12 December 1960

My dear Len and Margaret

Mon eve. I have just finished my Canadian letters. They should have been mailed this AM as they usually are, but you know with Christmas being so near, I have been busy with other things. I think I had mentioned in my last letter to you that we had received Len’s letter but too late to answer it.

Has Len got over his anxiety about his lunches and dinners.  I feel there is no sense in having so many functions in one week, neither is so much rich food good for the health, so Len in future think better of it and spread these functions, (if you must have them), far away from each other, I think it would work better. It’s nice to know that you got on well with your speeches.

Fancy Len, Mr Cohen thinking of giving you a radio for your car. I’m sorry to say but I don’t approve. A radio in a car is enough to distract a person from taking enough notice to his driving, and may be the cause of causing accidents. Len, tell Mr Cohen that your Mother is quite against you having a radio in your car. If he wants to give you a nice gift a nice armchair for your home would be better and I think more appreciated. I call an armchair a most welcome gift, do you agree with me, Len? I have an idea the answer is decidedly ‘No’. Anyway wanted to speak my mind, just the same I don’t like a radio in a car.

Do you mind your investment target of £500,000 for 1961, do you think you will be able to bring it up to that high figure. You will have to work, won’t you?

You seem to be disappointed about the results of John and Paul’s exam, but I guess they do their best, though it’s no doubt about what you say that they must see everything that goes around. I think they will lose this as time goes on.

Now what about our home news, there is not much to report. It has been quite cold today. I went to town this AM. I wanted to finish my Xmas shopping, so decided to go while the weather was dry, as it is raining this evening. I don’t know if I will go to town anymore before Christmas. My doctor comes to me on Thursday, I never like when I expect him, it disturbs my work, never know the time he’s coming in.

Our election for deputies is over, it didn’t go to my liking in our district. I voted for one man only. I could not vote for 4 candidates. I voted for Blackway. He lost, but I was not disappointed. I had no one special to vote for, but thought I would vote for someone. Dad voted for 3, Blackway, Goodman and Barrette, this last mentioned I absolutely did not want to come in as deputy but he did. I’m afraid this fellow will try his luck to get in as Constable of St Helier, when the time comes to elect another Constable. Surely people would have more sense, but it’s so difficult to find the right person in the right place.

I guess you will read all about the election in the town and country. Well you will know that Mr Arthur Querree came top at St Ouen’s. This man is the husband of Mabel Vautier, sister of Gladys. I don’t know if Len ever knew him. He is a local Methodist preacher. I think he will speak his mind and won’t let himself be led by others, which is a good thing. Also you will see in what a mess they are at St Peters with their election. When they counted the votes I think it was 7 ballot papers that were missing. I believe some were found in the roadway.

I mustn’t forget to tell you that when we went to vote it was raining, we had one of the election cars to fetch and bring us back. On our way to vote when we came to the gate of the school, one of the candidates Mr McCarthy fetched me to the car with a big umbrella which he kept over my head all along the yard till the door of the school. This made me think I was the Queen of England. I’m sorry to say though that I did not give him a vote. I now feel I should have done, but my mind was made up to vote for one only and when my mind is properly made up it’s hard to change me. Anyway he got in but unfortunately not quite to his liking. I have an idea that he felt sorry not to top the poll, I must not keep on with any more election stories.

Tues AM. Dad has now left for town. I’ve hurried on with my work so that I can get on with this letter. Doreen and Nick will be here this eve. Yesterday Roselle received a lovely big square tin of shortbread from one of her travellers in Edinburgh. I think I am the one who is going to have this tin because she does not care very much for shortbread. I like it very much, one thing about it is that I want this lovely tin to add colour to my pantry. Anyway Roselle has given me permission to put it amongst my other tins, it looks lovely there too. One thing though that I object is that they always put their advertising name on the top of the tin and on the side. I call this spoiling a nice tin, it would be enough to put it under the tin.

On Saturday afternoon while I was having my afternoon rest the doorbell rang. Father answered, I heard footsteps coming along in the hall. I was not long getting up from the couch but my hair was all in a mess. It was Mr Patch. I have to ask him to excuse me while I fixed up my hair again. This bothered me a bit, still he didn’t mind so long as he could have a gossip about one thing or another, but he could not have much of a gossip because after he had been here about 20 minutes the door bell rang again, this time was Gladys and Eddie. This was on their way back from town and they were cold so they would come in to have a chat about the election and they knew I would make them a cup of hot tea, which they were pleased to have. This did not drive Mr Patch away, he knew them so they all chatted together.

It was going on for 5:30 when they all left, so I had to hurry on to get the tea ready for when Roselle got home for her tea. Father washed up the afternoon cups for me, so I got on. I don’t really like to be so hurried like this, but we have enjoyed having them. This prevented Mr Patch having his usual gossip. He did not take a piece of cake because he said he didn’t want to eat much as he was going to have a real Jersey dish of beans for his tea, they were in the oven. Gladys and  Eddie were going to have fish, the du Feu’s nothing special – cheese.

The weather is getting very cloudy, I hope it’s not snow, this is our afternoon out. I don’t know where Kay will decide to go, it may be Les Cuperez but I think we will have to go to town first to order the turkey for Christmas, it’s time now. I will leave this to finish this eve before Doreen comes.

Here I am again 8:50. I must hurry to end this. We went to Aunt B this afternoon. I think I had told you she has bouts of pain across the chest, the doctor visited her yesterday. She told him about these pains, he examined her. He thinks it’s gallstones that she has but he told her she should have called him when she had these bouts and told her next bout she gets to call him at once whether it’s in the night or not. She has to go on a diet, she must not touch any fats or rich food, and Aunty is fond of rich foods. We feel sorry for her. When she has these bouts the pain is awful.

This is all the news I can think of today. We hope all the family are well. I guess everyone finds it cold, look well after yourselves and keep well.

Lots of love from us all
Lovingly, Mother xxx