Maycot,
12 Commonside,
Keston,
Kent.

23.10.39

Darling,

I have just received your letter No. 1 – the previous postcard you mention hasn’t yet reached me. It did seem ages waiting for a line from you, but I feel much happier now I have your letter.

This is my third letter to you since you left the country and I hope you safely received the other two.

I am afraid my last one was not too cheerful, but I had not been feeling at all well and not having heard from you (and Tris having heard from Vic) I felt rather neglected and lonely. I knew you must have written but it seemed very tough that it should have to be my letter to go astray.

Do please write at least once a week – it will give me something to look forward to.

Your father called on me a week ago and could not seem to understand why I did not visit Ash Lodge. I definitely don’t intend to for reasons we both understand.

Wyn is a great comfort to me and it’s nice having her to talk to at breakfast. We have to be very careful what we say in Jill’s hearing however, as she seems to have inherited my memory and drops remarks which are sometimes too appropriate.

For instance Wyn got held up in the car by a minor flood when she was seeing her boss home and Jill brightly asked if “a kiss and a cuddle” made the car go! She got the expression from a previous conversation.

Alas when you were home last you may remember my remarking I thought Mac had a nice face – well Jill has invented an imaginary friend called “Byshie-Byshe” who seems to change his form and profession to suit her.

She told Wyn and I the other morning that he was a doctor and that he had a very nice face – “much nicer than Uncle Mac’s” said she!! Wyn and I were convulsed.

I think it a good idea to number your letters. As I told you in a previous letter you will be hearing from some of my family and maybe Ethel Harriss (to whom I gave your address when writing to her). Mother is sending you some cigarettes and you will, I know, write and thank her.

I miss you very, very much and some evenings are unbearably long. Though I knit like fury I haven’t finished knickers to go with Jill’s second frock and am then starting on your gloves. I’ve got some new nice colored wool, a yellowy brown. Please let me know whether there is anything I can make you that would comfort you, I should be very happy to make it and I’d rather you let me know what as it’s a waste of time making things for which you might not have any use.

I am delaying posting this till tomorrow as I want to get you the hankies you asked for.

According to the papers and the wireless, if nothing occurs to change the situation, some of you may begin to have leave about Xmas time. It would be lovely to think you might be home then. Today’s wireless stated that the French regular army are to have 10 days leave every four months and the Territorial Army 8 days every four months.

I note the details of your uncomfortable journey. I’m so sorry, alas that you have had…

…a cold.

I’m comforted to learn that you are not too near the danger zone and do hope your quarters will soon be a little more comfortable. An unsprung dance floor doesn’t sound exactly pleasant. I hate to think of your roughing it in this way, all because of an old German lunatic! Still he seems utterly bewildered at the moment and everything seems to have gone wrong for him, capped by Stalin having today flatly refused to give him military aid, and Stalin persisting in committing to supply Britain with raw materials which Germany is crying out for.

I suppose as Stalin wants payment in gold, he knows Germany can’t pay. Stalin doesn’t seem exactly a peach but he’s not as “goofey” as Adolph hoped.

Will you tell Vic that Tris and her sister-in-law called again for a little while yesterday and Tris was looking very well.

Everyone I meet asks for news of you and makes the kindest enquiries, and now I shall be able to tell them that you are safe and sound. There’s nothing more to say just now darling, except that I long to have you home again and love you very dearly.

If possible could you enclose a little note for Jill in your next letter as she would so like one.

With all my love,

God bless you.

Terry (x from Jill)