Tuesday
Chiswick
Dearest,
It’s funny the way I can usually sense your mental attitude at the time you are writing letters. For the last few days they have had that “well-I-don’t-feel-like-writing-and-I-don’t-give-a-damn-who-knows-it” atmosphere and then, in the footnote of yesterday’s letter, quite apart from the information that your abscess had burst – and I’ve just had sausage for breakfast! – there was a buoyant note which has been missing for so long. I’m so glad you have got relief from it at last, sweet. Now for heaven’s sake don’t go to extremes and work yourself to death so that by the time Xmas does come you will be all washed out. Save your energy up a bit or you will never get properly fit. And, by the way, you never told me what Rees said about it. Did you show it to him?
To answer your letter briefly. Chris seems to have had the normal Father Xmas experience and was probably as disappointed as all parents. Will Harold come out to see you this time? My respects if he does, and if you are writing to Auntie Amy give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. It was nice of Mrs Reid to remember the children when getting a Xmas tree. The last promise Vic made me was that if there was a tree in town he’d get it for them. That’s all I can say on that and he will most probably turn up late on Xmas Eve with one and with some things for the children. Sorry about the Gregson pride on the theatre question. I think I’d feel just the same.
Now, to report on progress with the Xmas shopping. I have managed to find some early readers for Wendy. They are small paper-backed books and are written in a graded series. I won’t tell you how much they were until you have seen them. They are called step one, step two etc, but the earliest I could get was step 4 and there are very few two-syllable words in them. They certainly seem to be a good idea and I got three or four so that she can go forward from one to the other, but will you see that she can read one before tackling a second? Otherwise the main purpose will be spoiled because, although they are illustrated, they are essentially reading books. Getting those and a few Xmas cards and making a fruitless search for Wendy’s comb occupied all my time!
All the fellows with children the age of ours are going mad about the price of things. The wireless operator for whom I punch tapes, and who sits next to me, however, is delighted because a pal of his has made him a fort about a foot square for 25/-! He says quite proudly that the ones in the shops are 10/- dearer. I’m very much afraid he hasn’t the Johnson touch! Pardon the modesty.
Now about Xmas leave. I think I’ll decide that unless I can get permission to travel – and that seems pretty hopeless – I won’t come. For one thing, the civvy fare is 40/5 and at the moment there’s no sign of great wealth suddenly appearing from anywhere. Secondly, if I was picked up it might jeopardise my chances of long leave a month or five weeks after Xmas. And thirdly, £2 is a very precious sum to us just at the moment. I’d sooner give it to you to put on one side for the possible chance of a trip down here some time in the spring. I think that if we could look forward to me being home a few weeks after New Year and then to you coming down here a few weeks after that, it would be a far better long-term policy than me dashing home for Xmas uneasily. And, in saying all this, there’s no need for me to remind you what Xmas at home means to me. Not only that, but if I don’t come home, the chances of one of the children going sick are greatly minimised!
Well, sweet, I’m off now for another trot round to see what I can find. I’ve still got to get some small things for Jack and Dot and a little comb for Wendy.
Very soon the postal arrangements are going to get all cluttered up so don’t be surprised if some of next week’s letters arrive late.
Now, sweetheart, I must be off. Bye until tomorrow and I do hope you are feeling better now. Give my love to the children. Has Wendy started to learn cards yet?
I do love you, sweet, and am looking forward already to early February. Please try to repeat your usual splendid arrangements in regard to vapours!
All my love, angel.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
Dec 151942