10 August 1959
My dear Len & Margaret
Monday 3.30
My Canadian letters are about through. I may just add a little extra news tomorrow on them.
Today is a kind of special day at home. This is our 56th “Wedding anniversary”‘. Dad & I had a bit of a surprise when we came downstairs. There had been no talk about our W. Anniversary, in fact I had not thought of it until this A.M. when I woke up. I happened to wonder what was the date of the month for today, I found out it was the 10th. Still this date had no meaning for me at all. Somehow or other I thought of it again, then I did suddenly find that it was our W.A. I told dad about it & that was all. Then before breakfast congratulations for us arrived. I asked Roselle what did all this mean. She said first just look at some of the cards & you will know, but she said just listen to this. I will tell you that we are taking you out to dinner this eve, which means all the family is taking us out. She would not tell us any more, their arrangements between them had been made. She would not say where we were going. All she said was that we had to dress in our best, that I had to wear my jewellery & have my hair nicely done. It was time for her to go to work. She did not come back to lunch, she went to Margaret’s, she said that Kay would call for us at 7.30. I guess she will tell us then where this dinner is to take place. Roselle will be back to tea. I don’t think she will say anything further, this is the situation that the family is doing for Dad & myself.
We had a short thunderstorm this morning at 6.30 with some rain. The rain did not go down very deep, the weather is much cooler today. It said on the English papers yesterday that if it rained the roads would be very icy on account of the dry weather for so long & with the heavy traffic which has made the roads very shiny & that they will be very dangerous after rain, drivers will have to be very careful. I doubt whether it would be the same with you in Scotland, because I think you have had rain on & off for most of the time. But for in case the roads would become dangerous I hope Len will take great care. I can just imagine him saying ‘but mother, I always take great care’.
Dad has been very bothered with rheumatism, yesterday he started taking anadins. He feels much better today, he has not missed going to town.
Dad and I went to Mr Abner Bisson’s funeral on Friday afternoon at St Andrews Church. There was quite a number of people there. on our way back i told Dad what about if we went as far as town to give a peep to Margaret who was looking after Nick’s shop. It was around 3:30 when we got there. Kay was having a cup of tea with Margaret, they did not know if they were seeing right when they saw us arrive, they were so surprised. We were served with tea also, Margaret generally takes a big flask with her when she goes to the shop. I doubt whether we had been there five minutes when Aunt Blanche arrived. She too had a cup of tea. With all these cups of tea I am not sure that Margaret had any for herself. I think she gave me the one she had poured for herself. I feel a bit awful that so many had turned up to see her and emptied her flask. She was pleased to see us all. that was a break for her during the afternoon. On our way to see her i suggested to Father that we should go and get weighed, so we did. We had not been since January. Dad weighs 11 stone, 5 lbs?? lost 3,3/4 lbs? myself I weigh 11 stone 3,4 lbs, have lost 4, 1/4 lbs
Now I will stop until tomorrow, it will be getting time to see about getting ready in our best clothes as ordered.
Now Tuesday evening,I will start by saying how delighted we were this A.M. to receive letters from you. Margaret wrote a nice long letter saying all the home news.
I think I will now continue to say about us going out to dinner yesterday, we had a very enjoyable time. Kay & Arthur called for us 3 just after 7.30 & do you know that they still would not tell us where they were taking us. They said we would know when we got to the place. Well we got the place & it was the ‘Grand Hotel’ for which Dad & I were very pleased. The others were there before us & waiting us, we were all together, just the family. We had a very nice dinner. Each one had what they wanted. The service is very good there. They have foreign waiters, most of them black. There was one especially who was outstanding. He was tall, very black, showing the white of his eyes. He wore a tall red hat with I believe a black tassel.
At the end of the meal we had coffee, some had it white, some black. These coffee cups are as you know, very small, Arthur asked me if I wanted a second cup. Well I could do with a second one, but it seemed to me that the others were not having another one. I said I would not have one, Arthur told me if I took a second one that this tall black fellow would serve us. I thought it was worth it, I then said I would have one & so did he & I think some one else had one, well this fellow served us. I think he thought we looked at him, because he gave us a good look with his white eyes.
Dad, Charles, Nick had their hair cut yesterday, they wanted to look their best. There was no need for Arthur to have his hair cut, it was short.
I was placed at the top of the table, Dad was opposite me. The men folk told me I looked very well. I looked a queen, a nice compliment wasn’t it? My hair was done very nicely, it rained in the morning so I went under the rain to give my hair a good brushing & at the same time refresh it with fresh soft water. I was then able to find some nice waves on my hair. I wore the dress that I wore for our ‘Golden wedding’. I don’t know if you have ever seen it, though I think you were with us at the Golden wedding. If so, you probably remember my dress, then I had on a white woollen stole in the shape of a cape, then my jewellery of course, including earrings. No Len I did not wear Mrs. Gibbs hat. I did not wear one. All the girls looked very well, Rose wore a very effective one, white background with huge orange flowers, full skirt. The men folk were all taken up with her dress & said how well it suited her. Of course Rose takes after her mother for these kind of things. She was pleased to have been so well noticed. Kay had on a ‘greyie’ white dress, I can’t quite explain the colour, it was very nice. Doreen had a mauve one, the one she wore at her wedding. Then Margaret a pale pink, she too looked very nice.
All the men looked quite nice, they too had chosen ties. Oh don’t laugh, during the dinner, Margaret who was facing Charles called to him “oh how are you doing, my poodle”? this caused some laughter, I told her I was going to tell you about it, she said not to.
When we were at table I happened to say it was a nice table, it was an oval one. Of course this meant I had set the ball rolling, they started wondering if it had four legs. They started feeling how many legs it had, it had four. I asked Arthur if he thought it could be extended, he started feeling under the table cloth. He said it could be extended. With the food there was cooked tomatoes. Arthur said he didn’t want any, he whispered to me that the pips would get under his teeth. Now and again the others told him he could get under the table to see how many legs it had & then while he was under it he could remove the pips from his teeth. So that’s how it went on with the table.
When the dinner was over all the family came back to us, everyone seemed in a good mood, when came a time the young ones started singing different kinds of songs. This kept on until midnight. When the party broke up Dad was quiet, he was beginning to feel rather tired, but he enjoyed it all.
Oh I am forgetting to say that during the evening at home, they presented Dad & I with a parcel. This was another big surprise, a gift after having been given a dinner was far from our thoughts, this made us feel awful to receive a present. Anyway it was so, Dad was given a watch, quite a nice one & my parcel contained what they call an ‘Ice Bucket’. I like it very much. You can put in it what you like, it would hold about a quart, you can put in ice cream, or what ever you like. It’s black with engravings of gold. The inside is lined like the inside of a flask. It’s quite heavy too. We were really spoilt to the extreme yesterday. I think this is the end of the story. I feel you will be bored to read it. If so, you can read half one day + the other half the next day.
We notice by your letter that you have Mrs. Booth (Mum’s mum) & Aunty Josephine staying with you on a holiday. This will give Margaret a chance of going out, while they are with you. They will probably stay with the children in the evening while you both go out.
We are pleased that Mrs. B’s arm is getting stronger, but as Margaret says that she has a screw inside the arm which will have to come off when the arm is strong enough, but that it will probably have to come out by an operation. But then it may be first a slight cut, I guess the screw is not very big.
We did not know that Mary was not well. Margaret says that she will have to be on a diet always & that there is no cure for her complaint. Is it Brights disease? that she has?
What is wrong with Len. It’s not in him to be off his food is it? He also seems to be worrying about his weight, or perhaps his work, why must this be? I think perhaps he should see about having a tonic or something. Anyway, we hope he is well.
Margaret asks what about the cat? Well I still go after him. As soon as he sees me with the watering can he knows what it all means & he’s off.
Wed. A.M. I must finish this this morning, we will be out to tea at Margaret this afternoon, this means no writing done. This letter has to be ready in the A.M.
The burglars started coming to us last evening between 9.45 & 10 ‘o clock. Yes poor Roselle was again robbed of some of her nice underwear. About 10 ‘o clock Dad said he would put Roselle’s washing indoors, when he opened the door he found the line had been brought down. He came in & told Rose about it. She went out to see and sure enough some of her best things had gone, which were worth two pounds if not more. Some of it was quite new, first wash. The gate was locked but it had been opened. We can’t think of how these people can reach the hook to unlock the gate. I am almost sure that I disturbed these thieves, because I went to get the coffee ready at about 9.45. I’m almost certain that was the time they were there. I remember hearing a little movement, but did not take any notice. I thought it was Mr. Falle coming back, which is the time he generally comes back, but we have found out it was not him. He told Dad this A.M. that he came back soon after 9 ‘o clock & that he locked the big door into the lane. These prowlers must come from the garden. It seems as if we are going to start the same trouble as other winters. I think this time we have persuaded Father to claim for this loss, he said he was going to report it to the Town Hall, but then they can’t do anything about it. Rose & myself find it creepy when we find prowlers have been robbing in the yard.
I’m sorry i have not had time to write any more, I will again read M’s letter for when I write next. What a big girl Susan is getting. Margaret should try to get to her, she could do with a little more weight.
Love from all, love Mother xxx
