforts and the idea of a rockery in that dark corner. I wonder if that is where you overdid things in lifting huge rocks? Be careful about things like that.
Now, about slops. Many thanks for the £2. It just arrived in time because I was paid on Friday morning and on Friday afternoon had to pay out 29/- for a suit I had ordered and for which I was measured. I’m getting as much stuff together as I can in case supplies get short, as they may do, or prices rise. I have managed to get you a couple of towels. I also had a brainwave and, as an experiment, got a yard of diagonal serge, which is about 31 inches wide. I thought you might get a pair of trousers out of it for Michael, thus saving coupons and money. This cloth should wear well, if there is enough of it. Now, do you want me to post it to you, or shall I keep it until I come home? I’m also trying to get you toothbrushes during another class’s slops day. Let me know if you want anything more – a nail brush, for instance, but let me know quickly or you will be too late. Apart from the things for you, I got myself two pairs of light underpants which I’ll leave at home when I come, and two pairs of thin socks (1/3 a pair!). I was going to get myself a new cap but I’ll wait for that, I think. I didn’t tell you, by the way, that I now have a smashing “tiddly” hat. Remember the dance we ran? Well I went to the cloakroom for my things and found there was some mess up in hats. The result was that I got this rakish cap, which, incidentally, has a gold wire band! As these are almost unobtainable now, it’s a real find, and the lads are very jealous of it. Anyway, you’ll see it when I come home, if it doesn’t go astray by then.
On Friday I had another treat. I went to the dentist and had an impression taken for my teeth. At the moment I don’t know how long it will be before I get them, but I have to go again on Wednesday morning, so I should get some idea then. He says my gums are only shrinking slowly and I may have to have the plate lined later on, but we will see about that. I told him I was prepared to wait a bit longer, but he seems to think I had better get them in now and start getting used to them.
The weather has been pretty miserable again today. We took Les and Geoff as far as Nigg Bay this afternoon and it drizzled most of the day. It rained again after tea and now that we have settled down to an evening indoors the sky is beginning to clear. It would! Still, with this letter to write, I would have stayed indoors in any case, for I don’t suppose I’ll get a chance of writing again before Wednesday. I think I told you, didn’t I, that I got 62% this week and 87% for transmitting. I do hope I can do better this week. I’ll let you know the result.
Well, sweetheart, must be off now. I have still got that income tax form to fill in. Your Saturday letter about wanting me at home nagging for cups of tea, and supporting your tummy in more ways than one, set me longing for home again. Won’t that leave be glorious? But I’ll bet the days will simply fly past. We had a letter from Arthur Turner the other day and from what he says, Scotia doesn’t seem too bad. Conditions are fairly good, three nights out of four are free, but there is apparently plenty of hard work during school hours. One bright spot is that since they have extended the course to twelve weeks, we get a weekend (Friday morning to Monday night) after six weeks providing we get 90% in the exam. And they have daily exams, by the way! Apart from Morse, there is quite a lot of stuff to learn, Arthur says, and apparently it is stiffer, in that way, than Torry.
Now I must tear myself away. Take care of yourself, I’m so glad to hear the good news of the children. Hug them for me.
All my love, angel.
Ever your,
Arthur X
Jun 211942