Friday
Chiswick
Sweetheart,
I’m glad the doctor is so determined to get you really fit, for there is no doubt you must have been off colour for some time – as witness my surprise when I first saw you at Aberdeen. In fact, had you gone to the doctor then you might have been ever so much better now. Anyway, there’s no point in harking back to that at this stage. All that matters now is that you should really build yourself up, not merely for a few weeks, but for the next year or so! I’m glad Rees told you off about working off your energy as soon as you feel a bit fit.
I really must write to Mother today and I must also write to Percy and Ralph, although I don’t know what Ralph’s address is as he has no permanent home. I was interested in Eric’s idea of going to South Africa after the war. I suppose Lilian chose that place because it is warm! She and our Jane are a well-matched pair for feeling cold. I can well imagine Mother’s ire at having Billie’s pal dumped on her – that is if he was expecting to stay at 25. There may have been no suggestion of that at all.
Many thanks for Wendy’s note, which I thought was amazingly well done. She is certainly coming on a lot. This Miss E[??] seems to be very thoughtful and something of a psychologist. A stunt like that paves the way for a scrounging expedition! No, that’s not meant unkindly, but more in admiration because, after all, the decorations and jellies (if any!) which are scrounged are for the benefit of the kids themselves. I can well imagine Wendy’s excitement at all the preparations. They used to be excited enough just hanging up our own decorations at home. Are you going to send that little Xmas tree and the cardboard Father Xmas? I should write her name on whatever she takes before it leaves the house and that will save a lot of trouble at school.
Now, how’s the boil? Has it come to a head yet? I know what a lousy time you have with these things as a rule, and I do hope it clears up in reasonable time for you. As you say, there’s no fun in a shopping expedition with a handicap like that. What did Rees say about it?
Yesterday I was free from 1.30 to 8 so went to Oxford St and had a wander round a small corner of Selfridges. I think there were some roll-ons there, but there was such a milling mob of women round the counter that even my stout heart quailed at the thought! I might get Dot to see if she can find one anywhere. The selection of children’s things was amazingly poor. One very small corner was devoted to wooden toys and that was all I could see. Prices were outrageous and very few of the things were worth having. There was nothing among the children’s books worth picking up and I tried in vain for a child’s primer there. However, when I was on the way home I saw from the top of the bus a place called The Children’s Own Book Corner so I’ll call in there one day. I got a scarf for Michael, which cost one coupon. It’s a dark brown, or rather that was what it looked like in the shop but in daylight it looks more a rust colour. I DO hope it will be alright.
I saw some rather nice little lace collars and other forms of neck-wear which I thought I might get for Dot, but when I got home she’d bought some from a girl in the office who makes them! I was annoyed. Now I’ll have to hunt round all over again for something for her if I’m going to be here at Xmas – and it looks now as if I shall. I will have to get some small thing for them. I’ve got no ideas at all for Jack.
If you have lots of money, there are still loads of nice things to be bought in London – silverware, toilet stuff (7/6 for bath salts which would have cost 1/6 at the most in peacetime) and loads of good leather stuff.
There are very few days left in which to buy and despatch things. I’m wondering how you are going to get all the things which may come from here into their stockings. I think the best way will be for me to send a parcel addressed to each of them and marked Not To Be Opened and then Father Xmas can find them downstairs and put them into their stockings. It will help to fill their stockings up and give them the fun of opening the parcels, too. I might also send a few odds and ends, if there are any, to you to put into their stockings. Then, of course, what are you going to do? Will you put your parcel into your own stocking, to keep up the illusion? That might be the best way. And don’t forget – your parcel is not to be opened, either! There will be trouble if you do. All this, of course, depends on whether I can see what you want! Eh, dearie me, it is a rum business this year. Incidentally, if anything does arrive for me from the office, send me a wire so that I can borrow on the strength of it, and then send the letter to me by registered post.
There is a brighter note being struck about long leave, just at the moment. The old hands here reckon that I should be home in six or eight weeks from now. If that is so, I’m wondering if I should jeopardise the chances of that leave by taking French leave at Xmas? I possibly could manage it by paying full civvy fare and by getting a civvy to buy my ticket for me on Xmas morning. I’m wondering whether the couple of quid it would cost me couldn’t be put to better use? What do you think, love? I’d go crackers if I got picked up – although I think that is most unlikely. If I was picked up, however, there’s no doubt I’d be carpeted for it, although what the penalty would be I don’t know. The only thing I can see that they could do is stop either leave or pay, or both. Let me know what you think, love – and then I’ll please myself! Well, sweetheart, it’s midday and I’m off home for something to eat and a bit of shut-eye before doing some letter writing. Bye for now. My love to the children and don’t forget to tell Wendy I enjoyed reading her first real letter – complete with school address!
Take good care of yourself, angel, for you’re a very precious person, you know.
All my love, pet.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Dec 111942