Thursday
Chiswick
Sweetheart,
First of all, many thanks indeed for the photographs, which I got at work yesterday when I went back from dinner. They were probably there earlier but as we were rushing to get out to try for some breakfast I didn’t go down to our office after having a wash. I think the photographs very good indeed and very like all of you. Just one suggestion arising from them – isn’t it well past haircut time for Michael? Sorry, pal, but you must do something about it!
Both of the children look very fit indeed, but of the two I think Michael has the greater change since I saw them last. He seems to be getting very sturdy now, while Wendy is just a slightly bigger edition of what she was last year, on comparing the two photographs. Get last year’s out and have a look at them, you’ll be interested. In the latest picture, Wendy has adopted a real little girl pose with her hands behind her back. Of the two pictures of you, I like the one looking to the left best because it shows a better laugh – dimple and all! If you lay the pictures down so that they are facing each other, it is the right-hand one I mean. You look really nice in it and I like your frock very much, although the little pockets are just a shade too high to be of real use to me, aren’t they? Again, comparison with last year’s pictures shows that you have lost weight and with the pounds you have dropped have gone your several chins. Look at the golf course pictures! Anyway, love, you certainly are looking better, and much more cheerful, than when I last saw you and altogether I think the pictures very good. Dot hasn’t seen them yet, of course, but I have no doubt that they will want one of the children when they see them. Please say “thank you” to Dave for me and tell him I’m delighted with them – as I am. I’ll drop him a note as soon as I can.
Now to answer your letters. So Rees was facetious, was he? I can well imagine it. Still, I’m glad he really thinks you are looking better and even if you do have to continue with the medicine for six weeks, it is better to get properly built up again than to stop now when you are evidently well on the up-grade. Six more weeks will help you along towards spring and it is funny what a faith I have in that time of the year. Yet it is nature’s period of renewal, isn’t it?
About vapours, sweetheart, let’s get this straight at once. I’m not merely making the trip to Liverpool for a sexual orgy alone, you know! I’m coming home to be with you, dear heart, and the children too, for a few days. And I’m coming home to feast my eyes on you and to hold you close once more. Now, it would be silly of me to suggest that I won’t have a more or less permanent desire for you in visible form – because I will! But if oats are out of the question then it will not ruin my leave, even if leave is not quite what we now hope (against hope it seems) it will still turn out to be. Two “don’ts” on this subject: don’t talk nonsense about blaming yourself, because you have been a very clever girl indeed so far; and don’t let yourself get all irritable about it, because that will only set you back again. If you can manage to persuade your menstrual wotnots to function in the old cycle, then so much the better; if not, we are just unlucky this time. I know I won’t find it so easy to theorise lightly on the subject when you are lying in my arms! Sweetheart, even the thought of it is so delightful. But I’ll have to make the best I can of it. And talking of leave, I’m glad the children are so interested. I will try to come home at a time when they can meet me, but I’m rather afraid Wendy may still be at school. Still, we’ll see about that.
A fortnight today I begin my last day of duty – at 1.30pm, and my last watch at 3am in the morning! Yesterday B watch went on leave and today Jack and Charlie resumed duty. I feel infinitely superior to them, although I must say they both look heaps better for the change.
I never fancied Michael as a dramatic orator and am rather surprised to hear of him making such an impression. It just shows that you never can tell.
Like you I’m jumping from point to point in this letter, but I’d be glad if you would send letters to the office on my afternoon watch. It’s pleasant to keep getting letters daily and this week in particular because as I’m on on Saturday afternoon I won’t have time to get out of here, which means I’d not have your letter until Sunday. Although I think you are an angel to feel as you do about the panto, I’d still rather the children saw ‘Peter Pan’ if it’s at all possible. There are sometimes quite long lapses between the productions. You seem to have quite a full social diary this week! Nice work, love, the changes will do you good. My love to May when you go, and say many of ’em for me. By the way, did Molly write to you?
OK, love, I’ll ask Dot about the spool and needles. Did you ever get the other part? If you didn’t, you will lose it. It must be nearly six months since you took the part there. You are silly, you know. Tell Wendy I’m glad her spots are better and please thank Michael for the ships! And that, I think, clears up all the points in your letters.
There is very little news here just now as I’m doing nothing but sleep and work. People are deeply angry about this day raid in which the school was bombed and blame our own defences as much as anything else. Tom Oliver lives at the top of the road where the school is and swears that the plane was so low that it had to climb to avoid striking the school before dropping the bomb. We were having dinner at a Toc H Club opposite the Commons at the time and there was gunfire a good five minutes before the siren went. No wonder parents are playing hell about it. Somebody needs what is termed in the senior service – very rudely – a bollocking over the whole job and I hope they get it. One of the most cheerful lads in our place, an old stager with a perpetual wide grin, was evacuated because of a time bomb dropped in the previous night raid. He was on his way home from work yesterday when he had to dive into a pub doorway to avoid being machine gunned! As valid an excuse as I know of for going into a pub!
Well, my angel, that’s about all the news. I hope you will have a nice weekend, and remember that I’ll be home a fortnight after this letter. Whoopee! Time is beginning to move now. My love to the children, and all my love to you, sweetheart. Do take care of yourself and remember to take your medicine regularly!
Ever your own,
Arthur X
P.S. We were at work and knew nothing of this morning’s alerts.
Jan 211943