Friday
Chiswick
Hello, Sweet,
You see, the days ARE beginning to move slowly by. One week of the New Year gone and the second started, so we are on our way towards leave at last. I know how you feel about not complaining too bitterly and I have the same feeling. There was a time, in fact, when I toyed with the idea of seeing if I could get someone from the other watch to change with me and then I decided that the best thing is to follow our avowed plan of not interfering with the plans of the unknown. There might be the danger that, if there was a draft between now and my leave, and I was the only one of the newcomers to have had leave, I would automatically qualify for it! So, all things being considered, I don’t think we will tempt providence by making any changes of our own free will, then, whatever happens, I can have no feeling of self-blame.
There isn’t a great deal of news today. I’ve been at work and I’m home for the day now and that seems to cover all my activities. I have just finished reading ‘The Yearling’ by an American woman, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. I read it in three sittings – the first book I have done that with since I left home, so you can tell I enjoyed it. So you have seen ‘Mr Pitt’ at last? I’m glad. And glad, too, that Mother seems to have given up nattering for a time.
Dot seems a bit better the last couple of days, but whether she will go to the twenty-first party they have been invited to for tomorrow or not I don’t know. She has just said, however, that she thinks she might go if only to get the “low-down” on Jack’s carryings on at work! Well, well, these husbands – you can’t let them out of your sight for a minute, can you? Jane sent Dot a cable today, just to give greetings.
I had another interesting letter from Hughie yesterday. He tells me that Allan Robinson has had an operation – for duodenal ulcers, he thinks. If that is right then Robbie will soon be in civvies for good because the service medicos hate any gastric trouble.
The weather here is delightful again. Blue sunny skies. Cold but very pleasant and it’s good to be alive, though I’d sooner be living somewhere else!
Comas are barred for the time being, I know, but you can’t stop me dreaming and last night I found the answers to several of my touching inquiries about clit – inquiries which have remained unanswered by you. Yes, she is still very responsive to me and, believe it or not, you enjoyed my dream as much as I did! You lucky beggar. So you see, precious, I still love you even when I am asleep and I evidently have the greater authority, or appeal or something, for you always come to me in my dreams. That, of course, is as it should be. And while on this subject, I think it a good idea that you should mention the matter of vapours to Rees. As you say, he will understand and by mentioning it early, there can be no fear of there being any doubts!
I have ordered some slops, among them being a towel which I will try to remember to bring on leave with me. I have meant to ask you several times if you found the second pair of my new underpants. If you did, are you wearing them and are they warm? I have some more on order but I’m afraid I can’t let you have those because I shall need them. My own are getting a bit thin now. I am getting a brown case like mine for Jack and Dot, and there are a few things I would have got had I known at the time that they were available. We get slops about once in three months here, so if I should be lucky enough to be here three months hence I’ll spend my full allowance. Would you like me to order a blanket for you? They are 18/6 each! I’m not going to get one to be sold to anyone else, but if you want one I’ll put one on my next order for you. Let me know sometime what you do want because we have to order well in advance. These things we are now waiting for – and for which I have paid this week – were put on order two days after we got here, so that gives you an idea how long we sometimes have to wait. I will be sending you a small parcel for your birthday in the next day or so and if it arrives before your birthday, don’t forget it has NOT to be opened before.
Well, my sweet, that is all the news, I think. No need to say how much I love you, is there? Take care of yourself and send me a full report of what Rees has to say, won’t you? I do hope he can see a definite improvement in you. And I’ll be interested to know what he has to say about vapours. Very interested!
Bye for now, my girl, and look after yourself. My love to the children. How are they? Are they behaving themselves lately? There don’t seem to be so many complaints about Michael these days. Has he got over his bad patch do you think, and does he help in the house at all?
Well, love, I must leave you, much as I hate to. All my love, dearest.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
P.S. Will the panto still be on in Feb? And what did Dave say about the photograph?
Jan 081943