Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Once more many thanks for the weekly budget. Also paper duly received, and arrangements for new building in the West End noted. Some fire etc. at Battersea Power Station. We had no trouble here but had a ring from Grandma at number 17 to say her lights T.V. etc. had all failed, and were we all right. As she was alone in the house at the time it was not very funny. I understand that part of the Central Line (underground) between Northolt and West Ruislip was without power for a short while. Sounds very fishy to me as regards the timing, and the extent to which the emergency power arrangements were also put out of action at the same time at Iver.*

Glad you have better news from Don. He seems to have had quite a spell. He probably feels very weak, the aftermath of flu as you say. You are on your way down there now I should imagine, as according to your letter you are due to go there today. First long run in the car I suppose.

Radiogram going full-tilt again this morning and we have had a session or two in the week. They like it alright. We had to go and cash a record token that was given to Carol by Doug and Ethel yesterday so she bought a – you guessed it – a Beatle record.

Had a bit of a scare in the week. I would not at first allow them to touch the thing unless June or I were in the room, but Susan proved so competent at that rule was soon waived. Carol also seemed to learn fast so we left them to it. However on Friday I got home and they were able to tell me the thing had been broken and would not play. They had managed to retain a piece of brass no bigger than the fingernail that had fallen out or been knocked out but I could not find out how to put it back. Luckily it was Radio Club night and I put it to the experts. They said it was the stylus (modern version of gramophone needle) that wanted to be put back and showed me how to do it. Next morning we were able to put it right very easily, so scare over. The old records are very scratchy and the radiogram seems to accentuate the scratches. In addition the records are now made of different material which bends but does not seem to break. Just as well did you say? Noise is not too bad. It can be controlled to quite a low level. Even at full blast it is not the sound one expects from the full-size radiogram. Just enough in fact.

We have not got the tent for Carol. The idea is that they have one between them and they have already seen the one they want.

We have had a good bit of rain in the week and wet has again crept into the lean-to, but as temperature keeps high it fairly soon dries out after rain stops. I have been watering quite a lot and the cacti especially are really moving now. It is quite warm in there, and good place for a deckchair if only there was room.

You are having a lot of trouble with the cooker. Fancy them saying that you had not really ordered it. What a way to carry on a business. What does one have to do to order the thing.

Still no news about Temple Meads. All right about the ill wind etc. in regard to Bowyers. The whole country could do with an overhaul and really get organised on economy lines, if only one organisation were acting as agency for travel whether by person or baggage. All these facilities could be done by the Post Office who could sell tickets, stamps, (rail and post) half of the agencies making a fat living on percentage would then be unnecessary and so would booking offices etc. Similarly there should be an organised roundsman service for delivery of things such as bread, papers, post, possibly milk and groceries. Anyone coming up with that idea and having a bit of capital would provide a necessary service.

Re: Russian radio, there are literally thousands of them also in Poland, Hungary etc. They are a bit of a nuisance as they lie like a screen across Eastern Europe and it is difficult to hear or work stations beyond like Japan etc.

Re: new mower, it had to go into action again this weekend as the grass has grown tremendously after all the rain we had. It was even quite hard to push. Comparatively speaking though it is a king compared to the old one. June told the man in the shop that I was a bit concerned that he may have got the wrong impression of the value of our old mower from conversation in the shop. However he said to her that if he offered £1 for it he knew what he was doing or words to that effect. In any case it was put on show the same afternoon in front of the shop with £1 label on it and sold that day. Must be mugs about.**

Did not hear the tale of Mum’s sewing machine. I knew she had a new one and it was mentioned when I came down, but did not realise a part exchange was involved. Remember the original one we had, but I wonder if that is the one you part exchanged or if Mum had had one since the old one I knew. Anyway we are most more than satisfied with the [lawnmower] deal.

Hope the hedge soon fills out as it looks a bit of a wreck at the moment with bare branches sticking out. Top is fairly level now thank goodness.

I bet the builder wishes he had never seen the plot. Hope for his sake he did not make a miscalculation of his costs. Should have thought someone would have mentioned the fact of the rock. It stands to reason that that seam of rock runs all the way around the hill.

Sounds as if your friends the Cummings have had a very [late?] escape. Would not have liked to have been them. On the subject of car still no sign of Jackson and I managed to fix up for garage to take car in on Thursday next for all sorts of bits and pieces. I shall not go to Jackson again. There is more time wasted waiting for him and wondering if he will come or whether to go over and see him, that it is just not worth it. I must admit though he did a good job on my brakes, and also with Peter’s, but presumably other people can do as well if you find the right ones. The foreman at the Ruislip Garage tells me that after this week he will be unable to take on any major repair work as his last fitter leaves this week and he has been unable to get a replacement. I think we know the story here that wages are not enough for the job. Mr Bushell found that out.

Peter off to Hinkley Common near Leicester this weekend with the Territorials. They go off every second weekend. Different place each time. He has had quite some hair cut too. If he had any more off he would look like in monk.

Your best bet will be to use wedges to put your bench in. Make it just a loose fit as a free standing bench and put it in position and wedge in tight. I do not think you need to worry too much about fitting nails etc. Should imagine the painting is a tedious job especially around the windows. Shall look forward to seeing the finished job. Note the greenhouse is the next on the list to move.

What is the idea of the toy balloons on Cornish’s post? Shall have to rename him Gagarin.

So you will be going over to see Geoff and Stella on the Monday. Hope you are not involved within a theatre trip as that seems to have been the cause of the last lot of bother you had when you came up. Bit of a long time to wait for your Christmas drink.

We cannot get BBC2 as our set is too old. Most of the sets sold in the last couple of years have had built-in equipment which allows them to be adapted for BBC2 but before that time the equipment was not put in, and it is not economic to do it in old sets.

Susan and Carol still go to their dancing classes on Saturday mornings. They were allowed to stay on their own this week and I went to fetch them at 12:45, the finishing time. However they messed about and I did not get away until 1:15 p.m.. I had to go in and fetch them out***. Have told them that is the last time I shall fetch them, and they can go on their own if they go again.

We have had some new potatoes. June got some a couple of weeks ago and they were very nice. I suppose you are referring to old potatoes when you say a lot of those you get are bad.

Funny about no news from Tiverton. Perhaps they will wake up and ask you to call when you have already made plans for something else.

Sun now shining here for the first real time this week. It was dull yesterday but quite warm at times. It went off a bit cold. It started dull here today but looked as if it would improve.

Well there it is again for another week. not much news from this end. The girls (all three) have had bad colds but luckily so far I have dodged this one. I think they are all on the mend now though.

Getting near now to the time of the visit, and the girls already marking the days. So there it is, with love from us all here we will close.

*”When you hear hoofbeats, think horses – not zebras.”

**Because nobody could possibly know better than Alec on any subject, of course.

***And how were we supposed to know he was waiting outside, when we were expecting him to come in?