No. 16.

Maycot

23rd Jan: 1940

Dearest,

I was overjoyed this morning to receive two letters from you, Nos: 18 and 19 – yes I had two letters from you numbered 15, but I have so far not received Nos: 16 or 17—in fact, this morning’s were the only ones I’ve had since yours dated 30th December, which is an interval of 21 days.

I was feeling extremely depressed as other people seemed to be getting their letters more if less regularly. Perhaps yours dated 6th and 11th will turn up later. I hope so as otherwise I don’t know what you reply to my letters, and it is impossible to remember what one has written in certain letters.

I waited eight days for word from you and then started a steady stream of letters as I had a feeling you might be unwell and I knew how miserable you would feel if you did not hear. Apart from the letter you acknowledge, I wrote you on the 15th, 16th, 18th and 21st (Nos: 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively). With No: 18 I sent your magenta, black and white scarf.

I’m amazed that one of my letters could have taken eight days…

…to reach you, and in view of this I think we ought to write to one another regularly, at least twice a week, so that if there is any delay we can be consoled with the fact that there is a letter on the way. Will you do this also Darling, as the last three weeks without word from you (I realize now through no fault of yours as two of you letters appear to have gone astray) has been a very sorry and unhappy time for me.

I’m awfully sorry Dearest that you have been down with “flu” and I do want you to promise me that you will take every care of yourself. Will you please thank Madame on my behalf for her kindness to you, and tell her I appreciate her thoughtfulness from the bottom of my heart.

I do hope you will soon be quite fit again Darling. I wish I had you here to look after and nurse. Don’t feel too “down” Darling, you know the worst part of “flu” is the little period of depression that follows an attack, though I know your customary good spirits will come…

…to your aid and you will soon feel your sprightly Petalinda self again.

I was pleased to hear from Aunt Sara yesterday and she said she sent you 150 cigarettes last week which she hoped you would receive safely. Do acknowledge them to her right away darling, as it is kind of her and she does love to hear. She also said that Vernon, who went to France about a month ago as a Sergeant, returned home last Saturday to undergo training at Portsmouth for his commission. In this connection have any of you heard anything further to your interview? It would be such grand news Darling.

Another question Darling, did you receive a box of toffees from Mr Wood (the baker)—he asked me whether they reached you. If they did, just drop him a note of thanks. In any case let me know and I can mention it to him.

Of course I’m very disappointed that you don’t yet know when you are having your leave. I note you are not among the first eleven but perhaps when you do get it the weather will have mended…

…its ways. It’s still pretty foul, awfully cold and snow and ice everywhere. I’m still without water and have to fetch every drop I want from Keston Cottage. What with this and coal-heaving, I get very tired and I shall be so glad when things get back to normal.

Ms. Davis also gets her water from the Hines. The whole of Lakes Road was without water but the Corporation have now put a standard in the road. I had a chat with Mrs Davis this morning and she said she was going to get Gibson round to see if he could do anything, so I’ve asked her to send him in to me when he comes. We haven’t any burst pipes, it’s just that there’s no water coming from the main.

Since I’ve been unable to flush the lavatory, Jill has done at least four “gugs” a day!!!

I’ve bought 100 small wood logs to help out the coal. Wyn was instrumental in getting them for me. She and her boss went to Halstead in her car and loaded them up, and as I had no transport to pay, I thought they were very cheap for 3/- (1/6d per cut).

Transport is very difficult at the…

…moment and if one had to pay for it the price would have been more than doubled. Wyn is really very kind to me in many ways and I think she would love it if, in one of my letters, you wrote her a short note expressing your appreciation. She gives me lots of little things and last week gave me a dress length she had found at home. I will try to make it up by the time you come home.

I’m glad to say Jill is keeping fit and that I’ve successfully warded off a threatened cold. Of course the poor little soul can’t go out much in this weather. She is so looking forward to your coming home.

When you do come home we must make the very most of it. I think we shall, with Wyn’s and Tris’s co-operation, be able to manage some evenings out on our own, and I think we could probably arrange a night in Town by going to Mother’s and leaving Jill with them during the evening, and our returning there for the night. Anyway I’m sure we shall have a very happy time darling. It will be lovely having you back, even though it’s only for a short while.

I don’t think there’s anything more at the moment except that I love you with all my heart.

Yours,

Terry.