Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

No letter this morning so we’ll start the reply with items of local news and use second sheet tomorrow when hope to have your usual budget. Incidentally our post delivery this week so far has been in the region of 9:30 a.m. but have no idea of the reason*.

Well I suspect you have had a taste of this very hot weather at Ruislip. It has been terrific here in spite of fact we are so close to the sea. I have downed tools after dinner both yesterday and today and shall continue in like manner until things are more normal. Pity to complain about the heat after such a very long spell of the worst kind of weather but the change is too great to be comfortable. Perhaps by the time you arrive we shall have got used to it.

Since last writing have put the shallots in the garage to finish drying off. (We had a storm of rain about Thursday which made me scramble them undercover as they were almost.) The hose-pipe has been in daily use since and the runner beans have needed the water badly. We started picking last Saturday and will be on the market with them this weekend. The tomatoes too have started to turn quickly and these too are now on sale. Broad beans finished except for what I am keeping for seed for stop. Have a row of lettuce but they are all running up to seed. Fortunately I have some more in one of the frames which I think maybe right for a fortnight’s time.

The blackcurrant wine is working fast in the jars under fermentation lock – the garage is very hot these days and this I expect is helping the yeast to do its work. The pond is still holding but there is a lot of evaporation just now and I keep it topped up daily when watering the garden. Mum has put in a lot more pansies in the flower border but I keep the wire guards on to keep the birds out. They are little terrors and make full use of the water for drinking and washing purposes. We have had the deck chairs out each afternoon and had a rest on the lawn until about 5 p.m. when I get the hose going for over an hour.

There is no more direct news of the land but I did get a word with Heel earlier this week and ascertained that both he and Cornish are still in favour of the scheme so as I know Pearson and ourselves are agreeable it seems the plan is going forward. May take some time to materialise but the fact that both Cornish and Heel are with the scheme is highly satisfactory. Just as well perhaps for I have done nothing in the field this year and it is looking more like a jungle than ever. Have not yet seen Cornish to speak to but he passes by with a good load up on his bicycle most mornings – taking produce out to customers. When on the bicycle his legs are about a quarter to three and it is quite an effort for him to get along. I suppose he will come over one day to see what is going on.

We have had no more rodeo incidents with Baker’s cows getting through from Mrs Marshall’s field. Think the animals have been removed for the time being.

Roy Hewitt called round again one day last week but his leg continues to give trouble and now he tells me he is waiting to go into hospital for same operation as I had four years ago. He has had a packet of trouble one way and another in his lifetime.

Do you all like beetroot? We have just had some for supper and it is lovely. Have one good row right across garden near runner beans.

I’m afraid Don’s rough cider is going fast these days – have got through one gallon since we were down there on the 18th. Already we are accumulating Watney’s Pale and mum has one or two of the bottles in cold storage.

The roundabouts are here again and the small side shows are already working. They will be on the  move again unfortunately by the time you are here. I’m sure the girls would have liked to look round them and have a ride on some of the smaller roundabouts. Never mind we will find somewhere.

Had another letter from Stephens this morning. He is still in hospital at Hereford following his stroke of February last. Hopes to be home soon and the hospital authorities are going to let him have a wheelchair for a while. This does not sound too good but he writes quite cheerfully.

The packet of Viscaria seeds the girls gave me at Ruislip we put in the border just outside the porch of back door and they are all out in flower at the moment and giving quite a nice bit of colour. Hope they will last for another week or two so they they can see them.

Frank Hessel called on Mrs Marshall the other day and asked after several people around here but he did not visit us. Understand here is now living at Abbots Leigh and still employed by the Portishead Power Station people.

[Continues Wednesday 31 July 1963]

*The postie went on holiday and you’ve got a replacement who doesn’t know the route: get your head out of your own navel for five minutes, ffs!