14 August 1957
My Dear Len and Margaret
This is Wednesday evening. The Washing up is just over. Doreen is ironing, Roselle is pottering around doing different little things. We are still having very unsettled weather, the last weekend was very stormy blowing half a gale at times and rain. Today has been a rainy day.
No doubt the St Aubin’s people are getting rather anxious for tomorrow, they are holding their annual fete, I must say they are not very lucky as a rule. They always have this fete the week after the Battle of Flowers,. Kay and Arthur will be helping, not that they wanted to, but they have been told now that they are living in the parish of St Brelades it’s their duty to help. I think Kay will be helping with the teas. I also think Arthur will help in the beauty competition to choose Miss Jersey. He will be all right there don’t you think? Kay told the two girls here (Roselle and Doreen) that if they were very short of helpers, she might ask them to help. I don’t think they are keen, they would be very tiring for them after their day’s work. I don’t think it will come to anything.
I think I told you that if the weather should be very fine tomorrow we might take the trip to St Malo, there is no question of going this kind of weather. I will say I’m not sorry though. My flowers got rather damaged by the rough weather we had last week, but the lawns have benefitted from the rain. they needed it badly.
Doreen went back to work after 2 weeks holiday (in Jersey). Although quiet she has enjoyed herself, she went out every day with one or the other. On Monday she had her hair permed and went to lunch at Margarets.
We received a letter from Barbara Hacquoil on Saturday. Her news was not very good. I think I had mentioned to you about a fortnight ago that Auntie Flo had written to us. She was on holiday with some of her daughters, and when they came back she would have to go in a hospital. Well on Barbara’s letter she said her mother was taken to hospital on August bank holiday. This hospital is St Mary’s, Paddington. Auntie had her operation on the Tuesday. She came through the operation quite satisfactorily, it must have been a serious operation, part of her stomach was taken away.
Last evening Roselle phoned at Barbara’s, she was not back from hospital. Her husband Terry answered. Barbara had asked the Sister what the operation was for, the Sister would not commit herself, but told Barbara that she would make an appointment with the surgeon who operated. (He is Sir Arthur Porritt). He must be a ‘tip-top’ surgeon, because they said Aunty was lucky to have him. Anyway Barbara saw him, he told her that her mother had cancer of the stomach and that he had removed as much as he could see, but he could not guarantee anything . He said Auntie had left it too long. He also said that he gave her one year to live or perhaps less. The surgeon can’t be too satisfied to say that. Terry told Roselle that the girls were very upset.
I think she will be one week more in hospital, then they will take her to Sir Arthur Porritt’s convalescent  home at Henley-on-Thames. I don’t know how long she will be there. Now look please don’t repeat what I have told you, because Auntie has not been told of her condition. She does not know she has cancer, they are keeping it away from her. We feel very sorry that Auntie is so ill. However, while there is life there’s hope. She may get well again. That is to say if the cancer does not spread any more, but as you know this is a terrible illness to fall on anyone. We will probably get news from some of the family telling us how she is getting on. We also hope she’s not in pain. I think I had told you that Marjorie (Flo’s daughter)  had also had a serious operation, but they have not mentioned what the operation was for. Terry said last evening that she must not go to work for the rest of the year.
We were very pleased to have a letter from Margaret on Saturday and to know that you had enjoyed the holiday in Stockport. Yes, I can quite imagine the fuss being mad over Roselle Sheila. She is such a sweet child, always smiling.
I notice by your letter that Sheila when on holiday in Cornwall still prefers Jersey. Well I will say Jersey for a small place, does take some beating. It’s funny, we had a discussion on Jersey last evening with Arthur and Kay. Arthur is of the same mind as I am. He says there is no need to go away to find prettier than the island of Jersey. I agreed with him. Perhaps I should not be saying all this, Len may not like it, knowing that Margaret has still her heart here, although no doubt this feeling is probably fading out now. Poor Margaret, you say you are liking Oxford quite well now and you have the thought that you will have to move again. It’s really too bad isn’t it? Still we hope good times are coming for you all.
Yes, the boys told us about Mr Bartram’s  (our neighbour in Oxford) new shop and that they had made a nice place. Len, where’s that card from Chester? I’m still waiting for it, one from Derbyshire would probably have been nice to have. Of course I know you have other things to think about than to think of sending me cards. We are having some rather nice ones from the Le Feuvres. They know now what kind I like so they are doing their best for me. They seem to be enjoying their holiday. They come back tomorrow week, the 22nd. On the card we had from them today they mention not to forget to go to them on the 26th. We will have to see about that. We may not go on that day which is a Monday. Doreen says we will have to make it the Wednesday. I would prefer it.
We are pleased to know that Margaret’s sister Eileen was feeling much better, it is to be hoped that the improvement will continue and that she is going to be much better now. You say about Jeanette Valpy not going to see you, we thought she was going over to see you, because a few days ago Vivien phoned us to ask for your address, they had forgotten or lost it. Maybe since they phoned they decided not to go over.
Now another try on this letter. Somehow or other it has to be finished today. This is Thursday afternoon. Doreen and Roselle left a little while ago to go to St Aubin’s Fete as helpers, there is only Dad and I left. We have asked Mig and Charles into tea, they are pleased to come.
At this moment the weather is not very promising to hold good for the duration of the fete, it is cold too, a strong wind and cloudy. However it’s to be hoped that it keeps good until late this evening. Although Dad says he doesn’t think it will be much rain while  the wind keeps so high. I have an apple tart cooking in the oven. I thought I had to make one for Charles, he is very fond of apple pie. I must now go and see to it now. I would not like to forget it and overcook it.
Thank you Len for the few lines you added on Margaret’s letter. I can see you made a very special effort to write, very kind of you indeed. No, no, Len I’m not being sarcastic. I’m only beng very thankful to see you had done your very best.
No then I must put all childish talk away and speak about sensible things (at which I am not very good) about your house at Whitley Bay. You have at last managed to sell it, it’s a pity it’s at a loss though, £350 is quite a bit to lose, isn’t it, on the other hand you could not keep it on your hands for ever. At the same time you did a lot of alterations on it. I think if you were wise you would not do so much alterations when you change house, you can’t tell how long you are to be in one house. You have been changing so many times. Each time you move costs you quite a lot of money of which you don’t see again. Neither you haven’t got the enjoyment of it for long. So wake up to it now, whenever you move, not to over do any decorations, just the very necessary.
PS. Roselle has told me after looking over my letter that I did not tell you quite right about Auntie Flo. I should have said that if all the cancer has not been removed, Auntie may not live more than a year, but if it has all been removed she will live longer. The surgeon also told Barbara that Auntie will be putting on weight, but if she loses that weight it will be a bad sign, of course it’s very difficult to understand all this by telephone.
Now it’s 5pm, our young couple will soon be arriving. I must see about getting the tea ready. You know it has come to my mind that you both get bored reading such a big chapter, when we have to pay the new rate of postage my letters will have to be shorter. I will have to weigh them, a shame, isn’t it.
Trusting you are all well
Love from all
Love
Xx Mother xx