Sunday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
In face of considerable opposition, consisting of several matelots and one young lad belonging to the family who never keeps still for one minute, I’m doing my best to write you. As I had no letter on Saturday – neglecting me already, eh? – I presumed that you had been over to the Rosses or else they had come over to see you. Was I right? If they did, I hope you had a nice time. Tell me what happened about Hughie and Madge during their holidays, especially if you heard how the dance went.
I began this letter just two hours ago and I have had it on my knee ever since. I have determined to go on writing even if I only get an odd sentence in between George’s reminiscences and home worries. Poor George is worried about his youngster who is evidently afflicted with a bad throat.
Today the weather has been smashing. Hot and a clear blue sky after half a day’s rain yesterday. The allotments here are just beginning to show real signs of life and the rain will do them all the good in the world. The potatoes are showing through everywhere and onions and all the other things are showing through beautifully. Every day I inspect your plot by proxy. In other words I look over the Chief’s plot every day during stand-easy so that I almost know it as well as he does! Anyway, I’m drifting from the point. What I was going to say was that I went with Percy and Ralph to Nigg Bay today. The sea was delightfully hot and we spent two fine hours scrambling among the rocks and looking into all the little pools. You should have seen those matelots crawling about helping the local kids to find winkles or, as they call them, “buckies”. We eventually took the cliff path and walked round the next little bay discovering some fine little coves which would have been ideal for picnics. I’m sorry we did not see more of it while you were here. Although the weather was nothing like it has been today. The little rain seems to have brought the real summer weather. I’m thinking that next Sunday I may get some sandwiches and go down there on my own. Percy is going to Arbroath to pay a return visit to a pal of his who came over here yesterday. He is in the Fleet Air Arm and is a nice young fellow. As he is in the supply branch I’m going to see if he can get some towels for you, but don’t bank on it. He tells me, by the way, that they are not as good as they were. Anyway, if I can get them I’ll either post them to you or bring them with me when I come. I’m also trying to get a fellow out of our class to send me a pound of boiled sweets just before I come home. That, also, is something indefinite, but I will get them if I can. Anyway, I’m straying again! Percy is going to Arbroath next Sunday and Ralph’s girl is expected at Aboyne the same weekend so it looks as if I shall be alone on Sunday. If the weather is like this I’ll have a picnic tea and do some writing at Nigg Bay. I called in at Smith’s today and the family there asked after your welfare. They send their regards and hope you enjoyed the holiday. I haven’t been in to see the Grants this weekend. I’ll try to pop round next weekend, perhaps on Saturday.
I did think of going to see Kathleen to ask her to get seats for Henry Hall’s guest night because when Percy went every seat in the house had gone so it doesn’t look as if we will get there now. I’m disappointed because I had been looking forward to that night. Ever since I heard Miff Smiff I have been wanting to see him.
How have the children settled down now? Are they still fit? Sorry to hear about the bike. Have you got it back yet? What was the extent of the damage? Hope it is not too bad. I must write to Mother soon because I haven’t written her a line since before you came up here. She’ll be taking the huff! I did intend to write tonight and would have done so but for all those lads staying in our room. They have just gone out for supper and it is 11 o’clock. They have been here since 7.30 chatting away to beat the band. I still have to wash, shave and clean my boots so it’s goodbye to all hopes of an early night.
Well, darling, I really must be off. I’m dog tired. I’m hoping to have a letter from you tomorrow. Sweetheart, I love you still and July cannot come soon enough for me. I’m longing to see you again and to see the children, too. Somehow, having seen you I miss you more now and I’m wondering what is going to be the reaction of the children when they see me. I wonder if they will recognise me? I doubt it very much, especially as you say my voice has changed. What with a different voice, different clothes and different teeth, they’ll never know me. That would be a real blow, but I couldn’t blame them. I do so want to see them again and I’ll go mad if anything happens to put me back in the course. I just couldn’t bear that. Anyway, we have another S.B.X. [Standard Buzzer Exercise] tomorrow at 11 words a minute and I’ll let you know how I go on. I do hope I do well in it. Not only because I want to evade the compulsory work but because of the extra confidence it will give me. Anyway, I have worked hard this week and feel I have made some progress.
Now I’m off to shave. Bye, my angel, for now. Take care of yourself. If there is any reward for virtue and hard work I should leave here ten weeks on Wednesday. Whoopee!
All my love, precious. Your own,
Arthur X
May 171942