There are few paragraphs in these letters and almost no full stops. I’ve put some of both in as an aid for the reader.
3 Yaralla Villas
First Tower
26 March 1956
My dear Len and Margaret
To speak the truth I have been thinking of you all most of the day – when we were having breakfast I told Dad that probably the furniture remover had arrived at your home and you were all very busy, I wondered if you were having good weather for the big event, here it was a grand morning, the weather changed during the afternoon, there was a thunderclap, rain and some hail. It did not last but it’s still raining this evening, just light rain. If it does continue althrough (sic) the night it will do good, it’s really needed, it will help my Wallflower to spring up, it is now in bud but on the poor side, it didn’t do much during the cold and dry winter. We were delighted to get Len’s letter towards the end of the week, it’s a pity that the last week in Scotland business had not been very good, it’s to be hoped it will pick up again.
(My father was an outside rep for a building society and they had sent him to Scotland to open up business with the banks.)
Well Len another £15 for entertaining, how have you got the nerve to ask the firm for all that money so often, must you really entertain at such a high pitch? I think you should try to do so. Another thing I have trouble to digest that they are giving you another new car, your firm must be made of money. I just feel all this “swank” pleases you Len. What does Margaret say to all this? Does she approve? However so long as you show good results in you work that is what is wanted.
I guess Margaret and the two children[1]are now settled at the neighbour next door and that they are quite happy. It’s certainly better for them to be there than in an hotel. We are wondering where Len and the two boys[2]are this evening. I guess they have found a place for the night, no doubt the boys feel pretty tired and probably they will leave early tomorrow morning for Whitley Bay, Len will have something to do as soon as the furniture gets there, he really should have a man to help him to put down the carpets and linos, also the furniture in place. This will be too much for him to do by himself. We notice you have installed a Rayburn stove also a radiator attached to it, you should then be quite warm in cold weather. I feel sure Margaret will be pleased with the Rayburn. I guess she will learn the working of it in a short time. Will the workmen be finished by the time Margaret gets there on Wednesday, it would be nice if she didn’t have to have them there anymore. It’s a pity Margaret will not be able to come over with you when you come, but I quite see it’s not very easy, Len doesn’t know when he will be able to come, we see that May is out of the question, we quite understand that he will want everything in order before going away for a week, anyway we will be looking forward to seeing him when he does come and know all about his business.
Thanks for sending the Annual Report of your Society, they seem to be doing business, when you see all the money they pay out you wonder where it all comes from. Arthur saw the report of Friday, he thought it was quite good, of course Len, as you know, I am not quite clever enough to understand these things. It’s most kind of the firm to send a girl with Margaret while travelling. This will be very nice for her to have someone to be of help and talk, because it will be a long day for Margaret, it’s to be hope that baby Roselle will be good and give no bother on the journey.
The doctor still goes to see Uncle John, he went yesterday he found him much better, but the trouble is that he can’t walk, his legs are weak, so I don’t think they will come next Monday ‘Easter’ as they generally come to tea, but it’s doubtful if Uncle will be well enough, however there is still a week, he may gain a lot in a week. Roselle and Margaret have sore throats, so it’s as Len says I don’t know what is wrong with the du Feu family. I will not write anymore this evening, this letter will not go until I feel sure you are to your new house.
Here I am again this is now Tuesday eve. Father has gone to the Freemasons, he never comes back very early, he has an ulcer on his gum which bothers him when he eats, I told him it would be better for him not to remain for the supper and to come back early, of course he just laughed at that, he was hoping to have a good supper and probably will not think of his ulcer until breakfast time in the morning. Kay took us out this afternoon, I had told her I would like to fetch some nice leaf mould in the waterworks valley so we went. I was amused because Arthur decided that he also wanted some. Kay had brought a bucket, we had a box and a flower pot for myself. Well this leaf mould was not easy to get Father had a bit of bother, you see the roots of the trees have grown everywhere, which made it difficult, however we managed to get some. I also wanted to find a nice fern but did not succeed, there was not any to be found, it’s yet too early. Everything is very dry, but maybe in six weeks’ time or so there may be a chance when everything is green and the ferns will have sprung up. After fetching the soil we took a run as far as Corbiere, and then to Haute Vue for a cup of tea, then made for home.
The news that are leaking out today is that Mr A… from the Electricity Co has been asked to resign, I’m afraid this does not look very nice for him, of course I can’t tell you more, this is all I know about it. I guess Len and the boys are now at Whitley Bay and probably will be sleeping at some hotel or boarding house around there, poor Margaret and the two children will have to undertake their long and tiring journey tomorrow morning. I will be pleased when we know you are settled and comfortable again, this moving must be very trying for you all. In the end I hope you will be happy when settled.
We wish you all a very Happy Easter though I daresay you will be working hard to get your house in order.
Lots of love from us all.
Love, Ma xxxxx
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| Susan, John and Paul before going to Whitley Bay |
