Arthur & Stella

Sunday
c/o Mrs Reid, Gilcomston Park, Aberdeen
Darling,
We made it, pal. We made it. But only just. We left Royal Arthur at 7pm on Friday. The train left prompt at 8.25 and we eventually arrived at our billets here at 8.10pm Saturday, which explains why I didn’t write last night. But let me start at the beginning.
Everything went swimmingly until we got to Berwick. There had been an air raid warning sometime during the night, although we did not realise it when we were all having a nark with one stupid lad in our carriage who would insist on keeping his blind up after dark. Had we known that then he would have been smacked well and truly under the chin, as one or two of the lads threatened to do. We were lucky in the travelling arrangements. We did not have to leave the train once between Skegness and Edinburgh. There were about 100 of us all told when we left and we dropped the first contingent, bound for Ayr, at Newcastle. Then when we got to Berwick we found that part of the track had been slightly damaged during the raid and that there had been a slight accident somewhere else. That meant we had to go all round the world to reach Edinburgh where we were due for breakfast at 8am. We eventually got there about 10.30am and dashed off for breakfast, our meal on the train having consisted of corned beef sandwiches, a slab of ration chocolate, and a packet of biscuits. We had to wait then until 2pm for a train to Aberdeen and eventually arrived here at 6 o’clock. Then we had to be sorted out into different parties for billeting purposes, listen to a little homily on good behaviour from the Master at Arms, unload hammocks and kit bags from the train, take them on to different lorries in correct order and tour Aberdeen dropping about 20 fellows at a dozen different houses. I am in a billet with Percy and we were next to last to be dropped so, as I say, it was about 8 o’clock when we eventually sat down to a meal. The house, like almost all of Aberdeen, is built of granite and would be considered quite a substantial house in Liverpool. The rooms are big and kept spotlessly clean although the old lady and her married daughter who run it are not so spotless in their own personal appearance. The food is not fancy, but so far there has been plenty of it. We certainly cannot complain of quantity, but the place seems to be run on a commercial basis. There are about 16 fellows in the house, of whom 13 are sailors, one an A.F.S. man and the others civvies. One of the snags, as you can imagine, is the bathroom etc, which is all in one room. I can see there being a real rush in the mornings when everyone has to be out about the same time.
There are two separate colleges, one for operators and one for mechanics. Ours is the furthest away and we will have to be out before 8 o’clock to start at 8.30 and go on until 5pm. We can get a bus at the end of the road and one big advantage is that members of the services only have to pay a penny on any Corporation service, no matter how far they may travel. That is an excellent arrangement as if the fares were heavy we should have to face half an hour’s walk four times a day. We went along to the school today, were sorted out into classes and had all sort of particulars noted, age, religion, are you T.T. etc.
Then we had to march a mile or so to see the doctor. When we got there we filed into a passage, a sick bay steward came out, asked if anybody was ill or wanted to see the doctor and showed the rest of us out into the street. That was the medical exam here, but quite the best way of doing it as we saw the doc at Skegness on Friday morning. Then on to the dentist who takes his job very seriously and who found work to be done on fellows who had been passed as dentally fit at Skeg. He told me to see him again in eight weeks. When we came out of there we only had time to walk back for dinner. This afternoon we met some of the lads and took a bus to a place called Duthie Park where a lovely new bridge, which later proved to be one of the show places of the city, spans the River Dee. The scenery is marvellous here. Real salmon river and marvellous hills, some of which are still snow-crowned. All the way up in the train it was the same and, long though the journey was, it went more easily than I had hoped.
As to Aberdeen itself I still have an open mind which is likely to be affected by two main issues: the question of leave and whether or not we get a tobacco allowance. There is disquieting news, or rather, rumour about the leave question. The fellows in our billet are for the most part wireless mechanics and they take an entirely different course, but they have had no leave whatever since they joined the Navy and they all came here from Skegness! They say that so far as they know there is no leave from Aberdeen until the end of the course – that is 18 weeks from now. Apparently what happens is that we do a day’s training in small arms tomorrow and then start our course on Tuesday. There is a one-day break on Easter Monday, not Good Friday, and then the course goes on steadily 8.30 to 5 (and 8.30 to 12.30 Saturdays) for a full 18 weeks. There are successive examinations after 5, 12, and 18 weeks when certain speeds have to be reached and to pass you have to attain 90% marks! Which looks as if the standard is high. Lads here say so far as they know the course in Aberdeen consists of Morse and similar subjects almost entirely and that little, if any, technical training is done here. After 18 weeks, if we pass out, we get leave and are transferred to another camp, possibly at Lee-on-Solent in the far south of England, or at Ayr, north of Glasgow. Doesn’t life seem rosy! I must confess that I don’t like the news I have heard from the fellows here but, as I say, they are wireless mechanics and not operators. Still, there is no doubt that the tendency is to tighten up all round on the question of leave. For instance, had I joined up just a month earlier, I should have got a leave after being six weeks at Skegness. In the middle of January the rule was changed from six weeks to eight weeks. We had been at Skegness, as you know, nearly seven weeks when we moved, which would have meant a weekend next week or the week after had we stayed there. I rather think there must be a Jonah aboard! Anyway, the whole question will be solved tomorrow when we will get a chance of asking someone in authority and as soon as I know I’ll let you know.
Well, darling, I’m going to rush this away now for the post and I’m hoping to ring you up during the evening. I do hope the forebodings about leave are all wrong, but if they prove to be right we will just have to lump it and settle down to wait for the end of July to come round. What an awful distance that appears to be. July! And yet I seem to have been away so long now that I’m almost becoming inured to it. It seems a lifetime since I saw you last.
All my love, precious, and, even if it is a long time to leave, look after yourself because I shall want you more than ever then. Night night, sweetheart. I love you. Ever your own,
Arthur X
P.S. Will you send my pyjamas and some writing pads, please? I don’t think there is any need to address me as O/Tel here. I think you can make it “Mr”.

Wednesday
Aberdeen
Darling,
There is an accumulation of your letters to be answered and I’m going to try to answer several of them tonight, but not the two long ones with all their lovely passages or I will go into a coma again and never get anything written. There has been a big enough gap in my letters as it is. By the way, I catch the 9pm post each day. Will you try to let me know when you get my letters? I’m afraid there’s likely to be quite a gap from the time they are written until they reach you. There is no possible chance of writing during the day here so I cannot get them into the post any earlier.
I have just re-read about five of your letters and you set me longing to see 45 again with all your descriptions of the advent of spring and the departure of the blackouts. How I should have loved to see those daffs with the sunshine on them in the hall. We went out to a park on Sunday, as I think I told you, and saw great bunches of daffs growing. They did remind me of you. To get back to the blackouts. I found them the most depressing part of life in the lovely summer days when I was at home. It will be the height of summer when I do get leave and the thought of walking into a light house makes the prospect even more delightful. You have done well, sweet.
Now about insurance. You say you have to put 5/9 a week away. I make it 5/10. I’m not quibbling, but as you asked me, there it is! About money in general, don’t forget to cash those postal orders. They’ll be invalid if you keep them too long. Cash them and bank the money. You are quite right about the phone. If the Special Grants people check up in a few months you want to make a point, without stressing it too much, of letting them know that you are economising where you can. I thought the electric bill very reasonable for the winter quarter. It was less than you expected, wasn’t it? You ask in two of your letters if I am bored with your little domestic bulletins. Darling, as if I could be when I sometimes stop dead in the middle of the day to wonder what you are doing. Every little thing about home helps me to feel a little less isolated from you. One point does worry me, though. In re-reading your letters I found that in about every one of them there was a reference to Michael either being naughty or else to his being ill. Poor old girl, you’re having a thin time, aren’t you? I do wish I was at home with you when I read those incidents. I could at least guarantee that there would be less to worry you. I hope he has improved both in temper and in health. I worry about you a lot on this score.
While I remember it, do you think you could pay special attention to my clothes? Don’t let the moths get at them will you, sweet? New things are going to be so expensive when the war is eventually ended.
Now, about Wendy’s birthday. I’ll do my best to telephone (you haven’t told me yet when the phone will be cut off!) some time on Monday evening before she goes to bed. I can’t make any promises so don’t say anything to her because the phones are likely to be mad busy then with it being Bank Holiday. I got a card for her before I left Skegness so as to be certain of having one and I’ll post it some time Saturday. That should make sure of it arriving. What have you done about a present? I hope you have been able to manage something for her. I’m looking forward to hearing how the day goes off. I hope you’ll be able to manage them all and how I do wish I could be there.
Have you heard anything from the school yet? If not I should go along and see them on the day they re-open after the holiday.
Well, darling, I think that covers all the points in several of your letters. I hate leaving items unanswered. Once again, many many thanks for your long letters. They gave me new life. Oh my darling I love you so much that these last few days have been very trying but gradually I have got a grip of myself and have now disciplined myself to face the inescapable fact of no leave. It’s not been a cheerful business and I have no doubt I shall have lapses, but in the meantime I’m forcing myself to work hard. The point is that to get leave I have to pass the final exam and if I allow myself to be distracted too much now by the immediate prospect it might make all the difference between getting through and failing. So I’m working hard. We have started our actual course as I think I told you last night and so far it has not been too bad, largely because we can more or less please ourselves here. It will be different, far different when we go to the other college in a couple of weeks’ time. By the way, we go to school on Good Friday here. The Scots don’t observe it as a holiday. That will seem strange to most of our lads.
I’m going to close now, darling, to get this into the post so you should have a reasonable letter delivery this week. Writing is much more of a problem here than at Skegness. Precious, I do love you and think of you at lots of odd moments trying to think what you will be doing. And I see you in my mind’s eye and mentally  follow your every movement, some of them so characteristic of you. I’m in that mood tonight when, as I think you wrote in one letter, I just want to say “I love you, I love you” over and over again. Because, amazing as it may seem, I do you know. Yes, darling, I love you but now I must go and post this or you may not know that for another twelve hours! Just as if!
All my love, angel. I’m all yours. Night night.
Arthur X

Good Friday
Aberdeen
Dearest,
First of all many thanks for your letter which arrived at dinner-time and the parcel which came at tea-time. As you say, there was a note in it! And that being so, let me get down to the main item at once. I can’t honestly say that your “threat” was unexpected, but there were several difficulties in the way so far as I could see, the chief one being the children and finance and in truly typical feminine fashion you ignore both of them. I’d be glad of some information on both of those points! I’m not raising difficulties but these problems are important, particularly the one about the children because, as you no doubt realise, we are going to set a precedent that may have repercussions later on. I know you won’t think I’m pouring cold water on the issue – if you saw the state of my bellbottoms just at this moment you certainly wouldn’t – but before you actually commit yourself in any direction let me know your ideas, won’t you.
On the money side of things, don’t forget that all the cash we have is what you have and we are not likely to be able to add to that while the war is on and at the moment this looks like being another Hundred Years War. I will eventually get some leave, you know, and we could do with a few spare bob for then. Anyway I have no doubt your letter discussing all these points fairly fully will be here in a day or two. Just to show how much I expected this proposition from you, I can tell you I had thought of all the points you suggest some days ago! And, young woman, I’m going to do nothing at all about it for at least ten days or a fortnight. The reason is this. At the moment we are attending a civilian wireless college at the opposite end of the town from the naval training centre which is called Torry. Now we don’t start at Torry for about another ten days but it is from there that I will have to get permission to leave Aberdeen for the weekend. As we have only been there for one day so far I propose to leave this matter until I find my way round a bit. I have asked one or two fellows in our billet about the matter before you announced your intention of forcing your company on me(!) and the only result was a welter of confusing statements similar to those we had in Skeg on all sorts of subjects. This time I propose to find out definitely for myself. And at that I think we had best leave the matter. Oh no, there is one point. I was thinking in terms of Whit weekend. You see this week church parade is voluntary and school is closed on Monday – we have been at school all day Good Friday – so that we are free from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday morning. If the same position arises during Whit we would have three nights together in which case something else MIGHT arise! Could you guarantee it, do you think? I wonder! No I don’t, you’ve done it already. There must have been bromide in something at Skegness. Don’t worry about the mountainside sweetheart, this place is lousy with them, but don’t forget the evidence, will you?
Another thought has just occurred to me. Have you enquired the fare for the children? I was thinking that if it is fairly reasonable and we could find somewhere fairly cheap you might all come up for ten days – giving us ten smashing nights and two weekends. I might be able to find a little place within bus distance which would make it worth the risk of sleeping away from my billet, although I would have to go there for dinner each day. Anyway, think that over and let me know what your ideas are. If the extra fares are reasonable, it might be worth while because I don’t suppose the cost of the children’s digs would be very great and I should only have breakfast and tea. Don’t forget that I have to be at school at 8.15 so there will be little chance of really late nights during the week – such as pictures etc – but it would make a good break for you. Another point: ask Eric if there is any likelihood of him coming to Scotland any time. Anywhere in Scotland would do if he was here during a weekend, as he might easily be in the course of the summer. It’s worth saving £3-15 if you can, you know. Anyway, make your mind up to the fact that we will have to wait five or six weeks, but with something like definite date that won’t be so bad as the wretched uncertainty and fluctuating hopes and fears of the last three weeks. Still another reason for waiting that long: in four weeks we have our first exam and, if we fail in that we are bound for Skeg poste haste and the stoke-hold of a ship about five weeks later! I don’t think we dare risk the distraction of your lovely self in that period. Sweetheart, I don’t know what I’ll do when I see you. Probably crush you to death. My darling you are doing things to me at long range. And what things. The Sundays you mentioned when I followed you all round the house were child’s play to what will happen when I come home for seven full days. Nice, glorious, heavenly as this weekend will be, it won’t be quite the same as good old 45 where the whole atmosphere is permeated by you.
Sweetheart, I have fought hard to keep myself in hand and sometimes I have felt almost unfaithful to you by being so ruthless and almost callous with my feelings towards you, but if I had done otherwise I should have gone to pieces. I feel I owe it to you and to myself to get through this course successfully and your distracting self helps not at all, damn you. You make it twice as hard but I love you for it. Thank God I have never felt, as one of the fellows here says he feels, that if he had to start again he wouldn’t get married because of all the little things he has had to give up. Darling you are a pest, but such an adorable pest. Tell me, by the way, how vapours will fit in with Whit! All I know is that had I come home this week it would have been ideal, but beyond that I’m all at sea. Can you give me two sets of barred dates – you know the sort of thing, say 16–20 April and 20–26 May or however the confounded things work out. As a married man of five-and-a-half years standing – I like that word – I never can work it out.
Well, precious, here goes another letter and I’ve not even begun to answer so many of your letters. I got the two addressed to the R.N. unit today after they had lain at least two days at Torry; another letter at dinner time and a note in a parcel at tea. My lucky day, isn’t it? I feel I have you all about me today. What a lovely aura you have, darling. So comforting, so warm, so permanent. One of the nicest things about having married you is the feeling that always and forever you are there waiting for me. Darling, the thought of it makes me positively conceited. Just now, talking to you, I feel as rested as I used to do when, on Saturday or Sunday, I leaned against your knees, or laid my hand in your lap, or cushioned my face against your breasts. Oh, precious, there never was a phrase quite so expressive as “sweet con”. That’s what I am now and there is a little pulse in John beating steadily because of you, just as if he were ticking off the seconds until he meets Mary again. What a glorious reunion that will be. We’ll need stacks of evidence. Lorry loads of it. My precious, I can feel a coma mood just on the horizon so I must stop. When I look up from this writing table the lads are beginning to wonder what is the matter with me. To think none of them can feel about anybody else as I feel about you. The poor eternally damned souls. Now I MUST stop.
I’m posting Wendy’s card tonight to make sure it arrives on Monday. I forgot about Mother’s birthday, and couldn’t get a wire away. Hope you sent a family card. Now about all your other letters. I’ll never be able to catch up with them I’m sure, so if there any immediate points you want answering which I don’t deal with in the next week, will you make a list of them in one of your letters? Do you know I’ve written to nobody but Dot and Mother since I left Skeg. Has Eric got this address?
Two minutes for the post. Thanks for Durham’s letter. Bye now, sweetheart. Need I tell you I love you? Damn you. All my love, ever and ever,
Arthur X

Thursday
Aberdeen
Dearest,
As I want to reply to the children tonight if it is at all possible so as to be sure they get an answer by the weekend, I’m afraid I shall have to be content once more to answer a few of your points from your recent letters. So here we go. I had foreseen the difficulty of having several offers of assistance with the plot and spoke quite frankly to Dave on the subject before I came away. He didn’t even look after his own properly last year so I felt that if he gave any time to ours his wife might feel, quite naturally, that it was a bit thick. Still, I hope Reg gets down to it fairly soon because if he does there’ll be very little left for anyone else to do! Did you ever find those onion sets somewhere at the back of the garage? They may have sprouted too far now but see what they look like. If they look OK then all you have to do is stand them firmly on the place where we had onions last year. I manured and dug it before I came away so it should be in good condition now. The weather you are having at the moment should be ideal for them as they need a fair bit of water. Did you do anything with the raspberries and have you put anything new in?
You seem to have had a rough time with Mother over Wendy’s party day. It’s harder for you to be as frank with her over things like a purely children’s day as I used to be. Even I used to get the backwash of my plain speaking but I know her far better than you do. What’s more, she took very few liberties with me! I think you did the right thing, love.
Don’t want to appear mean, but do you think Wendy’s teeth will keep until she goes to school? Not if there is any real pain of course, you know me better than that, but once private dentists get hold of children the bills can mount up. On several occasions I have intended to mention the matter of home made cake. Yes I should love one occasionally. We do quite well for cakes really, but the trouble is that we get them all at the beginning of the week and although we try to spin them out and are not as “fussy” as we used to be in civvy street, they ARE getting a bit stale by Tuesday or Wednesday. If you could time yours to arrive about then it would be very welcome. Just a word of warning – no hard outside to it please. My gums are still too tender in places to manage anything at all well baked. Mother might like to send an occasional one so you could arrange something with her if you like so that they don’t clash. Apart from cake and jam I can’t think of anything we need to cheer life up – except you, sweetheart. Don’t send anything else like biscuits or that sort of stuff. An occasional piece of that coloured square cake used to arrive from Percy’s mother and it was very nice because it was so soft – rather like a sponge cake. Now, about cigarettes. We found to our surprise that we do get an issue, but only half a pound a month and even that has to be drawn in small lots from a store at Torry. However, as there are some non-smokers in the class I get two of them to get half a pound each for me so I manage quite well. With a bit of care I think I can get through the month on one-and-a-half pounds at a cost of 3/9d! What I should do if I was in the Army I don’t know. There would certainly be no beer then.
Do you remember Harold saying he could buy quite a lot of things cheaply – in the way of clothing I mean? Well, we can get them, I find, but there are certain restrictions of which I will tell you later. We can only get them on certain days – slops days they are called and there are long lapses in between. We have our first slops day tomorrow and I’m getting a few things. Lightweight underpants for summer 1/3d, some thin socks to wear with my small boots 1/3, hankies 3d each (we are restricted to six), and a few other odds and ends. Bedroom slippers, black leather, are 12/- and good quality I’m told. I thought Bert and Eric might be interested next time we get a slops day. Mention it if you see them. But NOT to Harold Bird!
Now, darling, if I’m to write to the children I’ll have to close. I really am glad to hear that Michael is behaving so much better. It’s one of the best – only ONE of the best – things you have written to me. I worry about him you know because, as you say, he can be such a likeable little chap and quite the little man when he tries. Do you think he takes any notice of my letters and are you still persevering with the “responsibility” test?
Finally, we had a simple Morse test today. Very simple and I should think we all got through alright. An officer came up to the civvy college from Torry and seemed quite satisfied with the quick glance he had at the papers, although he took them away for closer scrutiny.
I really must go now, pet. I got out early but already it is getting on for 8.30 and I still have the children’s notes to write.
Darling, I do still love you and am looking forward to getting the details of your holiday fixed up in the next week or ten days. All my love, sweetheart. I know you are feeling more cheerful these days and that means I am, too. I love you, precious.
Ever your own,
Arthur X

Dear Michael,
Aren’t you a lucky boy? Fancy getting a shilling off Uncle Eric and buying such a lovely aeroplane with it. You must be getting a big boy if you can go to Hiltons and buy things like that. Will you show me your aeroplane and the boat with a gun on it when I come home? I saw a boat with a gun on it in the docks today. Mummy will tell you what the docks are. The gun is bigger than yours and bigger even than the one I have to shoot with. What a lot of money you have in the pocket of those nice clean trousers. Mind you don’t lose it. Perhaps you had better put the shilling in your money box in case it falls out of your pocket. A shilling means 12 pennies, you know. Your bedroom must look nice with a clock and a mirror that moves. I will see them when I come home again and tuck you in at night.
Mummy wrote and told me what a good boy you had been and that you had eaten up all your meals. She also told me that you had grown bigger. You know if you are going to grow into a big strong man you must do three things. You must eat up all your meals, you must learn to do everything by yourself, and you must play out in the street and in the garden as much as ever you can. If you do all these three things, not just one or two of them, you will grow into a big man after you leave school. But you must do them ALL now.
Before I go to school in the morning, do you know where I am going, son? I’m going to the baths for a swim. That is why Mummy has been washing my bathing costume. It is a lovely big swimming bath nearly as big as the one we went to at New Brighton when we went on the boat. Do you remember? Only this one has a roof on it. One day, soon, I hope to go skating on some ice in a big building here with a lot of other sailors who go to school with me. I think this is all I have to tell you just now. But I am glad you are learning to be a good boy. Night night, son.
Love from
Daddy

Dear Wendy,
Thank you for your nice letter telling me all about your party. I am glad that Michael and you and all your friends had such a good time. I was wishing I could be there and I thought of you when I came out of school because I thought you would just be having tea then. That was at 5 o’clock. I wonder if you can read that figure five which I have just written? I’m so glad you liked the brush and comb set which Mummy and I bought for you. What a lot of presents you got and wasn’t Michael good to buy you a sewing card set? You will soon be able to sew like Mummy. Don’t forget to send me the elephant one, will you? I want to see how clever you are so do it all carefully for me. Don’t hurry too much. With all the money you got you will be able to buy lots of things. And Mummy has a sewing machine now? Was that what you wanted to tell me in your last letter, but Mummy said you must not because it was a surprise? Have you heard when you are going to go to school? Write and tell me on your very first day at school, won’t you? When I came home from school today I had to go past the docks – that is where all the boats live when they are not far out on the water – and I saw a lot of boats. Not very very big ones, but like the one Uncle Harold was on before he went on to the big one he is in now.
Mummy told me how you washed your hands and brushed and combed your hair all by yourself. I think you are a very clever girl. When I am going to come home to see you in July will you make yourself all nice and clean to come and meet me? I would like you to because it will save Mummy such a lot of trouble, won’t it?
I don’t think there is any more to say just now except that I am glad you are such a good girl for Mummy. She tells me how much you help her in the house. Night night, love. When I come home can I tuck you in bed like I used to do?
Lots of love from
Daddy

Saturday
Aberdeen
Darling,
This is, we expect, our last day at the civvy school and as it is only a half day we have not done a great deal of work, as you can imagine. Still, all things being considered, we have done reasonably well here despite all the fooling. Most of the lads can receive at between 6 and 8 words a minute, which is not bad going when you consider that they apparently only expect 8 words a minute after five weeks. The only thing is that while we have been here we have done nothing but Morse, but when we go to Torry we will have one or two other subjects. In addition there will be a higher standard of receiving expected. As proof that we are apparently a bunch of Jonahs, we have discovered that a new admiral has been appointed to the unit. From what we can hear he has begun to tighten things up all round. Previously there were only about four exams in the whole course but now they have a weekly test and if you cannot make the grade at a fairly high standard, something like 85%, you have to come back to school for four nights a week. I can see that taking some of the nonsense out of some of the lads who have done little but fool around up to now. Whereas in the past one was safe for the whole course after the five-week exam, people are now being sent back to their bases as stokers, sick berth attendants etc, if they don’t maintain a reasonable weekly average. Still, in many ways that is just as well, as it will cut out a lot of wasted time. It may also mean that those who do settle down to work consistently will have a chance to get up to the standard needed for leading telegraphist, which carries more pay. I hope this proves to be the case. So much for school and for hopes for the future. I’ll be able to tell you a bit more next weekend when we have seen how the course runs.
Percy has let me down. He and Ralph Oliver, the other fellow I mentioned in a previous letter, have changed courses and are now at a different school training as wireless mechanics. This is a much more technical course, but is right up their street as both were in the Post Office in peacetime. I’m sorry they have changed because now I’m more or less left on my own. Gibby is in the other class so I can’t pair off with him at school as I did with Ralph. In addition, the wireless mechs have a good deal of homework each night and have to go back to school two nights a week. That means that if we do want to go anywhere special, like skating on a Friday, I shall have to go with a crowd of fellows in whom I have no real interest. Still, we are going to do our best to use our weekends together. Today, for instance, the three of us are going to see ‘Hatter’s Castle’ at the Odeon. After church parade we will probably try another walk along the River Don tomorrow, providing the weather is reasonable. We will not do so badly if we can manage Friday, Saturday and Sunday as days of relaxation and go very carefully on the other days. Anyway, we will have to try that programme and when all is said and done should not spend a great deal during the weekends if we are out in the open a fair amount of the time.
“Slops day” was postponed until today and was rather disappointing. I could not get my summer underpants, which was the main item on my list. I did get half-a-dozen handkerchiefs which I’ll probably get you to take home to put into stock against civvy needs. At 3d a time they are a good “buy”.
I had been expecting to hear from Eric after what you wrote, but the note on top of Thursday night’s letter explains why I haven’t heard. Your note about the post deliveries is interesting but unfortunately I have little chance to write in time to catch the 4.30 unless I write at night and post it the next day.
You have struck the same snags about the children that I had in mind. I, too, think Wendy more adaptable to surroundings than Michael. He is the one I’m thinking of. Still, for all we know he may give us both a surprise although I do hope Mother doesn’t take him to Sunday school. That could, to say the least, make things a little complicated. Still, I think I might, somewhere between now and then, contrive to drop her a more than gentle hint, probably fairly near the time.
Yes, I did receive your list of dates re vapours and will pay due attention to them. I really am sorry about the Whit weekend because it would have been ideal for us. I cannot give you the exact date of the exam but it should be three weeks from now – that is about five weeks from the time we came up here.
Now I must go if I’m to keep my date with ‘Hatter’s Castle’. That’s the only date I’m likely to make here. Don’t worry about the forward women here or anywhere else for that matter. Forward, backward or coy, sweetheart, they can’t compete with you. As the lads here say, “you’ve got something the others haven’t got” – and do I know it. There go my bellbottoms again!
Bye, my sweet. My bellbottoms tell me I still love you. As if I need them to tell me, but I’d better go before I throw Percy on the bed! It’s the Navy coming out in me.
All yours, my sweet,
Arthur X

Sunday
Aberdeen
Darling,
This is going to be a concise note but I think the news will help to compensate for the brevity. Ralph’s landlady recommended me to her next door neighbour and I have made arrangements for you to come up from May 1st to May 11. I think you will like the place as there is an airy bedroom containing double bed, very comfy by the looks of it, TWO armchairs, settee and wardrobe. She is going to give you full board and me bed and breakfast. I haven’t arranged terms as she has not taken people in for bed and breakfast before, but I took a chance as I thought her a decent woman and I don’t think she will sting us very badly. She was worried about the meal question, but I told her not to worry about making breakfast a meal in the real sense as you could always make a meal of porridge, and that I have formed the habit since I came here. She says it is impossible to get eggs so if you can find room for some when you come up it might be a good investment. Anyway, I’ll leave that to you. She understands about the possibility of the train being late, but says she will try to get some tea for the time you arrive. By the way, the address is Mrs Grant, Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen. Unfortunately there are two Mrs Grants in the house, which is composed of flats, so I will have to find out her initials and let you know. She seems a decent sort. A woman of about 40, I should say. The only thing that remains is for me to get permission to sleep out and I think that will be only a matter of form. I know about the stunt of billeting out for a week, but one way and another I doubt if it would be worth it. There would be all the bother of getting ration cards back, Mrs Reid would lose my money for a week and she is very decent in doing our washing free for us. As we will be able to sleep(?) together I doubt if it would really be worth it. The people at our billets might take the huff. You never know.
Now, about money. You say you can draw one week’s wages. Won’t that be enough with whatever spare cash you have? I have a couple of quid which I have been hoarding against this holiday and if you don’t have to pay the fare up do you think you can manage? Let me know what you think you can bring with you in the way of money. I will make a definite date for you to ring me one night next week, so don’t try anything on chance until you hear from me, because I will probably be going to Torry for voluntary instruction quite a lot and that will give me a free conscience on the whole question of the holiday. Anyway, you can start making your arrangements straight away, but don’t do anything about the rations until I get word from Torry, which I think is purely a matter of form. I hope to be able to let you know tomorrow night.
Must be off now. Night night, sweet. I still love you.
Always your own,
Arthur X

Wednesday
Aberdeen
By now, of course, you will have received my letters giving the news of the arrangements which have been made and I am expecting to hear from you any day on that subject. If Bill Veacock finds a better train for you, and if anyone can he is the lad, let me know at the earliest possible moment so that I can get a plan mapped out in my head. If you can get here before 9 o’clock there is the advantage that we have our sports day on Fridays and can usually get away from school by about 4.45, so if your train is due to arrive anywhere about that time I could still meet you. Mind you, I doubt if the trains will be very much behind time at this period of the year. The only thing that delayed us on the way here was the fact that there had been an air raid and an accident on the line. For three-quarters of the journey we were dead on time, but when the train had to be diverted we not only missed our connection but the train after that as well. Instead of leaving Edinburgh at 9.30am we left at 2.30. In view of that I should not worry too much if you do have to catch the train due here at 9pm although, naturally, it will be better in every way if you can get here earlier in the day. Anyway, get that train business fixed up as early as you can and let me know the result as soon as possible, then, according to the time I can let you know what are the possibilities of my seeing you.
When you do come up there are a few things I would like you to bring up for me if you can find room for them. What will you do about cases? Have we one big enough for you? If not, don’t hesitate to ask Eric for I think he has two or three very good ones, but tell him you want one you can carry and not a portmanteau. Perhaps you could manage a case and the small weekend case. There will be a few things for me to give you, only small things, including that group photograph from Skeg, which is even worse than the other but I want to save it because of all the lads on it.
This is being written under great difficulty and against time. There is a gathering of the lads in our room and, as one of them is a married man going on leave tomorrow he is, as you can imagine, getting lots of good advice from all the single lads!
What did I want to ask you? Oh yes! Will you get me some razor blades – for slotted razor – and post them up to me as soon as possible? If you can manage it I’d like them for the weekend as I’m right down on blades and I don’t want to have to buy Blue Gillettes, they’re far too dear.
I’m glad you had such a nice time at the Rosses’. Madge and Hughie are good and when I get a chance I’ll write them, but just now time is very precious indeed. I have a fair load of stuff to write up tonight so I must go now, but before I sign off – get in touch with Eric about the case, it will remind him about the fare!
All my love, darling. Hate to leave you but I must.
Always yours,
Arthur X

Saturday
Aberdeen
Dear Michael,
Before you go on holiday I thought I would like to send you a little letter to say that I hope you will have a nice time at Nanna’s. Yesterday the postman brought me a cake from Nanna, so will you say “thank you” to her from me when you see her? Mummy has told me what a good boy you have been for a long time now and I know you will be just as good for Nanna while Mummy is having a holiday with me in Scotland. I know Nanna will have lots of things to show you while you are with her. I know you will enjoy yourself and will be a good boy.
Do you know what I did yesterday? I didn’t go to school in the afternoon, but instead I played football and we won. Daddy did not let the ball go past him once. I went skating on the ice last night and afterwards saw a lot of funny men who go to a big school here called the University. They were dressed as soldiers and sailors ands cowboys and Indians and some of them had long whiskers like Father Xmas. They were collecting pennies for people who are sick in hospital.
Well, night night, son. I will see you in three months and then I’ll be home for a whole week.
Love from Daddy

Dear Wendy,
I have such a lot to do now that I have not very much time to write letters so I thought that instead of going for a walk this afternoon I would write to you and Michael. Are you looking forward to going to Grandma’s to sleep? I do hope you will have a nice time and that there will be a lot of sunshine because then Auntie Chris might let Jennifer play out with you for a little bit. You will have to be careful, of course, because Jennifer is only a little girl yet, isn’t she? Even if Auntie Chris thinks she is too little to play out, you will be able to go shopping with them, won’t you? And do you think you will be able to help Grandma in the house? I’m sure there are lots of little things you will be able to do. I know you will be a good girl for Grandma while Mummy is in Scotland. In another three months I will be able to come home for a whole week. Won’t that be nice? I must say night night now. Do you remember how I always used to say “See you in the morning”? Well, now I’ll say “See you in three months”. Night night and have a nice time. My love to Grandma.
Love from Daddy

Angel,
Many thanks for your letter with some idea of train times. From your reference to Madge I take it the Rosses are coming to Crosby this weekend. As soon as you get the definite time of arrival, will you let me know? Just in case you do arrive before I can get to the station, here are two ways to get to your digs. Don’t forget the address is Hutcheon Street and the name Mrs Grant. Now to get there: At the station you should be able to get a No. 19 bus marked Rosehill. The conductress will put you off at Hutcheon Street if you ask her. If you have long to wait at the station, go into Union Street and get a No. 17 bus. I don’t think you will need the 17, but if you do, be sure to get on the bus going to Hilton. If you get on the other one you will finish up in Torry and I’d not like that for not even I could save you from being killed in the rush which is always made by 400 crazy matelots when a bus is sighted. I never believed grown men could be as childish or fight as wildly and with less consideration than our fellows.
All the houses in Aberdeen, or almost all of them, are built as flats, as I think I have told you before. Mrs Grant lives in the top flat. Don’t ring at the front door. Just push the door open and walk up the stairs – don’t worry, it’s quite the usual thing to do. Go as far up the stairs as you can and on the top landing you will find yourself facing two doors. Both are inhabited by Grant families. The one you want is the right-hand door as you face them from the top of the stairs. Don’t forget – the RIGHT-hand door. Now I think you will find the place alright, but if you have any doubts drop me a line by return post – don’t wait until morning. However, if you are correct in saying you have to go to Glasgow and wait there two hours, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I am away from school by the time you get here. Is the all-night journey going to be worth it if you are only going to save four or five hours? Anyway, it’s not worth debating that point until I know the exact time you are expected. I’m not going to debate the little points – other than those connected with your journey – which you raise in your letter. I should imagine we will be OK if you can bring £5 in cash and your bank-book just as a stand-by. We may need it!
There are a few things I’d like you to bring for me when you come. They are: two writing pads if there are any left, if not don’t worry because I still have a reasonable supply; a small notebook, soft back, if there are any in my desk but again, if not, don’t worry; my air raid diary; corn ointment if there’s any left in a box on our dressing table; empty tobacco tin; hard boot brush from those I returned; my other razor from the bathroom cabinet and tube of Shavex from same place; and your marking pencil for my underclothes and hankies. Thanks for the razor blades but I asked for the slotted blades. If you bring my other razor, however, I’ll be able to use any type of blade in it and slotted blades are hard to get here. When you are going I’ll give a few things to take back with you, but I think I mentioned that before.
Yes, I think you are right about the type of letter you have been writing lately. It’s the best way just now. And talking of letters, I hear the stock at sick bay has run out! So I will have to hunt round for other sources of supply! The Far East is likely to be a serious loss to the husbands and wives of the British Empire, but perhaps not so serious a loss to them as to the single lads and lasses if my memory serves me aright! To think of the times we discarded perfectly good evidence after one occasion in our careless youthful days! Woe is me – and you. And perhaps careless days is a good description, too. Lie down, John! He’s got a touch of spring fever today so I hope you’ll excuse him. Oh my darling! No need to say more is there? Away from that theme, it’s too dangerous.
Glad to hear about vapours, but sorry about the extent to which you had to go. Don’t go carrying on beyond your time, will you? And now that vapours have started, don’t go and overdo the housework. When you get here, I don’t want you to be tired out. Above all else, to be serious for a minute, I want you to go home feeling better for the change of scenery, as well as for other reasons!
There is little to report of my own activities beyond the fact that I got what would be considered a pass in a “procedure” paper on Thursday. I wasn’t satisfied with the way my paper was marked, but for all that I got just over 70%. I expected 90% but the instructor tells us there are a lot of fellows who are taking finals who could not pass it.
Well, pet, this is all for now. Only a few more days after you get this. Try to get all the sleep you can on the way up here. No, even if you arrive in the afternoon, I don’t think I will sleep at Hutcheon Street on the Friday because the snag is the business in getting up in time to be at the baths for 7am. The Grants are not up at 6.30am and that would be the very latest I dare get up. If I’m late for the baths, I will have to go back to Torry on Monday night.
As you will gather from my letters to the children, it was Students Day in Aberdeen on Friday. So I have seen a flag day in Aberdeen and the music hall jokes are all wrong. The people are quite generous and very helpful.
Now darling I really must go. If I post this now I think you will get it on Monday morning, then if there is anything you want answering, sit down, write me and go straight to the post and I will have it by Wednesday.
Bye, my angel. See you in six more days! Whoopee! All my love, my darling.
Ever your own,
Arthur X

Monday
Aberdeen
Dearest,
This will probably be my last letter to you as I’m going back to school tomorrow night and that leaves no time for letter writing. Anything I wrote on Wednesday would probably arrive after you had left. I need the extra nights at school, too. We had a weekly test on receiving today and I got 73%, which was not bad really as the general standard in the class was not very good – only 4 out of 50 got more than 90%, which is considered pretty bad, especially as three of the four have had pretty long experience. The week after you arrive we have our weekly test and if we don’t get 85% we have to come back to compulsory classes four nights a week. I don’t know what it is going to be like when we get on to real speed but I should imagine it will be pretty tough, which is one reason why I wanted you to come up here early – but only one reason. There are others which I may tell you about when you get here.
I don’t think you raise any questions in your letter which have not already been dealt with, except the one about cigarettes. Bring some, by all means, but I think you will find things reasonably good here. I can get ten Woodbines a day at the pre-budget price from our canteen at school. But we can fix those things up later on. The tobacco situation is not too good for we only get half a pound a month – it is difficult to get people to get it for you these days. For the last few days I have had to buy cigarettes and it is expensive. Occasionally we can get a packet at pre-budget prices at the NAAFI, but that is at the other end of town and you have to get there when there is nobody else in. Not an easy job. Anyway, you bring a few cigarettes with you and then we will sort the matter out. That, I think, is your only query, except the one about evidence which I answered in advance in yesterday’s letter. And in the same letter I gave you a list of the things I wanted you to bring. The point about sleeping at Hutcheon Street was also dealt with. One other thing you might bring is a couple of packs of Press Club cards. They may be useful some time.
It’s funny that you should travel via Glasgow, but I see it only adds a couple of hours to the time. I’m afraid I won’t be at the station to greet you as I will just be getting on a Torry bus going away from Hutcheon Street at that time. Still, I’ll be seeing you soon afterwards. I should say exactly three-and-a-quarter hours later. Only three-and-a-quarter hours! If you are a little late getting into Aberdeen, that means you will just have had time to get to Mrs Grant’s and have a meal and a wash by the time I arrive! Or shall I go up to Gilcompton Park first, and then come to see you? No, perhaps not! I was only thinking that if I did that I would not need to leave you again until bedtime. But perhaps the best thing is for me to come and see you for a time before tea. I’ll have to go to the billet for several things so I might as well do that when I go up for tea.
I’m writing this in our bedroom and since I started one of the lads in another room got the bright idea of changing into his white ducks so that Percy could take their photographs. Result, an invasion of our room and, eventually, a group of Mediterranean sailors, complete with parrot, in the garden. The lads are fairly young and are what we call “tiddly” sailors. That is, they take a lot of pains to look smart, if anyone can look smarter in this damned uniform. One of the lads – Don, who comes from Wallasey, incidentally – got a couple of clothes pegs to take in the slack of his white duck jumper. Percy got a snap of him from the back and we are hoping they will come out well. All this brings up another point. What about asking Dave for the loan of an ordinary folding camera while you are here? He’ll probably give you a couple of films and develop them for you when you get back, so it is a good stunt. By the way, did he ever say whether he got that letter I wrote him? I would like some snaps of the various places I go to during the war. Later on they will be interesting to me – but probably to no one else.
Well, my angel, this is all just now. Except to say that several times during the day I have fallen to thinking of you and such lovely day dreams they were. Oh, pet, I do love you, and in such a different, deeper way since I have been away from you. Do you know, sweetheart, I look at thousands of women in Aberdeen every day and, somehow, don’t regard them as being feminine because you have become the embodiment of the other sex for me. I never realised how completely detached one could become. Which is just another way of saying I love you and only you, my sweet. Bye now, until Friday.
All your own,
Arthur X
P.S. A thought has just occurred to me. What about the house being open to fire watchers if there should be a raid? I think the proper procedure is to leave a key with a neighbour and inform the warden you are going away and tell him where the key is. I know nothing is likely to happen but 1–8 May was a hectic time last year! I’m not being depressing, but facing things as they are and remembering what has to be done. Will you leave the key with Dave? Better leave it somewhere where there is a man in the house.
P.P.S. I’m still wondering how you will like kissing me without any teeth. I’m quite anxious.

Thursday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
It was good to receive your letter this afternoon. What a good soul you are. While you were sitting down to write to me amid the welter of unpacking, there was I sitting in the theatre and NOT writing to poor little Stelly-Well. I feel very guilty about that, love.
You have no idea how I miss you, but it’s good to know that you are feeling settled and cheerful and, in many ways, glad to be home again. I know what you mean when you speak of the house welcoming you. I have felt myself wrapped in the atmosphere of home routines when I have come in after a particularly hard and long day – such a day, or night, as I had when the raids were at their heights. The personal warmth of home was wonderful then. Almost like putting on a snug warm coat on a bitter winter’s day.
The reactions of the children were interesting. I wonder if Michael is going to grow up with a greater emotional depth, or is it just that he is younger? Wendy is a bit of a puzzle sometimes. Her affection for Mrs Grundy, for instance. I should have thought Jennifer would have held the stage against all-comers and that Wendy would have had eyes for no one else. I liked the story of Jennifer’s reactions to Mickey Mouse. Who else was it did almost the same thing? I can’t remember if it was one of ours or June or David! What, by the way, did you tell the children about me and what did they think of all the things you had to tell them of the journey? I suppose they fired questions at you every moment. Or were they too full of their own doings? I expect you will get the whole story from them by degrees. They would be disappointed not to find Tiger awaiting them. Has he turned up yet? He may have been led astray by some unknown successor to Blackie!
I could not give your good wishes to the boys who were going because, to be Irish, they had gone! But I did tell them that you sent your good wishes and I’ll send your invitation to them when I write them at Scotia. They have promised to drop us a line and give us the low down on what the place is like. I have no doubt there has been considerable exaggeration about conditions, but Arthur has promised to write us with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, a report I’m awaiting with great interest. Percy and Ralph are not likely to be stationed in Liverpool, but I will certainly tell them, at the opportune moment, to look us up if they are in Liverpool. I can just imagine what Percy would say if he did find himself tied down in Liverpool for the rest of the war.
Well, darling, time is slipping by and I MUST get to bed early tonight because, as I think I told you, we were at the baths this morning. Last night, just as I was about to strip for a wash and shave and early bed, in came Flo with supper and stayed talking to us both – there was no one else in the house and I think she misses the other lads, to whom she used to chatter a lot when at a loose end.
Angel, as I’ve said before and, no doubt, will say again, you don’t know what those days – and nights! – with you meant to me. Sunday was the nicest day we had, I think. It was so like the good old days to lie in the sun and rest my head on your breast. If only it could have been among the sandhills, the illusion would have been complete. Never mind, precious, the days are slipping past – to me it seems impossible that I will be “talking” Morse at 20 words a minute in so short a time so I’m working as hard as I can and hope to make the grade. I’ll go mad if anything happens to keep me here. Frank, for instance, has been here 20 weeks now and yet will not finish until we do, for he has now joined our class. I felt sorry for him when he saw the lads going the other day, for he was here before they were. He is still a bit fed-up over that.
Now, my darling, I must leave you. Take care of yourself and don’t waste the good effects of the holiday by getting too tired at nights, and tell me if you are sleeping any better. I love you, pet, so look after yourself. Hug the children for me.
All your own,
Arthur X

P.S. When are Madge and Hughie coming?

Friday
Aberdeen
Dearest,
This is only a very brief note to let you know that I have sent a parcel of kippers to Waterloo station addressed to you and marked “to be called for”. George, whom I think you met with Don in the Queens Bar one night, got a half box and he and I shared them. There will probably be more than you will need so I thought you might let Bill and Dave have some and perhaps Reg, if there are any over. As you will see, they are rather small, but the people here prefer them that way as they are supposed to be sweeter. Anyway, see what you think of them and let me know.
I’ll write you a more full letter later, but I want to get this off so that you receive it on Monday.
All my love,
Arthur X

Wednesday
Aberdeen
My Darling,
This being Wednesday, I’m not back at school so I’ll try to give you an account of the holiday. I think I told you Sunday morning was occupied with invasion stuff. Monday was as bad here as at Liverpool; in fact it seems to have been bad all over the country. It was raining when we got up about 8.15 so I had breakfast in my pyjamas, washed some of my clothes, wrote to Eric at last and then had dinner. In the afternoon we went to the flicks and saw “I Wanted Wings”, a typical Hollywood story of the U.S. Air Force. Back to tea and afterwards letters to Hughie and Durham. Early to bed after that, but I felt better through getting three long-overdue letters away, even though I had to neglect you to do it.
Many thanks for your letters each day. I had one from Dot and Jack today as well. They are expecting to be in Litherland for a week from July 6th, but there’s still no news of a move to Liverpool.
Last night, after school, I went up to the bus terminus to meet Ralph’s girl who is staying at Aboyne and had been in Aberdeen for the day. She seems a very nice girl – the very dark attractive type – and Ralph is obviously the centre of her life. I hope he is not going to let her down, although I have my doubts as to whether he will do anything definite while the war is on. She was only supposed to be here for a weekend, but she has wired her office saying she is staying until next Sunday! She is obviously very much in love and wanting full married life! Perhaps you can sympathise with her! I felt sorry for her, as I always do for girls genuinely in love with someone in the forces. It must be pretty tough, but wartime marriages have such a nasty habit of coming unstuck in the humdrum days of peace after that you cannot blame fellows for steering clear of marriage until they come back.
One thing, though, is that she and her friend, with whom she is staying, have very little consideration for the pocket of the lads in the services. They went for a drink in the cocktail bar of the Douglas, where they don’t sell draught beer, went to a dance for an hour or so and then calmly proposed going to the Caledonian, which is the Aberdeen equivalent of the Adelphi. Percy made up the foursome and was justifiably a bit peeved, for the evening cost him about 10/- and even though he does get civvy pay it is scarcely fair, especially as he is apparently being roped in again on Thursday night. Thank God I’m at night school! Anyway, I just couldn’t do it, and that is all there is to it.
The two girls left at 10 o’clock and by very pressing invitation we went back to Mrs Smith’s because she had a fortune teller in. That was the last thing I wanted but I have refused so often that I couldn’t very well get out of “crossing the lady’s palm with silver”. It would have looked very bad. Anyway, I went and had my fortune told with cards and crystal. Mother would have revelled in it! Boiled down it came to this: that I had been bitterly disappointed this week (how true with 47% in this week’s S.B.X!), but that I was mostly disappointed for the sake of other people who are affected (meaning you and the children I suppose). Still, I’m not to worry as things will straighten themselves out sooner than I expect and I will achieve all my ambitions in this direction (keeping up the morale of the fighting forces!). I’m also to expect good news, lots of it, and money (no specific quantities!). So there you are. As you can imagine, Mrs Smith’s women neighbours were thrilled to bits. They thought her very wonderful. Percy, of course, was not a bit thrilled. As usual he made himself out to be a perfect cynic but later, by chance remarks, showed he was just as impressed as the women. Anyway, that’s that.
Now, about school. As you will see, I’ve improved this week – by exactly two marks! The daft thing is that I dropped 14 marks on the English and only two on the French. That, of course, shows I can take the stuff but present speeds are a bit high for me – the French being sent more slowly, about two words a minute slower. However, this week – that is, today – I have gone on to a slower table for practice with Sim our instructor. In addition he has lent me a regulation key to use with my tapper. Best of all, though, is the news that the instructors are trying to get out a scheme where they can decide who is going to go back at nights, irrespective of marks. If it comes off, Frank and I may be excused on the condition that we do really work at home. There’s no fear of that! We would get through a lot more on our own and would probably learn more, besides improving our sending. This would be a great advantage as, under the new leave scheme, we have to average at least 90% to get away on the Wednesday. To get 360 out of 400 marks is going to be a bit of a teaser, isn’t it? Things are certainly getting hotter. When we were at the Aberdeen Wireless College we started at 9.30. From today they start at 8.30, which is about the same as us at Torry. Still, it may be all to the good for we may find it a big help at Scotia.
Well, love, there you have all the news, I think. Glad to hear all the horticultural news and to know you have been able to tidy up the garden a bit. I know how you feel about the front garden. I used to feel just the same, but don’t you go pulling any of those big slabs about. They are far too heavy for you. You might do some permanent and very regrettable damage to your innards if you tried to lift them, for they took me all my time to lift some of them. Glad to have news of vapours, by the way!
So you’re having trouble with all the children going through the garden? Sorry to hear that, but I suppose it’s inevitable with me being away. Kids nearly always take advantage like that. The news of the children’s reactions to their holidays is very interesting, as you can guess, for I sometimes miss them terribly. As you say, it’s a good thing no permanent damage has been done to either of them, but I think home-formed habits are bound to win out in the end. I’m dying to see the children again. What are the chances of a snap of them in nice summer frock and blazer suit? I know July is not far off, but the only pictures I have are more or less winter ones. All this is intended to convey that you must never apologise for being “long-winded” about the children, or for that matter about the house or the garden. I have a nostalgic mood on me tonight, and such a thing is always both dangerous and rather upsetting. I have been tempted to visualise leave, but that would unsettle me for days on end and just at the moment I cannot afford such a luxury.
So down to earth with a bump. How did you like the kippers and are they any saving to you? If they are not, let me know and I won’t bother any more. Their chief advantage, I thought, was that they were one way of repaying people who have been so good to you. Are kippers scarce in Liverpool? I thought that perhaps I might send a half box to Hughie some time at the office and then he could let Algie have some and perhaps one or two of the other people. Don’t say anything to him about it in case it doesn’t materialise, but let me know if you think it worth the trouble and expense. I’ll have to wait until I’m a bit more in funds, but I’d like your opinion as soon as you can. What do kippers sell for in Liverpool? 6d or 8d a pair?
While we are on mundane matters, will you let me know if you want any seeds and if you think them worth the postage?
Another thing I thought of the other day. If there are any special household things you want which I can get here for you to store away, send me a list of them a fortnight or three weeks before I’m due home and I’ll collect them slowly, make a big parcel of them and send them to Waterloo station for you. I was thinking chiefly of things like brushes etc, and even a shovel! Anyway, think it over and let me know later what you want, if anything, but for the love of Mike don’t leave it until the last minute.
Well, sweetheart, I think this is all. I have made this a long letter because I won’t have much time tomorrow and your weekend letter will probably be very brief. I don’t need to say I love you – or do I? And it is so nice to be loved, and missed and wanted so much. Look after yourself, my own, until I’m home again.
All your very own,
Arthur X
who, incidentally, wants you very much right now! Bye, angel.

Saturday
Aberdeen
Darling,
I had a letter and parcel containing cigarette machine from Hughie yesterday so I’ve just been replying to him. As I found a small parcel of kippers waiting for me when I got in, I’m sending them off to Madge as a small “token” for her hospitality to you and the children. I suppose there would be about half the amount I sent you. In a note to Hughie I told him I might be able to get an occasional half box if he wanted them, so there’s no need for you to make any further reference to that matter. I’ll leave it to them now. If he says he wants them I can easily order them for him, although I have given him to understand that I can only get them occasionally.
Letters have been good this week for I also heard from Eric today. The vaccine treatment seems to be doing his catarrh good, for which I’m very glad. In my letter I had asked him to try to get a book on elementary magnetism and electricity for me and I also quoted one or two typical questions from final exams. The result was a twelve-page letter filled with electrical formulae and little sketches at which I have only glanced cursorily so far, but which I think will settle several exam questions for me nine weeks hence. He certainly has done the job pretty thoroughly! The things he sent were just what I wanted and I’ll start trying to absorb them straight away instead of waiting until the last two or three weeks to begin the technical stuff. That would be a bit too much for me. Another thing Eric sent was a little book on how to learn the Morse code in half an hour. As it was no use to me, I passed it on to some of the new arrivals who received it with shrieks of delight, as you may well imagine.
Now it is Monday morning the battle of the beaches has been won and lost. As I think I told you, we had Nigg Bay to defend and we defended it to the best of our ability. I must confess I was not over-enthusiastic. For one thing we had to have breakfast by about 7.15 as we had to be at Torry by 8am and on a Sunday, too! It rained as steadily as possible from the time we got up until about 10.30, which did not add to the gaiety of the festival. Then most of the arms which were served out were wrecks in one way or another and so we could not produce anything realistic. After hanging about waiting for ammunition to be issued we eventually got away from school, without even being allowed to smoke, after two hours. Altogether a messing sort of day. We hung around watching the show over in the direction of the town for a couple of hours and the novelty soon wore off that. Then we settled down to wait and not until 2.30 did the enemy appear in our part of the world. We had a short sharp fight, inflicting casualties on the “enemy” and their “dead” men came to life and succeeded in wiping out our pill box. It was not too bad while the actual fighting was on, but to wait nearly seven hours for fifteen minutes action is not my idea of a pleasant Sunday. What narked me most was that my sandwiches and a bottle of beer had been left in a place where I could not reach them until after we had been “killed”. I’m afraid this is not too clear, but I’m not at my brightest and best today for some reason. I still feel half asleep and probably will remain so until dinner time.
There has just been a little light interlude while they introduced the latest stunt – half an hour’s Morse with respirators on. Life is full of unexpected little treats these days!
When I tell you I have just received and read your letter you will realise that I’m continuing this during the afternoon session at school. I’ll post it on the way home, so if it arrives in a half-finished state you’ll understand why.
I have made little or no reference to the children’s health because I was hoping to hear that things had cleared up a good deal, although I didn’t like your reference, some days ago, to Wendy’s eyes. I’m sorry you are going to have a spell with at least one, if not both, of them in bed. I know what you will be – dashing out to the shops for a few minutes and worrying yourself stiff when you leave them, even for a very short time. One good thing is that they are both at the age when they can amuse themselves. I do hope they will be OK. Keep me posted, as I must be off now.
Cheers.
Always,
Arthur
P.S. Sorry to be so abrupt but the instructor has just seen me off.

Thursday
Aberdeen
Darling,
I wrote you a long letter last night so I’m afraid your weekend letter will have to be shorter again because, as usual, I’m back at Torry tonight and time is very limited. How are the children today? I was glad to see the continued improvement of Wendy reported in the Johnson Medical Report, received today. Has Michael past the worst part of his attack now? I hope so for your sake as well as his.
There is very little news here except that I have wasted three mornings this week through going about my glasses. Eventually, I went to sick bay at 9am today, was taken by ambulance to Kingseat Hospital ten miles away, spent some time there and eventually got back to Torry at 3 o’clock, thus losing three-quarters of one day’s instruction. Tomorrow I go on guard for 24 hours so that I will miss all Friday afternoon and all Saturday morning. Then on Monday we will have an S.B.X. Not too good, but I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do except hope results are better!
I did intend to write a letter to the children tonight, but it is quite impossible so I’ll have to leave it until the weekend, but don’t mention it to them. I may be able to utilise some of the time on guard to get back some of my arrears of correspondence. I’ll get that parcel packed up and sent off some time during the weekend if I can, so that you should get it fairly early in the week.
Don’t forget to tell the children that I hope they are better and give them my love. If the weather at home is anything like it is here, they will find it a great trial to be stuck indoors all the day and I can see one or two spots of bother on the horizon with them. You certainly have my sympathies having to deal with them single-handedly. I only hope they will not prove too much for you.
I’m sorry this is such a short note and I do hope that you will manage to get a few quiet spells so that you can get out into the garden or plot and get a bit of fresh air. Don’t forget to look after yourself properly. I’ll try to write you a decent letter over the weekend and get it into the post as early as possible. It really is hopeless to try to write home at school tonight. Instead of just sliding in to school, where we can shout out the names of the missing lads, we had to line up in the road outside and the chief in charge of the school walked down each rank checking the names off. There will be a few sad hearts in the morning! And a few days’ jankers for some people!
Must be off now, sweetheart. All my love and look after yourself. No silly tricks you know!
Ever your own,
Arthur X
P.S. Sorry! But I did not dream of you THAT night. If only I’d known. Thanks for telling me, just the same.

Sunday
Aberdeen
Dearest,
Although I’m in the middle of a letter to you, which I’ve broken off to wrap this parcel, I’d better put a note inside, in view of my remarks about parcels from you without notes!
Many thanks for the marmalade, which arrived safely on Saturday afternoon. We haven’t opened it yet but will let you know the verdict when we do. My letter will probably arrive before this and you’ll find all the news in there. I’ve been trying to write for the last hour-and-a-half but, as usual, there has been one interruption after another.
Percy is away at Arbroath today, having gone to visit a pal of his in the Fleet Air Arm there. It should be a nice trip, two-and-a-half hours on the bus through some lovely country.
Well, that’s all for the moment. Hope the children are still improving.
I love you, darling. All yours,
Arthur X
P.S. This was intended to go in the parcel! Sorry.

My dear Wendy & Michael,
I was so sorry to hear that you both had the measles and had to stay in bed. Mummy says you are getting better now and I am glad to hear that you have been able to lie in the deckchairs in the garden. By the time you get this letter you will be out of bed again. When I come home do you think you will both have grown big enough to wrap ME up in blankets and carry me down to sit in the deckchair? I wish you would.
Poor old Wendy! You have had a nasty abscess in your mouth, haven’t you? I did feel sorry for you when I read Mummy’s letter telling me all about it – Mummy always tells me about you and Michael when she writes – but I was very pleased when she said that you were such a good girl and didn’t cry even when your mouth was very sore. Has the doctor made it better now? I hope so. Michael is getting a big strong boy again, from what Mummy tells me, and is eating all his dinner up. That’s the way, son. I want you and Wendy to be big enough to carry my brown case for me when I come home. Do you think you will?
There is a little boy named James who comes to this house every day and he is about as big as Frank. Do you remember Frank? Well, James can lift Helen, that’s the little baby here, and he nurses her nearly all day when he is not at school. He only goes to school in the morning because there are soldiers living in his school and he has to go to another one. I have to go to school after breakfast, after dinner and, some nights, after tea. Mummy will want to know how many marks I got at school this week. Well, I got 44 but a lot of men did not get very many. When I go to school I have to run to catch a bus! This afternoon, instead of playing football or cricket, we went out for a long run in the country and we ran for 7 miles, which is as far as Liverpool, and Daddy was one of the first to get back to school. I didn’t like running very much. I would much sooner play football or cricket or golf, but they won’t let us play golf because it is too far away.
Will you write to me soon and tell me what you have been doing? I haven’t had a letter from you for a long time. Not since before I sent you those sweets. Did you like them? There are not very many sweets in Aberdeen now, but if I get any more I will send them to you.
Have you seen the photographs Mummy took when she came to Aberdeen? When you are really better perhaps Mummy will be able to get a film and take some photographs of you to send to me. Last week I went on an ambulance to a big hospital right out in the country because I wanted some new glasses. I saw a very nice doctor who gave me a note to take to a shop in Aberdeen and today I got my new glasses. They have silver round them, not black stuff like my own, but I can put my respirator on over them. I will show them to you when I come home.
Well, I think I have told you all there is today. Hurry up and get better. Then perhaps Mummy will take you to New Brighton when there is a nice warm day. Perhaps you will see some seagulls again. Do you remember when we all went to New Brighton on the boat?
Well, I must go to bed now. Night night. Be good for Mummy and perhaps when you write to me you will tell me about your new books.
This is all now. Night night once more.
Lots of love,
Daddy XX

Wednesday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
The instructors here are running a dance at one of the local halls on Friday so we have had to come back to school tonight in place of Friday. I’m afraid that means I won’t have time for my normal long Wednesday letter, but I’m making a start in school tonight and will try to add some more to it tomorrow so as to make a fairly decent Saturday letter for you. As you know, I have worked hard enough and am keen enough to try to get hold of this Morse, but I must admit that even I am getting a bit fed up with this everlasting night school, especially as it doesn’t seem to be yielding the returns hoped for. I seem to be getting slowly better, although this has not yet begun to show itself in the S.B.X.s. Today one of the classes in the room into which we have now moved – the top room in the school – took an exam at finals speed of 18 words a minute. We all plugged in and took it at the same time. On the results I would have got about 65%, which would be the best I have done for a long time and at that figure I would have seven weeks in which to make up 25% – the most encouraging thing which has happened to me for a long time. We have another S.B.X. on Saturday morning and I’ll let you know if I’ve done any better. I surely must begin to reap the results of hard work soon.
I’m going to this dance on Friday for a few hours, but don’t think I shall stay all night for it doesn’t finish until 1am. In my case I’ve done no dancing for years, as you know, and there will be a bar which will probably prove a big attraction, and I can’t afford to stay there drinking all night. It seems such a waste of money these days. I’ll let you know how it goes off. All the lads are taking their best girls and I’ll bet there will be a few rows! Our instructor is very keen on it and seems to have been one of the moving spirits behind it. He is already talking of running a bigger dance – there’s 300 going to this one! – so I can see some wild nights ahead for some of the lads.
How are the children now? By the time you get this letter – it should arrive on Saturday – they will have been up for nearly a full week and will be finding their legs again. You will be glad when they reach the stage when they can play out, won’t you? To be back to normal will be a great relief to you, I’m sure.
I’m sorry the strong urge has descended upon you already – by that I mean with so many weeks to go before we see each other again. I can only promise to do everything in my power for you when I do come home. Try to fight it off, love, because that is the sort of thing which pulls you down such a lot. It is definitely harmful to your health to be so continually worried by need of sexual satisfaction.

Thursday
All the above was written in school and at the billet on Wednesday night. Tis now Thursday morning and, having scraped into school by the skin of my teeth, I’m trying to settle down to get a bit more of the letter done. This is not so easily done because, despite all my best endeavours, I find myself seated once more next to little Eric Whitehouse[??] who is continually asking “How do you manage to write so much?” And when I tell you that is has taken me 10 minutes solid concentration to write so much, you’ll understand the difficulties are not small.
There is not a great deal of news this week. Torry seems to fill the day and night these days and I shall be glad now when the time comes that I shall be free at least an occasional night in the week to write you in peace and comfort and without that ever-present sense of rush. Without complaining, one seems to have to rush everywhere. From morning until night there seems to be someone who wants me in a hurry – not you Momma, sit down! – and it gets a bit tiring. Still, I’ve no doubt we shall survive and, when we get to Ayr, where there will be no buses to chase, will sigh for the broad streets of Aberdeen! To some of the lads, of course, this is a city of broad hips! We have been here just long enough for the strain, physical strain I mean, to be making itself felt. You should see some of the lads on a Monday morning! Fair worn out they are!
Many thanks for your letter of Tuesday, which came today. You raise exactly the same point about the “warmth” of letters as I have done in a letter which you probably have only just received. We must have been writing the same thing at about the same moment. I think, as you will see from the tone of my own letter, that this is about the only sensible thing to do in the circumstances, particularly if there is any chance of my going back a class, which will keep me here a couple of weeks longer. If it should happen, and it may not, of course, then I agree with what you say about the “advisability” of not mentioning it to Mother. I know as well as you do what the reaction would be and there is no sense inviting narks. Of course, we could tell her just what to do but it would be scarcely worth all the trouble and you would get the dirty end of the stick while I’m away. Anyway, it’s no use anticipating trouble, we’ll wait until it arrives. As you will see from the children’s letter, I only got 44 in the S.B.X., which is not likely to do me a lot of good! But enough of that subject.
It was good to read all the tittle tattle in your letter about Mick and Reg, Mrs Reid, and “that Threlfall woman”! Quite like home. I could just imagine you bridling as you wrote some of it!
I’m glad about the children’s improvement. Is Wendy’s face quite better now, and has the doctor stopped coming? I mentioned Michael’s appetite in my letter for two reasons. I seemed to have devoted a lot of my letter to Wendy and, secondly, I thought a word of encouragement might help him.
Well, sweetheart, must leave you now. Although, like you, I have been quite impersonal in this letter, my thoughts now, as always, are far from being in that strain! I do love you, precious, and you’ve no idea how I long for the day when I’ll step in to the Liverpool train. Somehow it seems as if it will never come, but it will!
All my love, angel.
Always yours,
Arthur X

Monday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
I put the heading and date on this letter more than two hours ago, but the usual thing happened. The room filled up and I abandoned all hope of starting this for some time, but in the lulls of several cross-conversations – with your Limedale training you would be in your element here – I re-read all your recent letters. What a happy job, but one for which I should have preferred a little “hush”. I’m making a start on this letter tonight in the hope that before I post it tomorrow I’ll get at least some of your points answered.
But before I go on to your letters, I thought you’d like to know that I’m settling down a bit better in this new class, although I still don’t like the instructor. He is scared stiff of anyone in authority and he makes the work very hard and monotonous by keeping us at it for such long stretches without a break. Still, we had our S.B.X. this morning and even though he is such a lousy “sender”, and lousy is only one name the lads have called him today, I think I have done a little better this week, although I’m almost afraid to say so because I have thought that so often and then been sadly disillusioned. I might be able to tell you tomorrow just how I have done.

Tuesday
We were at cricket this afternoon so still don’t know the result of the S.B.X., but there is a good story about the one Class 14 (my old class) had on Monday. Apparently quite a lot of the forward ones, who usually do very well, fell rather heavily so they had another one today at a slower speed and all did very well! What it is to have influence.
But that’s enough about school, so let me begin to acknowledge various things. First of all the cake, which arrived Monday midday and is very nice indeed. The two postal orders, only one of which has so far been acknowledged. The marmalade, which is lovely and greatly appreciated by Percy and Allan, the other occupants of our table. And, finally, the watch which arrived today in good condition. Will you thank Mother for having it done? And that, I think, is all the things I have to mention just at the moment. Now, about the food stuff from here. Will you let me know if and when you want any more sending and I’ll get them for you. Don’t forget. I told Percy of my idea to collect household things which are in short supply and he scoffed at the idea at first, but mentioned it casually in a letter to his mother who immediately seized on the idea of brushes, which are quite unobtainable in London. It was rather a shock to Percy to find that the provinces should have things when London has not got them! And talking of buying things, you must have had a pretty heavy time lately with the doctor’s bills etc, so you’ll have to be careful in the expenditure. Don’t think of sending anything more to me for some considerable time. You have no margin to spare just now. What are you going to do about a bed for Michael? That will cost a bit these days. Will you have a look at the saleroom, or are you afraid of all the complications it will bring with it? Let me know what you decide.
As I’m writing this at school I’d better not start on the plot, but I’m enclosing a cutting from one of this week’s evening papers which may be of interest to you. I suppose you see very little of the gardening tips these days?
How are the children now? Has Michael’s appetite improved, or is his cough still bad? And what of Wendy’s abscess? Has there been any further development about the tooth? I hope they are more lively now, but perhaps you don’t want them to get too full of beans until they are out in the company of other children! If the weather at home is anything like it has been today, you’ll be able to let them out in the garden all day. It was beautiful today, for the first time for over a fortnight. We played cricket and it was really delightful. I’m glad you were able to brighten Cynthia’s birthday a little. Poor kid, I feel sorry for the way she seems to miss the essential things of childhood – Xmas, birthdays, Shrove Tuesday etc. It’s the more surprising, too, as Mrs Reid was the life and soul of her own family in her early days, wasn’t she? And talking of family life, you can bet your life I most certainly will be shaving when you are bathing the children. It is one of the little things I have been looking forward to, and I have no doubt the old and withered hand will stray in caress as of yore. Just try and stop me. Just to think of that does things to me. I’d better try a little dose of Morse as a non-too-gentle correction.
Ten minutes later – like your digging in the plot, the Morse is as soul killing as anything I know! It certainly has put a brake on my urges – when I don’t think too closely of you, and then even Morse fades into the background. Oh darling, I want you tonight. I have done all day and on the way to cricket was thinking how you would have loved the view of Aberdeen from our cricket pitch. A great wide bay, at least 20 miles across, sweeps north, deep blue broken only by lovely little fishing boats from the Faroes and the occasional blue grey of a naval patrol vessel. There’s no doubt that in this real summer weather Aberdeen is a lovely spot for a holiday.
It was so nice when we came out of night school that Frank and I decided to walk home and as we dallied on the bridge to watch the salmon fishers it’s getting a bit late now. So I must be off if I’m to get this posted tonight.
I do love you, my sweet, so look after yourself for me until I come home. And give my love to the children. Do you think Dave would use a couple of plates on them when they are looking fit? Night night, my love.
Ever your
Arthur X

Thursday
Aberdeen
Darling,
I can’t recall a week which has dragged so much as this week has done. Today feels as if it should be Saturday! There has been one good thing today which I think I should tell you at once, as I haven’t hesitated to pass on the doleful news. I had my transmitting test today and, at 15 words a minute, got 87% which means I won’t have to come back compulsorily at night on that score once I get over the receiving bogey. For a few days this week we are having a different instructor, for which I’m deeply grateful. In the short time we have had him today I have done much better on figures, which have been my chief bugbear lately. The instructor in our own class, as I think I have told you before, is absolutely hopeless at sending and, worst of all, he has no confidence in himself. Lack of confidence is infectious in circumstances like that. Do you remember I told you we plugged in, a couple of weeks ago, to a preliminary final on which another class was passing out? Well we did the same again today and once again, with a really good sender, I got quite a good deal of it down. In fact on figures, which with our bloke are hopeless, I only made two mistakes and this exam is about seven weeks ahead of us. If I can make the same headway with all the other stuff I shall be OK.
Another new ruling on conditions governing the granting of leave at the end of the course has just been made. Apparently one leaves Torry on the Wednesday if one does even reasonably well in technical and procedure, providing we get 90% in each of our receiving and transmitting tests. Otherwise it may be Friday or even later when we get away. A crowd who failed to get the necessary 90s are now waiting to get away, the remainder having already gone on Wednesday. Allan Sykes, the lad from Gordons, has gone today, after a very touching scene with his ice-skating partner last night. Apparently the lady, who looks very nice from her photograph, came over all sentimental and seduced poor Allan, who is one of the “don’t be a cad” type who would be so easily exploited by a dame if she managed to wring a promise from him, but he managed to steer clear of anything too bad except that he promised to write very often. As he only writes to his parents in India about once a month he is going to find it rather difficult! He’s only 19 but realises that he can’t go all round the country crying his eyes out over every girl he meets! He is one of the lads you never met, but you would like him, I’m sure.
Well, love, this is about all the news, if “news” it can be called. I’m writing this at night school, which has so far been a waste of time tonight for they have been working at speeds well beyond me. It’s annoying to have the night booked up and still get no benefit from it. I’ll have to close now to get this in the post. As you may have guessed from yesterday’s letter, I still love you, sweet. Be good, and look after yourself. All my love.
Ever,
Arthur X
P.S. We have “slops” on Monday so I hope you have sent the money as I have ordered a new suit on the strength of it!

Tuesday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
Don’t get all “boiled up” over a letter on Tuesday night. I’m just making a start on this while I’m at night school, not that I will get a great deal done I suppose, because already there is a great argument raging on the ever popular subject of leave. And as the instructor has come down to our end of the room to intervene in the interests of Morse, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you already. Sorry!
Wednesday
Actually that interruption yielded some good results. It was our own instructor who was on duty and we offered a few mild – and some not-so-mild – criticisms of his sending. We have been experiencing considerable difficulty with some of his stuff, particularly in figures, and when he sent our S.B.X. on Monday, the other class in the room also took it for practice. They openly gave him the bird and our own results were so bad that we had it again on Tuesday. Even then he had to send one lot of stuff a second time. It’s alright for some of the lads who are “hot” and who know his sending well, but I found it very hard going and have dropped back to 56%. Since last night’s experience, however, I feel more confident and can get the plain language, French and jumbled letters quite well. Even in this short time I feel much more confident with the figures and mixed figures and letters – on which I have dropped 25 marks in the last week or so. Harry Forman, who went down into this class just before me, has been sent back to his base and I don’t want that to happen to me so I spoke to our fellow today – Smith is his name – and he said he’d have a word with the great white chief if that looked like happening. Myself, I feel much more confident and am sure I can make the grade in the time at our disposal. The feeling of confidence is worth a lot and gives peace of mind which is a great comfort.
I was glad to hear of the projected trip to New Brighton and I only hope the weather was as good at home as it was here yesterday. A real scorcher, the first for ages and apparently the last, for it has gone quite cold again today. Perhaps the children will write and tell me about it? Anyway, I hope you have a nice time and I appreciated your point about Mrs Gardner being your “generation”. If she doesn’t move away again she should make a good pal for you, although you will probably envy her for the amount of leave her husband gets.
Before I should forget, and just to forestall a question, I got the golf balls etc safely. Many thanks, love. Tell the children I’m using the case of tees. They’ll be interested.
I had quite a long letter from Hughie today. He sends his kind regards and threatens to write you. They apparently received the kippers OK and were glad of them, although they say kippers are a bit more plentiful in Liverpool now.
We are expecting more invasion exercises this Sunday and next so it’s not going to be too good for the next two weekends, but I’ll do my best to get my usual Sunday letters away to you.
It’s good to hear that the children are doing so well now. You’ll feel a good deal more free now and if you can get out into the plot the fresh air will do you the world of good. Try to take things fairly easily, especially until the next vapours are over. I have been to the dentist twice in the last week so should soon be getting my “plates” and will let you know when I do. Those visits made me wonder if you have done anything about your own teeth. Have you? Don’t let them go too far, will you?
Well, darling, I must be off now. Bye, my precious, and take care of yourself until I’m home.
All your own,
Arthur X
P.S. Did you send that cable off? If not, do you think it will be long before you can? If it looks like being a week or so, let me know and I’ll try to send it from here.