Tuesday
Chiswick
My darling,
I had hoped to write you such a long letter today, but the weakness of the flesh intervened and here I am rushing to catch the post. When I got in I made my breakfast, looked at the paper and then crept into bed at about 11 o’clock. I have just had dinner and am now scribbling away for dear life.
So you got all dated up during the Xmas holiday? I’m so glad and I only hope you had a really nice time. You talk of “late nights”. You didn’t overdo it did you, love? If you did I’ll kick the seat off your pants! I’m not carping, angel, but I’m very anxious that you should not slide back the least little bit. You still never tell me how you really are in health these days, you know, although I have asked several times.
I am anxious to get this away today so that you can make immediate use of some of it without waiting for your birthday. I had hoped to be able to save more than this, but you know the way money goes at Xmas and really I suppose I’ve done quite well to hold on to this. I want you to spend a couple of quid on a frock for yourself – more if you can’t get just what you want for that amount. Whatever else you do, get something that you really like and, for God’s sake, for once in a way, don’t stint yourself for five bob. And in sending this I want you to feel that you can afford something nice.
Whatever is left over I would like you to put away for me towards leave expenses and a possible trip down here by you in the spring – if I’m still here! There is a new scheme out for leave – it was announced yesterday. At the worst it will mean I will begin leave a week later than was at first thought, and at the best I will be home about a fortnight earlier. So as to get leave over more quickly, a whole watch is going at the same time for 9 days. That, as there are four watches, will cover a period of 36 days. While we are not on leave we will obviously have to work longer hours, but at the moment it seems the only possible way. The scheme comes into operation about Jan 11 and it has not yet been decided which watch shall go first. We should have definite news in a day or two. The original idea was that it should begin on Jan 1st and had that been so and we were lucky enough to be drawn as the first watch, we would have been home for New Year’s Eve because we are off duty then! Wouldn’t that have been fine? I want to get my leave in as soon as possible because there are too many draft chits flying about just now. Four A/Ms, including one from our watch, got chits yesterday, right in the middle of the watch, and were packed off on five days’ leave!
That means we can breathe again for a day or two. As soon as we get leave definitely settled I will let you know and that will set your mind at rest.
Now, angel, I must fly. I’ve thought of you a lot this week and you have been very close to me. Take good care of yourself, get plenty of rest and get really well quickly because you know I MAY be lucky in the draw for leave. Wouldn’t that be great!
I spent half an hour before I went to bed re-reading your Xmas letters. Such nice letters they were – especially the one which came with my present and your “serial” Xmas Eve – Xmas Day letter. Oh, angel, I do love you and hope to hold you close very soon now. All my love, darling.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Dec 291942