10 November 1958
My dear Len and Margaret
Although this is only Monday eve, I thought it better to make a little start on this letter because if I don’t I may be disturbed. The Le Feuvres come on Wednesday eve, there will be no writing done.
We were delighted to get a nice letter from Len this A.M., but I must say Len is a very naughty boy to pass such horrible remarks on my wedding hat. That was a brand new hat from the big firm of De Gruchys that I bought for the occasion. Everybody thought I looked very well, (and I think I did too) but I will say it doesn’t do me credit on the picture, in fact I don’t like myself there at all. I am just squatted between Dad and Charles. It’s as you say it seems they are both holding me up, but you know I had nothing to drink except a cup of tea. I admit I look just like an old grandma between these to men who are much taller than me. I did look very nice and dignified. You can laugh, but it’s quite true, I am really a bit disappointed about these wedding pictures.
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| Papa, Granny, Charles, Margaret, Doreen , Nick, Roselle, Arthur, Kay |
You forgot to speak about Doreen and Nick, they both looked quite nice, also you did not say anything about Arthur’s house. I think you must have forgotten to say anything about these two pictures, it must have been my swanky hat that made you forget other things.
I guess Margaret is pleased that you are back from the north. You say you will have to go there twice a year, I thought it was only once that you had to go. It must be a very cold place to go, I think it would be better for you to choose not to go out there too late in the autumn and not wait till the bad weather sets in, but I think your brains are active enough to have a good judgement about this. It must also be very lonely to go out there, it’s so far away too. Do you really mind going out there Len? Your building society really works you to the last degree, don’t they? By what you say on your letter it seems that business is now picking up, this is encouraging for you. I notice you have again made arrangements with a local art dealer to let you have pictures for your window, this will attract people to take notice of your new office.
Yes, we have seen about the developments that are to take place in the Building Society world. So you think this will work better for you? Do you understand Mortgages better than you did? Because you say that with this new development it will mean more mortgages than investments and will give more work. Of course I will not say much on this subject because I don’t understand it at all. Anyway so long as you are happy about it is the thing that counts.
You do right to be living in your dining room instead of in your big lounge which would take up much more coal to warm up. The coal is such a price that you have to economise as far as possible. I quite believe in Scotland the weather must be very cold and you have to warm your rooms. Margaret feels the cold very much doesn’t she?
I can tell you more about DF and his wife, H, she has returned and I believe she is staying with him again. I don’t think things are too good between them, but it is all being kept very quiet. We understand that neither of these two young people have set foot at the old people since H has been back. The old people have not been to their house either. H is in the house but it appears she is not doing any work, the sad case about it all is that the evening that Hillary returned, she walked in at the old people. Of course I don’t know what happened, but the very sad thing is that as soon as her son, who is 7 years old, saw her he started to shriek and crying. They could not do anything with him. He started bleeding from the nose and ears. They called in two doctors. The doctors had to take him right away to hospital, the surgeon said he could not say if any unknown harm had been done. The poor little fellow is still in hospital, he doesn’t want to go to his parent’s home. I don’t think he wants to see his mother, she’s a wicked person. How things are going to end it remains to be seen. Please don’t say a word of what I have said because I would not like it to be brought up in this affair.
Now I will stop. Roselle has just brought me my cup of coffee and biscuits, I will soon be going to bed
Here I am again after a good night’s rest. This is a fine morning, sunny and rather a cold air. I have an electrician here at the moment. He is putting an extra switch in the hall near the front door because as it was when we come back at night we had to walk as far as the dining room door to put on the light. After all these long years of handicap we have decided to put this extra one, though I must admit we wouldn’t have put one yet had it not been for the switch near our bedroom door that has worn out and giving trouble. This is the switch that Roselle uses to go up in her bedroom in the attic. They came yesterday afternoon to do this one, so while we had hold of them, we decided to put this extra one in the hall. We are going to find it very useful.
There is another thing I think will have to be done and that is to put Yaralla Villas on our house. You see, when they painted the house cream and RED, the name was washed off, so now those who don’t know where we live have trouble to find the house. Yesterday the electrician had a lot of bother to find us. This can’t do. I guess we will have a sign writer to write the name, (in red of course to match the door). The more I see the house the more I like it, Len. It looks dignified, these words coming from me, it must be true, (you don’t catch me saying lies). Anyway this is the situation at Yaralla at the moment.
All being well we will be taking our drive at Les Augerez this afternoon. We must to there to fetch some Forgetmenots to finish our borders, they have quite a lot.
At breakfast we were speaking about you going to the north from where you are just back. I said it was a pity you did not send me a picture card from the Isle of Skye. We understand you did not think of it. We know you had enough to do to find your way in, should I say, those wild parts. I have an idea that far off north is rather wild. Dad said you had to cross the sea to go to the Isle of Skye, I feel he must have imagined it. Is he right? If so, how long does it take to cross the water to get there? It can’t be very pleasant if it is rough. I still think Dad is wrong, on the other hand it might be me who is wrong.
Last Sunday was Remembrance Day. We had a good congregation at church. The old War Warriors were there, with all their rows of medals, etc. anyway we wondered if we would be able to have our usual seats. I don’t like to be denied it. When we got to church our seat was empty and nothing to indicate we couldn’t sit there. I got in as usual, Dad stayed back speaking to some official at the door. Before I know more I was asked if I would mind sitting the other side of the aisle, as our seat, with others, was reserved. I was not over pleased, and yet less pleased when I say who it was sat in Dad’s and my place. Who do you think it was? Our new constable and his wife. I didn’t know him but Dad whispered it to me. Of course he was all smiles to see his faithful constable in our usual place. Another thing I did not like too much, he seemed to be treated like a King in taking out seat. One of the church officials came up to him and asked him something about his overcoat. He got up and removed his coat. This official took it away so that it would not be in his way. They didn’t come to ask Dad about his, he had to keep it on his seat. Philip du Feu was the little man while Percy Poingdestre was the Big man. We’ll say that’s the way it has to be done.
These last days we have been speaking about the way we will spend Christmas. Naturally we wanted to spend it here at home, but as it now stands I don’t think it will be, although we have tried hard. Kay and Arthur want it to be at their home. In this way Doreen, Nick and the children will not be with us which is a pity but you know how she feels about taking the children at Kays for a day. These children will want to move about. I think Doreen and Nick would not feel quite happy about it. They will go to Kay another day after Christmas.
On Boxing day Doreen and her family will come to us for the day. Margaret and Charles will come also, then on New Years day, all being well, we will have the whole family, that is Sandiway, New St and Don road. That will be 11 altogether. I have told Roselle that we will have to remove the couch from the dining room and put it in the hall for that day, that will give us more room to sit at the table, though I think we will have to sit the two children at a small table in the corner of the room. They will not mind so long as they are with us. Up to now this is how Christmas and New Year looks for us. This means that Father will not be able to have his usual party on that morning. He hopes to have his friends on boxing Day, but fewer of them come now, (which means a savings on the bottles).
We went to St Peters this afternoon, Uncle is just the same, still sitting in his chair. We brought back some apples, then my flower plants. Kay asked Auntie for some flowering currants. Arthur wanted a few, so you see, we always go begging where we go. All being well, Dad will probably be doing some gardening. Of course he will have to go to town before, to see if his friends are well.
It’s not often my letter to you is finished so early in the week. It won’t be mailed before its usual time. I guess Margaret is very busy as usual. We hope all the family is well.
Love from us
Love, Ma xxx
