Saturday
Chiswick
It’s Saturday and although I am on duty today Jack and I have just finished dinner because, knowing your letter would be waiting for me, I came home as soon as I finished at 1.30. It was a nice letter, too, angel. When once you get the messing about with this medicine finished and get started on it properly, you should feel a lot better. From what you say, you are already making progress and I’m ever so glad to hear it. These extra little efforts, physical and mental, which you are making will help you no end.
There is not a great deal to tell you. I spent a quiet day yesterday and Dot, Jack and I went out for a drink with a fellow named Jones from the flat upstairs. We were only out for about half an hour but it made a pleasant break. And that was all that happened yesterday.
Work has been very slow today and I have just dawdled along from 9 until 1.30. One interesting bit of gossip is that we are to be moved soon to a room of our own. Some of the lads take this as a sign that the powers that be are visualising the need for a bigger permanent staff here, but I think it is far too early to indulge in any interpretations like that. All we can do is wait and see what happens. At the moment we have a fairly high proportion of Wrens in the place – about 50/50 I should say. Whether they will bring in any more or not is hard to forecast. They may, of course.
And that, I think, is about all there is to tell you in the way of real news. Now that I am more settled in my mind about you, and more settled in the job, too, I think that during the coming week I may stay in London more on my days off and try to get into some of these free shows. Jack Gray has already been to eight! I might also get a chance of having a look at some of the shops to get some ideas for the stockings.
And talking of Xmas, is there anything special you want? If you can give me some ideas I’d be glad, because in these days presents will have to be useful as well as ornamental. If there is anything in the way of clothing you want, perhaps you will let me have a book of coupons. Perhaps you had better send me a book soon in any case, because I might see some small things I can pick up in the course of my meanderings about. You had better tell me how many coupons I can use on oddments I might see and, if you have any concrete suggestions, how many on other items for you. All this sounds as if I have thousands of pounds to spend, doesn’t it? Still, I may “touch” from the office. I hope so.
Sunday
Well, there’s nothing new at all to report today. We had a very busy night. Mad busy every minute of the seven hours.
Today we are going up to London to see the damage round St Pauls and that area – the part where the great fire was. I’ve wanted to see it for a long time and I’m hoping to make it today.
Jack and Dot send their love and hope that the improvement is continuing. They never fail to ask how you are.
I see that Xmas leave is not altogether banned, but that the same number of personnel will be on leave as last year. Can that be construed as meaning that I will be home, I wonder? Jack and Dot have not yet made up their minds about going home, but they seem pretty fed up with Mother’s messing about. I can’t say I blame them.
Well, love, I’m off now. I hope you are having a nice restful weekend and that you are feeling better. My love to the children.
Bye for now angel, and all my love.
Ever your own,
Arthur X