Thursday
Aberdeen
Darling,
Once more I’m making a start on this at night school and, also once again, I’ve my doubts about making any real progress, largely because there are so few of us here that it’s not too easy looking as if we are mad busy when actually we are writing letters.
First of all – I’m so glad you had such a good day at New Brighton and that the day was not just a dreary drudge for you. The children apparently had a whale of a time and I’m glad of that. So Michael did at least condescend to sit on the donkey! One more prejudice overcome, for which I’m very glad. Even if he was not enthusiastic about the roundabout things. That’s a pity, but perhaps he will grow out of that complex too. I hope so, because you know what we always thought of Phil Whitehurst at May Day on that score. By the way, the typical seaside donkey pictures were a great treat! They are terrible judged purely as photos, of course, but for all that it did my eyes good to see them both again. Michael appears to have grown more than Wendy, in proportion, or is it my imagination? Perhaps it was because of his haircut. He looks a real boy now. With that bonnet on, it was more difficult to judge any change in Wendy and further, she was partly hidden by the donkey’s ears! Still, they both looked very fit and I’m looking forward to hearing their descriptions of the many “wonders”. I should have liked to have taken Michael on the overhead for his first trip. It was a treat I had planned in civvy days. Still, when he is older I’ll take him on board a ship, perhaps. Don’t let anyone forestall me on that if you can help it. He’d go mad on a real ship. If he can go on one of the Duchess boats when they are restored to their old peacetime days he’ll love it – unless, of course, he is a bit overawed as so many children are by the magnificence of it. But I’m afraid that is a treat for which he will have to wait.
From what you say, I take it you didn’t take your costumes and make a call at the baths.
Friday
That was as far as I got at school and when I got home I suddenly decided it was time I wrote to May and consequently dashed a note off. Had I realised it was Thursday night and, consequently, the night for your weekend letter, I would have left it for another day. You will guess by the pencil that this is being written in school on Friday morning and, as I’m still pretty dopey (the operative word there is “pretty”!), I’m afraid you can’t hope for anything very bright.
I meant to ask if you found it possible to take a camera with you on Tuesday. I suppose not. Did you ever ask Dave about dropping a plate or two on the children?
I must try to get hold of a film or two before I come home and then we can get Dave’s camera. As I have been moved on to the instructor’s table, together with the other “bright” lads, the chances of doing much of this at school are not great as I want to get it away by midday post if I can, so I hope you’ll excuse the shortcomings this week.
Many thanks for May’s and Eric’s letters. What a pity you didn’t see Harold, but then a leave is not a leave, I suppose, unless someone is disappointed. I’m glad Eric was so frank about the position in regard to Mother, but I’ve no doubt it would be unwise to give Mother any indication of his opinion!
Had hoped to get more than this written but must be off now.
Bye, sweet.
All my love,
Arthur X
Jun 251942