Wednesday
Chiswick
Darling,
Despite the date on this letter I’m actually writing it in a Toc H Club [service men’s club with a Christian ethos] within an hour of posting your other letter. At last I’m a fully fledged member of the ticket scrounging club and what a business it is! I’ve been in stitches at the antics of the lads as we went from one club to another. What happened was that Jack and Charlie tried for tickets for three of us before I got into town because the moral of this game is definitely “up in the morning” and most places seem to get their tickets at about 11am. They could only get two, as they won’t issue tickets except to people actually there. Anyway, they touched for tickets for the St James Theatre for tonight – a Michael Redgrave show. They also got tickets for a news theatre this afternoon and a matinee theatre show this afternoon, but they are not using those because they don’t think they’d have time to get to the evening show, which starts at 6, after having a meal. I hate that business of grabbing tickets and then not using them. It’s a real dog in the manger attitude. Anyway, when I joined the party the fun started all over again. We went first to the Crypt, where all the tickets had gone. Then on to the American Eagle Club where I got the cold shoulder! The Beaver Club, by the way, is now out of the list because they say the tickets are only for Canadian forces. Finally I chased the lads off to see the news reel and I came on here – right on the embankment next door to the Houses of Parliament which, incidentally, never fail to surprise me because they look just as they do on the sauce bottle! From the outside very little can be seen of the raid damage, by the way, although I’m told it’s been badly hit. I have touched for a ticket for the Vaudeville but I haven’t any idea at all what the show is. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.
Several times I have been going to tell you that I believe there are some theatres here which will issue tickets for servicemen and their wives. The Union Jack Club has married quarters – 4/= a night per couple, I understand. So if I am here a long time and don’t get leave, as looks quite possible at the moment for the leave rota should have begun early in November, I wonder what the chances are of you coming down for a long weekend in the spring? I’d love you to if it could be managed. I’m worrying less about leave than I did because I feel that after all I’m lucky to be here, especially when you think that if I had passed out as a telegraphist I’d now be either abroad or on the high seas! Do you ever think what a lucky break it was when they turned me down? I often do, despite the possibility of foreign service.
I’m glad you have “discovered” the British Restaurant because I know how you enjoy a meal cooked and served by someone else. All the reports I have heard of them have been good and they are certainly cheap enough. A change like that will do you good.
So you managed to get the things for your Xmas puddings and cakes. Nice going, sweet. I know what you mean about not having a lot of enthusiasm for Xmas this year, but I’d hate to feel that if I shouldn’t be there the place will be plunged in gloom. It’s nice to be missed so much but I do want the children to have a good time and if I’m not home I suggest you get drunk. Will you stay at home for Xmas? Somehow I can’t imagine the family having a Xmas outside our own home. I wouldn’t be able to visualise you all at any given moment if you were somewhere else.
What a worry this business of finding money to ensure your health is! I hope you can manage alright. I’m sorry to hear that you are going to have to cut down on Xmas. If the office sends anything I’ll be able to help you a bit.
Jean Lambert is certainly a mystery man. Like you, I get wild about these people with no visible means of support, even if they are quite nice fellows to drink with, as Jean is. By the way, shouldn’t it be Gene? Hope Ernest is not pulled in again. It will be lousy going back after a taste of freedom.
Wednesday dinner-time.
Rather than risk that postbox in Chiswick, I’m finishing this before I go home for dinner. Incidentally, I didn’t reply to your query as to whether there was anywhere else you could write to because I find myself going home on working days so often that it is only once in four or five days that I don’t have a letter from you.
Last night’s show was very good, but it was a war play, as you will see from the programme. I have marked one or two things on the programme as being typical of wartime conditions. I love the line in the air raid advice “if you feel you must go”! John Mills and Robert Wilton were both very good indeed, but I should have enjoyed the show more if the place had been better filled and if I had had some company. The Vaudeville is a lovely little place – just the type of theatre I like, small and intimate. By far the best type of theatre for a play. Mills, by the way, plays the part of a sailor who meets a girl in a train and eventually marries her in Coward’s film which we saw recently [‘In Which We Serve’]. Look out for him if you see it. He has quite a good part in it and plays it very well. People in London are, I believe, forecasting a big future for him. He is certainly very sincere in both the parts I have seen him play.
There is only one piece of news today. Quite a small matter but very interesting. We only received a weekly ration card today instead of a fortnightly one and the lad in the office said it is because we are to get civvie ration books next week! Without being unduly optimistic, that looks as if we are here for some time, doesn’t it? Let’s hope so, anyway.
Well, love, I must away and cook my dinner after I have read your letter which I hope to find waiting for me. Bye for now, angel, and all my love.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Dec 021942