Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Thanks for letterer received this morning but we are very sorry to hear you are all under the weather again but hope it is only temporary and that by this time there is a big improvement in each of you. In addition I expect June is anxious about her mother and that in itself would upset the normal routine. The cold winds without doubt are responsible for the children getting conjunctivitis but the warmer days should soon see them right. So far as the neck is concerned I do not think you will get rid of it until it has been completely taken out when it is probable it will not recur. You have all had a rough winter and the alterations in the house have kept you going when you might have been resting. Anyhow I think it is a good thing we are not coming up for Easter – give you a chance to recuperate – so we shall be looking forward to Whitsun when it is to be hoped that the weather will be much more seasonable.

Sunday here was another bad day with a strong northwest wind and quite a number of storms. Monday just as bad but yesterday and today a much welcome change but alas I started the bedroom yesterday and that will keep me indoors for the next few days. So far I have done a lot of the preparatory work and whitened the ceiling this afternoon. One of the windows has been jammed for years but at long last I put that right – some job. Most difficult to get the screws of the hinges out because the thread had worn away and the screwdriver would not function. In the end had to fiddle about to get a grip with the pliers. Fortunately time did not matter and it took two or three hours to do that little job. Hope to start getting the undercoat of paint on tomorrow.

Note your joiner turned up a week ago but was missing last Sunday for which apparently you did not mind too much under the circumstances.

By the way how did the girls take to the drops being dropped into their eyes? Hope they were alright for Carol’s birthday. Expect she was excited. It was Mr Newman’s birthday on the 17th, 71 this time. We hope they will be able to look down on Easter Monday for the afternoon but it all depends on the state of Mr Newman.

Very sorry to hear that June’s mother’s visit to hospital means an operation and we can only hope it will be successful and maybe feel a lot better in general health afterwards. To which hospital will she go? Will leave Mum to comment on the possibility of the girls coming down but you know we shall look after them but won’t you both miss them even if only for a couple of weeks. Susan enjoyed her visit last year but she was a year older than Carol would be this time but they would be company for each other (and for grandfy did you say).

So far the work done in kitchen is satisfactory – that at least is something towards it. You seem to have the hall stripped down alright. Was it difficult to get paper off? Sometimes you find two or three coats of paper on the walls and the one next to the wall is usually most difficult to remove. What about the ceiling? Are you going to paper it again? This is one job I would not tackled – probably remind me of the old song “When Father papered the Parlour“. Fortunately all our ceilings are papered and only require a coat of Walpamur.

Talking of the tax on cider I think the less said about it to Don the better – have an idea it will not affect him.* had a letter from him this morning. He had been to a meeting at Exeter where they were told to start formulating plans for reducing staff but apparently he has already given them one or two suggestions which have not been implemented so he says he has nothing else to offer them. At this meeting he was given his gold wristwatch and during the course of the chairman’s address (Hartnell) he heard that ‘the Bristol Temple Meads Station Master has been released from his normal duties so that he could go into the reduction of his own staff and report’. Like giving a chap a razor and telling him to go and cut his throat. Perhaps he is is working in conjunction with divisional staff.

Noted your remarks re possible retirement at 58. If it comes about a lot of those affected will be pleading poverty.

So Susan knew what sticky labels were for. Asking for trouble in a sense but I expect they came off easily enough. I cannot say the year of your carrot wine but it is of excellent flavour and there are now only about two wine glassfuls left. it has improved by keeping as I seem to remember I did not care for it originally.

Yes just a little trouble with the car but all right again now and I hope no further visit to garage (except for petrol and oil) before our trip to Ruislip. You are doing very well with your car and it should be good for another 50000 miles before scrapping.

Note no more information or your neighbours moved but their place next door up for sale. Facilities or lack thereof for garage will keep the price down.

Mr Palmer did not return to Clevedon Hospital last week as anticipated and on Saturday Mum and I took Mrs Palmer to Southmead Hospital to see him. Apparently the real trouble was due to the x-ray machine – a special one for the job – had broken down and he was there killing time waiting for repairs to be affected. It is a lovely place – as far as hospitals can be lovely – and he was in a cubicle on his own but seemed rather depressed and was certainly fed up. It now transpires that the trouble he had following operation at Clevedon was pneumonia being due to congestion on the lungs prior to operation. That has been cleared up but for some reason they want him to have this test by the special x-ray equipment. Have not heard anything this week yet but obviously the authorities will not keep such valuable machines out of order longer than they can help and perhaps Mr Palmer will be back in Clevedon Hospital for Easter. I told him you were asking after him and he was pleased to hear of you.

Southmead lies east of Henleaze and we went over the bridge and alongside the zoo to get to it. A nice afternoon provided one stopped in the car – very cold wind outside. We left here at 2 p.m. and arrived home again at 5. It is now 7:30 p.m. and I’ve just had a lad call to ask permission to leave his canoe on the bank of the river. He already has permission from the people in Martindale to go through their garden to get to the bankside. Told him alright provided he keeps to the lower bank – no need for him to prowl about the orchard part of the field. Reminded me of Frank Hessle and yourself years ago.

Understand vicar was in church last Sunday morning. Apparently he sat on a chair near the font. Latest information is that the doctors are very pleased with his progress and it is thought the arthritis has been arrested before reaching the bone structure. No further news of the Curate.

Well since writing last week I’ve managed to get in the remainder of the potatoes and I noticed a lot of seeds are now showing through the soil – spring must be coming. Two of the Dahlia roots I brought back from Ruislip are definitely throwing up shoots but no sign of life in the third. Mum has a number of geranium seeds pushing through but I do not think any of them will flower this year. I’ve put in three forsythia cuttings hoping they will root to bring up to you. Did the Esther Reeds survive? Or shall I include another from here – we have plenty.

Plenty of activity over the weekend in Miss Weekes’ house. The new owner and his wife arrived on a motorbike and sidecar on Sunday and were busy there until about 5 p.m. but we have since heard that for the first year (until he retires) they will use it weekends only.

Mum and I duly went to the post office on Monday for our first money from the state. Quite nice taking it from them after paying them so much. Our additional half-ton of coal cost £4/7/5d** + ten shillings cartage. Good job we had it to for a fire has been necessary every day and all day until these last couple of days.

Our neighbour has re-erected his pergola temporarily – looks better upright than at an angle. All right until the next gale.

Yes I remember the chicken house next door flying up the garden. I think everybody realises the need for securing all such articles nowadays in this area.

Have not heard from Geoff lately but at the moment I think Rebecca is in Switzerland with the school party.

Going back on your letter again I notice you say the walls of landing and hall are awaiting Polyfilla than painting. Query are you painting instead of papering or both.

Heels are going to London for a long weekend at Easter – Battersea way. Hope they keep clear of the famous home there. Astons are going to Kenilworth to relations much to Mr Aston’s disgust. Said he would sooner be on his allotment. Did I tell you he now has part of Mrs Marshall’s garden?

Well I think this is about the lot for another week but we hope you are all much better and that you will be able to enjoy the Easter break – weather permitting. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for Susan and Carol.

Mum and Dad. 

*Translated: no doubt he is getting ‘scrumpy’ from unofficial sources and nobody is going to be paying any tax!

**£4/7/5d translates to £99.74 in 2022 currency with an additional £11.41 for delivery , total £111.15p.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thanks again for weekly letters, arrived this time Friday. It is now 10:30 am on a wet Sunday morning with a strong, gusty wind blowing, and  bringing the rain with it. It has not been raining long, and so far there has been no real weight of it, but the clouds are very threatening. All good for the grass seed if nothing else.

We have got over last week’s illness and forgotten about it. This week’s is with us now. The girls have had to go to the doctor again, and this time it is conjunctivitis. They have to keep out of the draught and have their eyes bathed and drops put in three times a day. Today June is very much off colour and bilious, and has not been able to eat any breakfast or even have a drink. She is trying to get some sleep in bed, but with a splitting headache this has not been possible. I may have to cut short this letter rather earlier than normal to sort the dinner business out.

The neck is no better, in fact if anything I should say it is getting bigger again. The surgeon said to give it till after Easter and if it was no better he would do another operation and remove the abscess. I suppose it is nice to have something to look forward to.

I do not know how many of Susan’s school friends have the germ, but the doctor said there was a lot of it around here.

The winter has more than encroached into the spring, it is now almost summer and no sign of a let up. Your neighbour did not take long to learn the lessons of residence in Tennyson Avenue. Not much chance of flimsy structures standing up in some of the gales. I well remember Hicks Chicken House.

Sorry to hear that you were unable to see Mr Palmer at the hospital. I clean forgot to ask which hospital he was at, and was rather surprised to hear that it was the Clevedon Cottage Hospital. Very handy for visiting.

I am afraid that the visit of June’s mother to the hospital is for rather more than observation. She will have an operation there, and should be through in about three weeks. There is some talk of convalescence (National Health) to follow, but we have no definite information on that point. Your visit to us should take place as arranged. Pauline is having one month’s leave (already applied for) but what June may be called upon to do is as yet not clear. In any case the first four weeks are already covered by Pauline, and it remains to be seen what arrangements have to be made for Mr Baker and Peter after that time. If it should be necessary for them to come here for a while, or for June to go over there, how would you react to having the girls with you say for a couple of weeks? This is all speculation at the moment until we know what the other people involved are going to do.

Having dropped our joiner chap a rocket he duly turned up on Sunday last about 11 a.m. He brought no lunch but worked solidly through until about 8 p.m. June gave him a cup of tea and a sandwich to keep him going. He put up all the framework of the cupboard on the dresser and the framework of the cupboard by the back door. It is well done (so far) and he said he would be back again this weekend, but so far no signs. He had not been here five minutes when out he came to me in the garage – “had I got a rasp?” – when I said no he expressed surprise and asked “Haven’t you got any tools then?” I offered him a pair of pliers, but that was not what he wanted.*

We have now got all the paper off the walls and ceiling of the hall and landing. I must say I am glad for it was quite a job. Now all that remains is for the cracks to be filled in with good Polyfilla, and paint to be purchased and applied. There are an awful lot of doors.

Nothing more on the office front. The business about retiring at 58 I believe has not generally been released. I do not think it is optional. More and more tightening up is going on. I must admit it is overdue but not very welcome.

So you still have some of my old carrot. What vintage was that? I have a lot here, but did not remember giving you any of this lot.

Cider tax will leave Don cold. What tax does he pay anyway?

So trouble with your car eh?

It is now 12:20 p.m. Have got dinner underway and now have ten minutes to finish this before the hungry elephants are at the door.

By the way earlier this morning Susan found some old sticky labels that I had put away some time ago for labelling wine. They were yellow with age, and I told Susan she could have them. She knew what they were for, and when I went into the front room just now I found three of them stuck on the window ledge bearing the following inscriptions ‘Apple wine’, ‘Peanut wine’ and ‘Custard wine’. Needless to say they had to be scraped off the ledge.

No sign of our joiner today. Just as well – in no mood to juggle with him in the kitchen.

No trouble with this car by the way. I want another 400 miles and the 50000 will be up.

No news of Eric’s progress to the West. They are your end this weekend and poor Michael is alone with his grandma. I gather they have put the house up for sale and that some people have seen it. We have no evidence.

Mother’s typing is certainly improving as is also the content. By about the end of September we shall get a fool foolscap. I expect it is difficult for her though, and possibly there are many sheets torn up that we do not see. However perseverance is the thing with typing.

Have not looked at my dahlias yet. I must do so or they may have thrown shoots up to the windows by now. The birds are active on my seeds (grass) but the numbers do not seem to have been reduced any. The seed has not taken yet. Must be a bit cold. Oddly enough the rain has gone and never did come too much.

Well I am sorry but I must pop it now and finished the grub off. Note your trip to Weston etc. and Mr Newman’s condition. I suppose it is bearable if he feels well in himself. If not life must be a bit of a burden to him.

Well there it is for another week. Possibly June may add a word or two later. Love from us all.

*I must admit my unworthy response to this is that he wanted to see what tools there were and where they were kept, so that he and/or his mates could come along in three weeks – or three months’ – time and make away with them.