This is Sunday afternoon. I thought I would make a start on this letter.
My Canadian letters are just about done. It’s not often I’m about finished with them so early.
The weather has been lovely today. Sunshine almost all day. The air is cold but it’s dry. There seem to be plenty traffic on the road. People are taking advantage of this fine weather. According to the radio you seem to be having plenty snow in some parts of Scotland, have you got much round your way? However soon the worst of the winter will be over. Tomorrow brings February, once January is out the days lengthen & the sun gets a little warmer day by day.
Day by day I am waiting to know if the Royal baby has arrived. It should not be very long now. I am wondering if the great day will happen on Len’s birthday. If it’s a girl this is the names I will like her to have: Victoria, Elisabeth, Caroline & if a fourth name Mary. If it’s a boy Edward, Henry, Philip of a fourth David, but they will not ask me what names to give this baby. There may not be one of my chosen names.
Now evening meal is over, we are now settling down for the evening. Margaret & Charles will soon be here, that will mean tools down.
Will you please thank Susan for the nice letter we received from her. Roselle also had received hers. This means Susan had been busy writing.
On Thursday A.M. Aunt Blanche, Kay, Margaret & myself all had coffee at De Gruchy. This meeting party had been arranged beforehand. Kay took Arthur to work for 9 ‘o clock & then she went out to Les Augerey to fetch Aunty who wanted to be in town early, she had business to do before meeting us. Kay was with her. Margaret & I were the first ones to arrive at De Gruchy’s tea room. Kay & Aunty were not long after us. We waited for them to arrive before being served. We enjoyed our half hour coffee party, had a harmless gossip. Coffee over we got up to get away, we made for the lift instead of the stairs, but Aunty did not want to take the lift. She doesn’t like it. She said she wanted to go down the stairs, anyway I got in the lift first & as I got in I dragged Aunty along with me, the lift attendant laughed. When we were all settled in the lift, Kay who as you know speaks quite a lot, started to tell Aunty that the lift is liable to stop sometimes. This didn’t improve Aunty’s idea of being in the lift. In fact a little while back the lift did stop half way when the electricity stopped. The attendant was left in alone for half an hour in the darkness. I know I wouldn’t like this to happen when I’m in the lift. I am not sure that Aunty will want to go up or down the lift again for some time.
Aunty had a lot of shopping to do. Margaret & I went round with her. Kay could not come round with us, she too had shopping to do & was taking her bus earlier then we were. Aunty was taking hers the last, she had Margaret to sit with her until the bus went. This was the way we spent Thursday A.M.
Oh I guess Len will wonder who was the one who treated for the coffee party. Well it was “Mother du Feu” who did. They started to say that they ought to pay. I told them to stop their argument about paying, that they will have their turn later when we all meet again.
I will not go further with this letter now.
Now Monday evening Roselle is early with us this evening. There is a very nice fire to greet her. She has just given me a handful of “Dolly Sweets”. They are tiny sweets of different shapes + colours. They taste very nice, this helps with the writing, but not for finding news.
February came in boisterous this A.M. but the afternoon has been sunny & quite nice. Sorry for the delay for John’s birthday, better the delay then not at all. I think his age must be 10 now. I must say your family is growing. They will soon leave you behind.
What a pinie? it has been to stay in London with the rail tube strikes. It must have been awful for people going to work & children to school. Something must be very wrong with the people of today. It’s all the time more pay & no work. I feel about this that in many cases they should not give an increase in their wages, they are paid well enough. But I will admit in other cases they are not paid enough. Wages should be increased accordingly. This does not seem to be done. But I don’t agree with more pay & shorter hours (I may be in the wars with you by saying so). I like to speak my mind.
All being well we will be going to Les Augeney tomorrow. I will try to pump Aunty about the message you gave Roselle last evening about her going to Scotland, but I will say I know the answer now. As for Dad & I going with her, I’m afraid it’s hopeless. This is a too far journey. But I must say we would very much love to see you all. One thing Dad would not fly & I would not like to go by boat & have that long train journey. Neither would I entertain you meeting us at Southampton which would mean three days journey both ways. I’m very sorry to say you must reckon this invitation off. Also we thank you very much indeed for the kind invitation. You are both young & it will be you to visit us. Will it be this summer?
I will now leave this until tomorrow.
Here I am again at it. I must hurry to end this letter. Doreen & Nick will soon be here.
We went to Les Augerey this afternoon. Aunty is always pleased when we go. Well I delivered your message about going to Scotland, nothing doing, though she said if she was one to go on holiday she would be delighted to take the trip & also is very pleased to have had the invitation. But you know Aunty has never left the island either by sea or air.
As far as for Dad & I I’m afraid we are in the same boat as Aunty. We find Scotland too for away. Also it would be an expensive journey. If we were younger we probably would have considered it & Dad with his rheumatism. You will agree we are better at home taking things the easy way.
This must be all for today. We hope you are all well & will soon be looking for the spring. Lots of love from we 3,
lovingly
Mother xxx
