Saturday
Chiswick
Dearest,
How the days are dragging. Xmas seems weeks ago and even New Year ages ago and yet it is only the second of January! Still, I suppose the days will pass; they always do.
We have just come back from the Gaumont, Hammersmith, where, at my instigation, we went for a laugh to see Arthur Askey in ‘King Arthur Was A Gentleman’. It was a very pleasant evening but I must confess that I don’t find Big as amusing on the screen as on the radio. He is definitely a radio personality. Still, I did enjoy the evening although this business of different closing hours in London still gets me dizzy and so, for that matter, does the geography of the place. In Hammersmith the closing hours are ten o’clock, but in Chiswick they are open until 10.30, so we jumped on a train, rode three stations to Turnham Green station (that’s three minutes from Dot’s) and, although it was 10.05 when we left the cinema, still got a drink in the Tabard at the bottom of Bath Road. As soon as we walked in, a woman began to sing ‘There’s Something About A Sailor’ so that I was all covered in confusion! Weren’t we lucky to get a drink so quickly! Yet the funny thing is that the nearest pub in the other direction – only about the same distance away – is in the Borough of Hammersmith and closes at ten o’clock and, as usual, of course, that sells the best beer. And there, I think, you have the whole of the news of the day.
Dot’s landlady, Mrs Fuller, has lent them a day bed, or divan, because she is closing up all but one of her rooms so instead of having to make my bed up on the bed-chair each day Dot is able to just cover it with a special cover. It’s a well-sprung bed and is really very comfortable, and I felt less like getting up than ever this morning, which is saying a lot! They are very useful pieces of furniture and Jack is very keen to buy it but Mrs Fuller isn’t parting.
Sunday
Do you remember me telling you that one of our young lads was married to a Wren in Glasgow Cathedral recently? Well he went in to the officer of the watch yesterday and volunteered for this draft which is going – or rather, has gone. That meant that one of the married men was able, at the last moment, to telephone his wife and tell her that he has had a reprieve. Apparently she is staying at a farm and she must have been feeling pretty blue because she was in bed when he rang at 8.45!
It’s Dot’s birthday today, of course, and she has had quite a lot of cards. As they are going to a 21st party next week, she was going to get herself a brooch yesterday but everything she saw was too dear. I think she has expensive tastes!
We have been talking about golf and I’m very conscious now of the fact that these days I get very little fresh air and I am seriously thinking of bringing my clubs back with me. Will you remind me when I come on leave? The great difficulty these days is getting hold of golf balls, which are becoming more and more rare. I could do with making friends with some Americans and getting them to have some sent over.
Well, my sweet, I am out of news. It only remains to tell you that I love you, oh so much. Angel, there are times when it hurts to love you as I do. I’ll be home to you the very first minute I can, but there is still no official mention of leave. I was talking to the Chief about it this morning and he says they are still waiting for the officer to decide the exact date we shall start – it might be the 10th, 11th or 12th – and which watch is to go first. Don’t worry, love, I’ll let you know as soon as I do. All my love, angel. I’m wanting you very badly again today. Thanks for the children’s letters. I’ll try to answer them tomorrow.
Ever,
Arthur X
Jan 021943