Thursday
Glasgow
Dearest,
This is going to do you no more good than it is doing me, for last night I found my way to that old haunt – the Press Club. When I tell you that one of the lads was looking for a non-existent dog and that I was carrying an orchid when we got back – as well as three ashtrays (familiar sign) – you will appreciate that I am in no mood or state to write a really coherent letter. We have been in school for a good five minutes now and all we are waiting for is the appearance of the instructor before we explain our needs and then we are off for an early and very necessary cup of tea! From long and bitter experience you know just how much tea means to me in circumstances like this.
Oh, if only you were here to make endless cups of tea for me as in the good old days! Still, a good time was had by all except that we had to pay far too large a proportion of our own beer – a state of affairs which would never have been tolerated in Liverpool, for I was at that really nice stage that we get to when I climb sombrely onto a chair, reach down the big silver loving cup and, to the great dismay of Georgie Porgie, insist on mixing a Johnsonian early morning cocktail which is always guaranteed to take the roof off anyone’s head.
At this stage I think that is about all I am capable of writing and, as we will not be at school this afternoon (because we have our bags and hammocks to pack) I doubt whether I will be able to add much more by hand in the dinner hour but I’ll try, love – by God I’ll try. Ta-ta for now and thank God I have a wife I can write to like this. If only I had been coming home to you last night it would have been perfect.
I have had those two cups of tea between 9.10 and 9.50 and now I’m just waiting for 10 o’clock so that I can have some more!
Many thanks for your letter but I cannot understand why you went letterless one day, for I have certainly written each day.
Well, love, this is the last letter from Glasgow! We thought we were going to be held up because of that confounded typewriter, but the police have cleared it up and have pulled in one of our lads who is now cooling his heels in clink. He sold it for a couple of quid!
I have had a letter from Eric who tells me he saw a lot of the children last week and that they were full of beans. He has been playing noughts and crosses and says Michael is very deliberate about it all but that Wendy is much quicker and, if they don’t watch her, she whips two Xs down at once!
Well, love, that’s the lot for now. I’m mad busy. Don’t worry about the children or about your appearance. All you have to think of is getting well again. We have heard from one of the lads at Chatham and from what he says it does not look as if we will get away by the weekend, so it will probably be Monday or Tuesday.
Now I must be off. Bye angel, and take care of yourself. All my love.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Oct 291942