Sunday
Glasgow
Dearest,
It was good to see the familiar writing on your letter, which I got on Saturday. The day seemed much more normal and the memory of the previous Saturday more like a bad dream. I’m so glad you managed to sleep right through the night. Providing you look after yourself properly for the whole of the winter you should be OK and, in fact, you may be heaps better for getting everything out of your system. There is a good deal to be said for your theory that being without food for a week clears your system completely. Anyway, it’s a good way to look at these things.
We are using the weekend to make a tour of various houses saying goodbye to people. Last night we went over to one of Charlie’s aunts for a farewell tea. Today we are going to another one. So you can see that we are maintaining our form right to the bitter end! I want to get round to see Alex Brown on Monday if I can and that, I think, will be the finish of the touching farewells. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to see Frank before I go, but there is just a chance that he may be home on leave before I go back and in that case he might slip over to see us. One night this week I’ll have to stay in and write all my final letters telling people when I am due away from here.
I have written Mother and Dot and I have at last posted Jane’s airmail letter, which I wrote just before I came home, so that’s a few of them polished off. Another thing I should do is get all my socks washed and my trousers patched but I have my doubts about that. I really must remember to bring my number ones to Limedale to have the turn-ups done. They are in tatters already.
Well, love, that’s about all the news from here. How are you today? I do hope you are feeling a bit stronger. How are your legs now? Any more stable? I’m going to be interested to see if the Guinness does make any difference. By now I expect you will have had a few visitors. Has Milly been in during the weekend? Give her my love when you do see her.
There is a feeling here that we may be lucky enough to get away from Chatham by the weekend. Won’t that be nice! Anyway, I will wire you as soon as I know what the position is, so keep your fingers crossed! Fingers, I said!
What do you think of the news from the Middle East? It’s about the most heartening we have had for a long time and if we don’t clear Libya and the Med now we’ll deserve kicking to death. This may easily divert a lot of strength away from Russia, especially if we clear the Med and make a real assault on Italy itself. That is quite on the cards I think.
Now, sweetheart, I don’t think there is a great deal more to say, except that I do love you! Get well quickly, dear, for I hate to think of you suffering. I’m relying on you to do for yourself all that you would be telling me to do if the position was reversed.
I’m away to the Post Office now. All my love.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Oct 251942