Tag: Baker

Sunday 3rd November, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Another newsy letter this week for which many thanks. Yes we had the performance from Carol, who is now very much recovered. We thought we should have another spell from Susan towards the end of the week but apart from burning forehead, temperature, and yawning spells, tiredness etc. she did not go beyond that point for which we were very grateful. It is June’s turn this weekend but I am thankful to say yours truly is in no bad condition as at time of writing. Glad to hear that you both are much better now after your flu. it certainly was a sticker [sic] this time and no mistake.

Weather here has been mixed. We had some very nice days early in the week, but in the middle the temperature went down with a bang. and for a couple of days it was dull and very cold. This end of the week was marked by almost continuous rain. This morning everything is sodden, but there is no rain now, and the sun is trying to find a watery way through. Last Sunday Mrs Baker and Pauline came over in Peter’s car, and I drove them home at about 9 p.m. Had a quick flip round the shops at Whitby Road yesterday and a trip to dentist, but other than that have not used to the car. Mr Jackson was supposed to be coming over to see to it yesterday, and I did not want to be too far away when he called. However he did not come near the place, and I suppose he will not arrive today. I know he is busy as he told me so when I rang him up but he is a bit like that and has to be chased.

I am a bit worried about the heat in the lean-to, as I suppose the plants to require a fairly constant cool temperature through the winter. Is it in order to let the temperature rise to the figure you mentioned? I know it is heat apart from other things that makes the plants grow, but I thought that was only in the right season. Obviously you had not used the cone before otherwise you would have known the effect on plant life. Can you use it working through the windows? Presumably it gives off a pungent smoke which kills the insects? No more shelves in the lean-to, but have a couple of brackets ready for the next bit. Must dig up an appropriate bit of wood, and we are off again.

Our thermometer has shown something like 42 degrees [Fahrenheit]* during the middle of the week, but it’s still too high to justify the use of the heater. Have noticed a lot of moss growing on top of pots put in greenhouse. I wonder if you have a simple remedy for this, or if it has to be scraped off, or o.k. to leave.

We had a session over [at] the Eastern Region Work Study School on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Apart from others, Butcher came down and gave us a talk. He says he will be wanting to increase his staff to accomplish the work he has to do, and he thinks he will be in a position to go ahead with these plans about 16th of this month. Took the opportunity to have a ‘chat’ with him. Cannot say if it will do any good, but at least it lets him know we are alive. Quite frankly from the look of coming events in the er, my continued presence in HQ while a couple of the local product (much fancied) are redundant might be a slight embarrassment to Russell, and he could sort this one out by helping me on my way to B.R.B.** It is a move that I would be quite happy to make, but must let them think it is their idea.

I have no doubt that the possible move of the University to Clevedon has a bearing on Titball’s failure to visit the town to talk to the locals. I expect that the whole thing will have to be recalculated on the basis of the extra business that might accrue. Meant to say that I had read the article in the paper, and also spotted that some well-known local personality had passed away, but forget who it was now.

A fine old game with the sewers then at Tennyson House. Considering the length of time involved since those houses were built it is a bit surprising that the run of the sewers has been lost. Where is the run for Aston’s row I wonder?***

Good progress then in Bushell’s lean-to. No doubt about it he needs something substantial there. I think it needs to be very much stronger than mine.

Re: the sale of land, pardon me for saying ‘I told you so’ but in my last letter I said that the next move would be from the prospective buyers saying there was not enough in it for them at the price asked. This version is a little different. However, apart from the upheaval of the garage and greenhouse, former presumably to end of drive and placed endways-on, the latter alongside Heels’ hedge, the amount of ground to be lost additionally is not great. However all prospect of growing veg outdoors would be finished as the amount of plot left would be negligible. Perhaps it would be better to buy a second greenhouse, or extend the other one instead. I cannot but feel that this is the old confidence trick especially as they say they are interested in another property – that clinches it. Apart from this however, I am inclined to agree with Don that you will never have an opportunity like this again if you want to dispose of some land. It is really a question of how much you are prepared to part with, confidence trick or no. This of course depends on how you think living in a reduced garden (of varying sizes) would suit you. I cannot see any prospect of moving west myself before retirement, as one more move would make it almost impossible to get a job at the salary outside London. I mentioned this because I would not like to influence you one way or the other knowing that I personally would not have to live with the results of the decision. You did not mention the difference in value of the two schemes, but assume the new one is likely to be more remunerative than the old as more houses would be involved. That does not necessarily follow however as the rate per house might be reduced in the offer. No doubt more on that in due course.

Glad Don likes his new job. Are there any prospects or does he not want to be involved to that extent?

Okay about the African violet. I tried growing African marigolds with some success, but not the violets.

Some games then at the T.W.G.. The kids here are pestering outside the station for ‘penny for the guy’. Our two are in anticipation of course, and have a few fireworks already.

So you heard about Uncle Will. He was like that for over two years, and had to be helped constantly. It was a terrible thing, but a relief that it is over.

Some of your apples still left, but going fast. We have had quite a lot of them and enjoyed them too.

Nothing much new on radio. Contacted stations in Italy (phone) and Austria (key) and this morning had a go on the key and worked a station in Tebric [Třebíč] Czechoslovakia. Bit of luck really as the aerial so wet that there must be practically a dead short from aerial to ground via post building etc. Got no joy yesterday at all. My radiations on the 20 meter band go West/East, but so far not reached America in the easterly direction. In the west the signals drop down about 1000 miles away in the Verona/Venice/Salzburg area. I should do better than this, in fact on 40 meters I have worked stations further out. Called a Latvian station this morning but no luck.

Well bottom of page again, so cheerio for now and love from us all once more. 

*Roughly 6ºC

**British Railways Board

***Having been employed in Planning briefly at one stage, it turns out that in fact underground plans of this era are very likely *not* to exist. Reorganisation of local government and other relevant authorities (water works, sewage companies etc.) often resulted in the – paper, of course – plans being lost or thrown out as storage was always a problem. With the advent of microfilm/fiche and later electronic storage systems it became easier to retain information, but for earlier generations the potential future value of storing a sheaf of technical drawings was often outweighed by the present cost and/or inconvenience and a decision had to be made as to the best use of resources available.

Wednesday, 30th October [1963]

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 29th October, 1963]

Held letter over to see if anything might transfer with the neighbours about the land but so far not a sound. Saw Heel and Cornish having a natter over the hedge but weather not being very good that did not last long. Had a letter from Mrs Baker this morning acknowledging birthday card and we learned that June’s Uncle Will has now passed away. This was the one who had been ill for some time. Picked a hamper of Lane’s Prince Alberts this morning and stored them in garage.

No more this time. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and dad.

Tuesday 29th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol

Many thanks for your letter and enclosures from the girls received this morning usual post. Very sorry to hear Carol is poorly again and hope she will be able to shake it off soon. There is a tremendous lot of sickness about – mostly bronchial flu and it hits everybody for six. Am glad to say that both Mum and I are very much better – the noticeable improvement really started about last Thursday i.e. three weeks after the second dose started with me at 84, but we still have a fit of coughing once or twice a day. We are taking things easy in the garden although mum in her energy last week dug up the front garden when taking out the plants. Looks much better for attention of course but I have not yet done any serious work outdoors. The weather has been grand and it is a pity to waste it but I do not want to run any further risk of picking up another cold. Raining today but I managed to roll up the hosepipe and put same in store for the winter. Have also pulled up all the haricot beans and put pods in greenhouse to ripen off before shelling for eating purposes.

Noted you could not make Ealing last Sunday because of Carol – presumably it is not tonsillitis this time but the common complaint – flu. This stuff seems to choke one up right from the top of head to pit of stomach and you feel like nothing on Earth.

So you are getting some heat in the lean-to. It is surprising how much heat can be trapped with a little glass. My thermometer has shown less than 50º for several nights now but heater not yet used for stock one day I registered over 100º – this was due to closing windows just after midday (it had been a dull morning) after which sun came out and warmed things up.

Yes the cone was most effective in killing off insects and spiders etc. Was a bit dubious of effect on plant life but it was not affected.

I’m glad to hear you have had some adjustments made to steering of car etc. but do not leave the renewal of the rubber seals too long– they are most important and a faulty one could cause trouble.

Can picture the shelving you have put in lean-to and this will help with the stacking of plants in pots. You are going to have a good show there later on. The carnations we brought back from you should grow all right – have them in the frames now still in the pots in which you planted them. If you can get your other cuttings to take in the greenhouse they should give some big blooms but water very sparingly in the winter – just enough to keep them going and only water them when they really require a drink. The same applies to geraniums.

Noted Mrs Baker back from her visit to Westcliff and that she enjoyed herself. Also Peter putting his car to good purpose on the long journey to Cornelly and back.

So the news re: the line offices being made redundant is confirmed and there is a possibility of a new setup from HQ to Divisional. Sure this is a case of the wheel making a full turn once more. R.G. Pole used to say there is nothing new in the railway world – the wheel keeps turning and always gets back to the original position. I take It to the office you are in is regarded as the HQ and that as far as you can see there will be no disturbance there. Quite interesting.

There are several people in Clevedon who advocate disused stations as car parks – very good reason for why here. Clevedon station itself would be an ideal parking place situated as it is in the Triangle where parking difficulties are numerous. Expect you saw that Titball did not come to Clevedon after all to say why the station should be closed. Should think it was a directive from HQ.

You will remember I mentioned that a bungalow was being built next to Tennyson House at (opposite Bill Aston’s place). Well they cannot find the sewer to connect up to. So far they have dug right across the road to a depth of 16 feet without result. A mechanical shovel was used for three days at this  job. (30 shillings [£40] an hour) and another probe has also proved unsuccessful. Now they think the drain terminates opposite Mrs Gardiner’s bungalow and returns to join ours which runs behind our row of houses. The plot of ground in question was sold as being adjacent to all amenities so the purchaser will be after someone to pay*. Apparently the houses in St. Andrews Drive have their own outlet into the sea.

Bushell is making a good job of his lean-to over the French window. He has nearly finished glazing the roof and already they feel that the difference in the living room. The glass however is very thick and more difficult for the light to penetrate than our thin glass.

I went and saw Jack Bishop last Friday re: sale of land but he had very little news for me. Asked if I approved the layout a submitted but unfortunately my copy did not come out clearly and I had to return it for another impression to be taken. He himself had not heard from the prospective purchasers for some time and had been after them for this layout plan. The amended copy was received this morning and I noticed there are now five houses shown on our plot and the garage for the first house on Heels’ plot. This morning however we had a bombshell from the prospective purchasers in which they indicate that with houses on only one side of the road it will not pay them to go on with the scheme. They enclosed a new proposal entirely which so far as we are concerned cuts off the garden from a point a few feet this side of the lawn hedge at bottom of lawn to a point alongside Heels in line with the concrete path which runs parallel with the hedge at bottom of lawn. This of course in order to get houses on either side of proposed new road. They have made a new financial offer altogether on a take it or leave it basis and want a reply by November 5th (appropriate day) at the latest as they have another piece of land in mind for their expansion**.

It is a very strange coincidence that when Don was here last Saturday he said if it was his ground he would get rid of as much as possible – a little gold mine he called it. This latest scheme is somewhat similar to that proposed by the auctioneers who are dealing with Mrs Marshall’s ground and which we turned down at the time because it meant giving up too much land. I should have said the firm are prepared to remove garage to a new site without renovation but they seem to have overlooked the greenhouse and frames. Have not the faintest idea what the others think about it but again strange to say yesterday (before this latest offer arrived) Cornish had the auctioneer on his property going round with a very long tape measure. This we saw from our back bedroom window. it could be that Pearson and Cornish would go in with the Marshall scheme and leave Heel and myself stranded but nobody knows what is going on. The latest offer will bring things to a head once more but late last week Heel mentioned over the fence that he did not think anything would come of the project at all.

Funny thing too this letter from the firm which has been sent to all of us discloses what each householder will receive under the original scheme and under the new scheme – this will annoy both Cornish and Heel who had been keeping this information a close secret.

My problem (if the scheme goes through) will be to find places for the garage, greenhouse, water works, etc etc. My immediate reaction is to go forward with the revised scheme but only after further negotiation regarding removal of buildings and the financial aspect. Cannot accept their offer without argument and counter proposals.

As mentioned above Don and Joan duly arrived here last Saturday about 11 a.m. and departed about 3.15 p.m. Don looking very well and says he is still enjoying his new work. He even brings home work (proofreading) for which he is paid overtime rates. Some people would fall down a drain and come up with a gold watch. Don asked how you were getting on with the radio and I had to tell him that I was too rough to even go into attic to see the apparatus this time. Told him you had contacted a few foreigners. He is now trying his hand at growing African Violets and we told him he has something to get on with. They are most difficult things to grow and we have tried and failed several times. Their poultry are now reduced to about 30 hens and this may be the new limit.

Referring to your letter again dash know there is no trace of any of the broad beans except one which is on the lower crosspiece of one of the double doors of garage and I can only conclude the mice could not get this one under the door to take it to their store. I’ve started to pick in the apples, but there are a lot more to gather. Should have made an inroad into the job today but for the rain.

Mum is going out tonight to a T.W. Guild affair and I have to fetch her from the New Hall at 10 p.m. – drunk I expect. Saw Roy Hewitt last Saturday but he is walking very slowly these days and says each step gives him pain. This sounds very bad as it may lead to being laid up altogether. Bill Aston looked over this morning for an hour which we spent in the greenhouse.

[Letter concludes on Wednesday 30th October, 1963].

*And well they might, except for the principle of ‘caveat emptor‘ which means that the purchaser should have done what is nowadays called ‘due diligence‘ and not relied on anything he was told by another party unless there was documentation to back it up.

**Classic developer tactics and I’m astonished Leonard fell for them. If the landowners had all refused the offer, and been united in it, you can bet your boots that a better offer would have been forthcoming quite soon afterwards. By dividing and conquering and effectively seeding mistrust among the landowners, the developers got the land at the price they wanted to pay and not a penny more.

Friday 18th October, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you very much for your letters and the Mercurys received today. Glad to know you got home okay and that as a result of being home you are now feeling a little better. I hope this has been maintained and that you are now well on the way to recovery.

Well for speed of dispatch of a holiday I think that one takes the biscuit. In fact you can say “That Was The Week That Was”. Probably due to the fact that I was working in the week it seemed all that much shorter. However although I was not able to have as much time with you as I would have liked I am glad that you are now feeling better. You certainly loaded us with things this time and no mistake, what with fruit and veg, plants, books and toys for the children, shirt, thermometer, heater and not forgetting the sparking plug. I must say they were all very acceptable, and mostly what we should not have got around to buying for ourselves for some time. I am sorry you were not well enough to get up into loft to see the present state of things there, but must look forward to showing you another time. 

Your trip home was a good one then, which is just as well in the circumstances. Some lunch then on that day with a pasty and shandy each. I must say we enjoyed the chicken, you made a poor exchange there. Glad you were able to smell it cooking anyway.

Susan has had a cold which is now on the wane and Carol has had very sore throat and complained that her neck was painful to the touch on either side. June thought it was swollen, but she is now all right and is back to school. I am afraid I have got your cold. It started in a mild way around Tuesday or Wednesday, and yesterday in the office it really got me down so have taken off today to clear it up. The lack of air in the City is really depressing at times. I had a short walk this morning and as a result I feel a lot better already.

By the way the new sparking plug did the trick all right. I have put the car in for steering adjustments now. Yes I thought you must have the wrong idea about the Vanguard at least before you saw ours.

Those Tradescantia cuttings would have made several plants. I thought you might be able to split them up into at least two each. Hope that by this time you have unloaded the boot of the car and sorted yourself out. Glad Mr Bushell has been able to cut your lawns for you. That is a great help I wish he could come and do mine.

Have heard a bit of news on the grapevine which is a bit of a shaker for those concerned. It seems that the staff in the two Line Managers’ Offices from the Line Manager downward will be handed their redundancy notices on January 29th next, and the two Offices will cease to exist from July 29th 1964. There is also a strong rumour that from 29th January onwards, there will be no advertising or vacancies for management staff (Out Of Categories). Persons will be called up or interviewed for jobs for which it is deemed they are suitable, and the selection then made. It seems that the arrangements for the redundant staff are that each will be offered one job on their own or next lower level, and will be expected to accept or leave the service. If they accept they will continue to receive the salary and increments they were getting at the time of the redundancy.

As I say this is all “leaked” information. There has been nothing more said about the Avalon*, and I gather that the course at Watford will not be for a little while yet. One cannot grumble about being moved about I suppose especially as you do not lose any pay as a result. It could be that you could be sent to some point that you do not like, but on the other hand you could be lucky.

During the morning we got the heater out and filled up with paraffin**. I have lit it up for a short while to see what sort of show it makes. With the wick turned down very low it puts out quite an appreciable heat, and I am keeping an eye on the thermometer to see what effect it has. After about two hours I intend to turn it off, but that period should be enough to see how warm it can make the greenhouse.

It is Great Grandma Baker’s 90th birthday today and Grandma Baker has gone down to Westcliff to spend a few days there***.

Have not seen or heard from Peter since his trip to Cornelly last weekend, but we know he got back safely****. I fetched Susan and Carol from school at lunchtime and they have just gone back a few minutes ago.

I telephoned Geoff shortly after you left on Sunday to tell Amy you would not be able to ring him as promised and he said he would be writing you. No doubt you will have heard from him by now.

I see several references to the proposed new University of Technology at Clevedon in the Mercurys, and see that the Council are all for it. I wonder what the golfing fraternity have to say though*****.

Heels are just about halfway through their holiday now then by the sound of it. It will be almost a holiday to get home to them. How about all the invalids your end, Messrs Palmer, Hewitt and Aston? Are they making any progress? What is the state of the veg-cum-fruit situation at Devonia? Note you are having trouble with your chrysanths and will put a bomb behind the mites causing it. I have had a half promise of some cuttings of pom-pom chrysanths but so far they have not turned up. The little ice plants you brought up some time ago are in flower and as a result of being in the greenhouse they are also putting out a lot of new shoots.

It has not been a bad day here so far. The sun has been trying to come out and it has been balmy and warm out. This is by way of a change from the earlier days of the week when we had a lot of rain, and umbrella well in evidence.

One of the things you notice about being home during the week is how quiet it is compared with the weekend. A few cars pass down the road, but apart from that hardly a noise is heard.

As you know our efforts to paper one end of the greenhouse did not completely cut out the view from either side so June is going to get some lace curtaining and put up in addition. Les has been very busy in his garden and has dug practically all of it except the lawns. He has cut a lot of the bushes from the bottom and certainly thinned them out a bit. It looks as though he means to do things there. This will be the first time for over 10 years that anyone has done any real gardening there. Hope he keeps the slugs out.

Quite a lot of work so far has been done on the new Methodist Church. I gather that there is to be a built-in car park. This will be beneficial as the number of cars that line up on Sundays to deliver and pick up Sunday School children pretty well congests that road.

Have not been over to number 17 since you went there, and not likely to for another week of course.

Well I think June wants to go out and do some shopping so had better close now and get ready. I must say I feel a lot better of day off, and wish I had had it a few days earlier. Love from  us all once again. 

*No idea what this refers to. Nowadays it could be a dining pub in London or a hotel at Tintagel, according to Wikipedia, but I suspect it may have been the name of either a building or a club somewhere in London or Bristol (I know, vague, sorry!) which was so familiar to both that no further information was needed.

**If all you’re familiar with is the modern (safe) type of electric or gas heater, you may have no conception of just how terrifying it was to share your space with a paraffin stove. I think the one referred to here is probably the one we had for use in the bathroom – very few people had central heating at that time – which would otherwise have been icy, especially as we had to ‘take turns’ in the water. Paraffin stoves were smoky and smelly, and the notion that they could be knocked over and spill burning fuel all over the floor was ever-present. There were also complications with being able to get the ‘right’ paraffin – both blue (Esso) and pink (Aladdin) varieties were delivered door to door, but they had different qualities and people had their preferences: I believe we always had pink. Then there was the fun business of trimming the wick and cleaning out the soot deposits which built up if the flame wasn’t adjusted exactly right. Sometimes, in retrospect, the 1960s seem very much like the Dark Ages!

***This is an error on Alec’s part: 18 October 1963 was in fact the 90th birthday of Sara Mullinger, nee Beech, who was Edith Baker’s mother (and therefore technically Great Grandma Mullinger). Sara died in 1967 and is clearly the origin of the ‘gene for longevity’ which certainly transmitted itself to June. Great Grandma Baker, nee Alice Daniel, died in 1928 – when Alec would only have been three years old!

****This is the first substantive mention of Peter visiting Bridgend, where he lived for many years and where he eventually died in 2021. He had a job there in the Council Transport Depot, which he ended up managing, and also married a woman from Bridgend. Which came first, though – the job or the relationship – is unclear, although it would make sense that it was the relationship. Peter was originally a lovely man, although a bit of a ‘lad’, until a nasty head injury from a parachuting accident seemed to change his personality completely. After that he became unpleasant and defensive, and was cut out of my life after he threatened me with violence. The young, fun Peter would never have done that. Peter after his accident was a very different person, and gradually he became impossible to be around.

*****Presumably ‘no’, as it seems to have gone no further than the ‘speculation’ stage and the golf course is still in existence.

Tuesday 10th September, 1963

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan and Carol

Many thanks for letter received this morning and the enclosures from the girls and the one for June’s mother. Very sorry to hear June and the girls have been suffering from colds again – it must be the Ruislip air. Hope they are all better now.

We have had a pretty good time since June’s mother arrived and although the weather has not been too good we have been able to get out each day. Usually we have managed to be out when the dry spells were available. Sunday was superb – a real summer’s day – and the trip to and from Lyng much enjoyed.

As mentioned in previous letter we met Mrs Baker at bus station at Weston on the Wednesday evening and soon made tracks for Clevedon. Thursday we went to Portishead in the afternoon and back via the coast road. In the morning we went to Hill Road in car for a little shopping. Friday morning more shopping early then Mum and Mrs Baker went to church with the flowers to decorate the altar etc. In the afternoon to Cheddar and found a lovely place for cream tea. Made a note of it for your next year’s visit. Saturday to Hill Road etc. shopping in the morning and to Wells in the afternoon – look round the cathedral and shops and home by 6.50 p.m. We left here 1.35 Sunday and arrived Ling 2.45 pm. Left at 5:15 p.m. and home at 6:35 p.m. via Bridgwater and Weston sunny and warm. Monday we went to Weston at 9:40 a.m. and had a picnic lunch in the car park near bus station after a trudge around the shops*. arrived home about 4 p.m.. a good day but windy. Took a walk right along the front to Anchor Head and a bus thence to Uphill and back to Sanatorium then walk again to car park. This morning Mum took Mrs Baker walking along the front here to Hill Road and back and this afternoon we went in car to Nailsea, Long Ashton, Bridge Valley Road and over the Suspension Bridge and home via Portishead. This briefly sums up the week’s itinerary but you will no doubt hear more about it in due course. Coach leaves a Western 9.30 a.m. Wednesday to arrive Ealing 5.19 p.m. Incidentally the route is: – Weston, Cheddar, Wells, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Devizes, Marlborough, Swindon, Oxford, High Wycombe then Ealing. As I said previously – what a journey!

Noted you have had an acknowledgement from the Hebden Cord Co. Hope the suit turns out to your satisfaction. Have ordered another myself since you went back. They will return your suit with the new one.

Yes we heard you had been to Burnham Beeches during your second week but that the weather was not too special. Glad your second lot of films are turning out better – shall be pleased to see them when we come up. Plum crop nearly over but have one tree on which the fruit is a bit later than the others so still some to pick. Mrs Baker is taking a back a box containing runner beans, plums and tomatoes. Mum has also put in some beetroot. There will be a book each for Susan and Carol from us and a couple of rings which mummy must decide who should have which. No trace of missing ring here so these will replace the loss.

Yes I have seen people park onside of road in Marlborough – in fact on one occasion I could not get into middle of road and as a policeman was about, asked him if all right at side. He looked at car and said all right.

We heard you were going to be busy at number 17 erecting a door for sidewalk. Hope Peter got on all right in his mother’s absence. Understand he is meeting her tomorrow afternoon**.

Position re: work at Liverpool Street, noted. Like Micawber, waiting for something to turn up?

Our brief note from Geoff says it is all right for Friday 4th October. Note position your end in connection with Susan. Your suggested arrangements quite satisfactory to us. Only one point. If we should run into trouble with car failure etc. and not to be there in time to go for Carol, will Mrs Gray go for her? I will let Geoff know we shall arrive his place after tea.

Don’t leave your tomatoes out for the frost to get them. If frost imminent pick them and store in a dark place. They will then ripen fit enough to eat. Sorry the greenhouse has not arrived. It is the usual complaint nowadays. Nobody can get anything done as and when wanted.***

You will see in the Mercury enclosed that Mr Stephens, who had a stroke in February, has died at Hereford. The last letter I had from him was dated the end of July but I hear indirectly that he had another stroke which proved fatal. He was under sixty and not retired.

When you were here June had her eye on a shopping-basket-on-wheels which was displayed outside the ironmongers in Hill Road. Has she since got one? If not we would like to give her one and would bring it with us. Let us know please.

Not a lot to report from the gardening world this week as have only performed the necessary tasks as we have been out most of the time. Managed to cut all lawns today – the first time since the day before you arrived. Even so I had to finish off in the rain. This soon ceased and I then picked runner beans – about 10 lbs.

No further news of the land. Have not seen Cornish lately but he is about. Heels went off on Sunday morning about 9:30 a.m. in good weather but according to weather forecast it is raining quite a lot in the Lake District. Found Don and Joan in fairly good health and Don still enjoying his new job. They made us very welcome as usual and Mrs Baker had a look around the Estate. Don and I went over to North Curry for a supply of cider. The Dobbs were away on holiday in Cornwall.****

The holiday people at Weston were very much less when we went yesterday and there were long stretches of sand with nobody on them. We were fortunate also in that the full tide was about 11 a.m. Did not get as far as Burnham this time although passed through Highbridge on our way home Sunday.

Talking about cars have you seen the latest model of the Austin firm – the Austin 1100? I saw one in Cheddar last Friday but was not impressed. I also saw in Weston a 1963 Riley 1.5 in excellent condition and only 6,000 miles for £635. The Mercury indicates that Bindings have one or two good second-hand Austin Cambridges and Westminsters. this is all very interesting.

People have moved into one of the new houses at the bottom of the Avenue and a wall fence has been erected around the front gardens. Looks a bit more respectable now.

[Continues Wednesday 11th September, 1963]

*As a regular visitor to Weston even now I can verify that it is indeed ‘a trudge’ around the shops, with far less potential reward than was the case in Leonard’s day.

**To be fair, Peter was actually a good deal younger than June (a typical ‘menopause baby’), but at this point he was heading towards his 25th birthday and would already have done National Service, so he can hardly be described as helpless even though he was not at the time in regular work.

***Looking back from sixty years later, the extraordinary levels of detailed personal service these people seem to have expected is enough to make a cat laugh. From the complaints when the post didn’t arrive first thing in the morning, to sending off the suit for alterations, to the hundred other things they seem to have taken for granted but which would now be considered extreme examples of over-privileged behaviour, it’s difficult to imagine who the hell they thought they were in the first place. My parents were very keen on ‘class’ and not acting beneath it – for example by eating margarine instead of butter, or having a milk bottle on the table rather than a jug, or (worse by far) having pierced ears or leaving one’s washing on the line overnight, both of which were the hallmarks of ‘a slut’ … allegedly. June actually described one of my friends as ‘not of our class’, which was pretty rich coming from a former barmaid. They were, in short, snobs, and behaved like the gentry they weren’t, and never understood that people of real class just didn’t do and say the things they did: they’d never actually met any, of course, because people of class would hardly have wanted to hang out with the likes of them. They always hated social climbers, but that was exactly what they were!

****Presumably these were the people from whom Don was accustomed to buying his cider.

Thursday 5th September [1963] 8 a.m.

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1963 lettersLeave a comment

[Continued from Tuesday 3rd September, 1963]

What a day yesterday, it rained and rained and rained. We set off for Weston at 2:30 pm and to start with when passing Huish the men were tar-spraying one side of the road and they plastered the bottom half of the car but I did not realise this until much later in the evening. (Have since with lard and elbow grease got it off.) Visitors soon left Weston in cars by the hundred owing to the rain but strange to say it cleared up about 7 pm. We checked with bus people that London coach was due at 7:44 p.m. and found a timetable posted giving route (what a root!). We thought we would have a little walk to keep warm about 7.20 p.m. and were just passing bus station when a Greyhound coach with only about two passengers turned into bus station and we went inside and sure enough it was the London bus in at 7:25 p.m. with Mrs Baker safely on board. We got moving and were home at exactly 8.05 p.m., Mrs Baker quite well and happy and not over tired with her journey which of course was in rain most of the way. After supper and a chat we retired at about 10:30 p.m. This morning it is lovely so far – sun shining at 7:45 a.m. and sky much brighter. Mrs Baker had a real good night – slept right through and was up shortly after 7 a.m and came down to me where I was getting the tar off car. No more now.

Love from us all to you all and lots of kisses for the girls. Mum and Dad. 

Monday 5th August, 1963

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Well here we are with the last but one before the date. Thanks very much for yours, duly received on Friday. Sorry the last week’s letter arrived late, but postman failed to post on the appointed day.

We had and enjoyed the hot weather at Ruislip, but it did not affect me as much as for the greater part of the day I was in the office which is quite cool. These large old buildings do keep fairly cool in the hot weather although they are not so good in the wintertime. It certainly was hot as I found at lunchtimes. Up in the city it is a roaster, and after the walk back to the office it takes about ten minutes to get any energy back.

The last couple of days – August Bank Holiday – has been poor to say the least. We have not done anything special, and good job too as it has poured all day on Friday, and most of the day on Saturday. We did go out for a breath of fresh air on Saturday afternoon, but soon got caught in the rain so got a breath of fresh rain instead.

Not surprised you downed tools in the heat as it was pretty bad. It would have been nice to find the time to just sit in it and enjoy it, but it never seems to come at the right times. We have been using the hose rather a lot lately, and the lawns and garden certainly have needed it. The runner beans are forming well, and should be ready when we are at Clevedon. The usual story. The broad beans are well advanced now, and I picked the first lot this morning. The sunflower is taller than I am, and still going up. The flower head has formed, but no flower yet.

I have arranged the sweet peas around the sunflower and the plum tree you gave us so that they have something to grow up. it will be rather interesting to see the sweet peas growing up the sunflower – there is plenty of room for climbing. Good stunt that, saves space, and saves pea sticks. The tomatoes are doing well now, and have lots of flowers on. I should imagine the blackcurrant wine is racing due to the warm weather and being enclosed in the garage which itself must be like an oven.

I should think your problem of the birds dusting themselves in the plots by the pond has been solved with the arrival of the rain. They will not want to wallow in the mud, and when it dries out it should be caked hard. At least you will have plenty of water in the pond when we see it. Have you retained your filling arrangements with bath etc?

Pity old bird brain is holding up the decision about the land. I am sure he thinks he’s being done, but has not the wit to think how. If he does not sign of course that puts paid to that unless the Council think so much of the idea that they move into the realms of compulsory purchase. It might frighten him to know that if that happens he will get what he is given and will then have to lump it.

Do not worry about the cider. Iif you feel thirsty drink it up, there is always another time. Just the drink for the heat. Glad the flower seeds okay they may still be flowering next week. The rain should have given them a new lease of life.

Bad news about Stephens then he must have made less recovery than most from that trouble of his. I agree that poor old Hewitt has had a pack of trouble – it seems to dog some people. Did we tell you that Iris has been in Hillingdon hospital with a haemorrhage and under observation? Fortunately she was only in there for a few days – according to her brother Tony – and they let her out again. Said it was due to strain and worry, and take it a bit easier. She has had a basinful too, one way and another. We have not heard from Tony for a couple of weeks so do not know if she is going on all right.

Interesting to hear that Frank had been around in the week. Abbots Leigh always struck me as a nice place and quite high up. We went there on one home Guard do. we were inspected by Field Marshal Lord Birdwood. I do not remember how we got there though.

I do not know what is going around here nowadays, but both Carol and Susan had it last weekend. Had to get up in the night to Carol but she was fairly well in the morning. The following day Susan had it again and June had doctor in. He said his usual piece about catarrh, and in due course she recovered.

So Susan is staying with Grandma Baker for a few days. She went on Thursday and will come back on Saturday. She would have gone on the Wednesday but was too ill. We went over to see them on Saturday, and found she was enjoying herself. We have a phone chat each evening for five minutes or so. It was the intention to send Carol over for a few days after Susan (grandma could not manage both at once) but she says she does not want to go, so we will not press the idea.*

We went to Horsenden Hill and it was very hot. So Susan was off colour, and moped while there, but did brighten up for half an hour, then seemed okay for the rest of the evening. I think the girls enjoyed themselves wandering around the woods and over the hill. There was some new-cut hay to play around with, but it had a lot of thistles in it.

Very kind of the Grays, they gave me a Nenette brush for the car in recognition of the taxi service. There was no need of course, but now we have the wherewithal to clean the taxi. Must try it out sometime.

The agapanthus flower is still in bloom although some of the flower heads have died off. Odd that there are three such, halfway up the stem on one side only.

I had never heard of Unwin’s place, but there are hundreds of little villages etc. around Suffolk and Norfolk and do not know the country anyway so it is not surprising.

Okay about the typing then. Like you, the only practice done nowadays is the weekly letter, and very easy to make mistakes.

Okay about Long Sutton and Pitney. We can go that way if you like, and I have a film in the camera so we can take a shot or two if convenient.

No we have not heard from Geoff. We do not have any contact under normal way, and only hear when the annual visits are due. As it is overdue and we have not heard, I wondered if anything was the matter.

Not much new in the broadcasting line. Mostly local contacts now. The conditions will improve in the winter so will not expect much until then. The temperature up there has not been too bad, up but on a couple of occasions it got a bit much.

I gather mum is very glad the soft fruit season is over. You must have been hard at it for a while. Good job you have all day to do it in.

Have seen no wasps here yet this year. I suppose they are waiting for the plums.

Cannot quite picture the effect on the Green Beach of the removal of (or part of) the Haven. That was the only building on that side from the old Pavilion – now pulled down – to the Pier. I forgot the cafe and the Beach Attendants’ Hut. If they get rid of those that would indeed make it a very wide sweep of grass etc.

Well bottom of page, so will close again with love from us all here. And Susan. 

*Notice how this theme develops over time: two children together are ‘too much’ for any individual, so one is quietly pushed aside so the other can have priority. One will do as they’re told, but one will refuse. Now, guess who was always labelled the awkward or disobedient one? Hint: it wasn’t the one who stubbornly dug her heels in and refused orders, it was the one who did her best to obey them. The Scapegoat/Golden Child scenario began early in this family.

Tuesday 12th March, 1963

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Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol,

Many thanks for letter with all the news received usual post this morning. Yes we were sorry to have missed you Alec but had we been certain of the time of your return would have waited, although by the time we arrived home we had both had about enough for one day. I expect you were all tired out too after a long, anxious and sad day but hope you are all feeling better now. We hope to Mrs Baker is keeping up as well as possible – it is when she is on her own, her thoughts must be running over very many things of the years that have gone. At the moment she must obviously feel very unsettled and we can now appreciate her feeling for the house in Eccleston Road. It was Mr Robert Baker who told me that June’s father was born there and that the house had been in the Baker family for very many years. You have a problem to deal with but we are sure you will eventually make the best arrangement for Mrs Baker. it is certain she cannot stop in the big house on her own and that would be the position if Peter is out most evenings as he is already out in the daytime at his place of work. Old age and loneliness is a terrible thing and unfortunately it is the prospect of most people if they live long enough*. I hope I do not sound like a dismal Jimmy but both Mum and I have seen it over and over again.

As mentioned in last letter we were very glad to have made the journey on the 4th inst and in the little time we had passing through the Ealing Shopping Centre were staggered at the quantity and prices of the vegetables. I should think the market is governed by Covent Garden but in view of the serious shortage of all kinds of vegetables it was a sight for sore eyes. The tea on train was not bad for British Railways – good job I did not have to fork out for dinner. Noted you found girls in good order on your return to Ruislip but sorry to hear Susan has had another bilious attack. Query hereditary – I was always getting them as a child**. Noted also that Iris’s brother and wife visiting you next Sunday – hope you all enjoy yourselves.

Yes our car alright again but I do not know what Bindings had to do to it as I have not since seen them or had the account. The certificate covering the Ministry of Transport inspection was in the pocket of car so that part of it was alright that actually I did not expect anything else. To my mind it is ridiculous to have to submit a six-year-old car for such inspection.

Thanks for mentioning Tom Hobbs – he did not do all that well for himself by going to London – bit of a moaner really, perhaps that had something to do with it. That rise you have received as a result of rearrangement of gradings is a wonderful job and gives you an unexpected lift really into the next category. Quite an interesting position with the possibility of your immediate colleagues moving to Derby. Worth keeping an eye on. Anyhow congratulations on your present achievement.

I understand Price of Bristol is in the second position out of category but is hoping to get something else with the changes pending at Bristol. He is 60 now so should doubt if he will be considered. Hallett presumably has gone now – there was an account and photo in one of the Bristol evening papers last week with Price making the  presentation – making assurance doubly sure I’m certain.

Very strange the marble clock should suddenly start and continue to work. Hope it will keep up the good work now. Expect you know it was a wedding present to your Grandmother Atkins from her Uncle who was W.H. Fewings. He gave all or most of his children, nieces etc. a marble clock as wedding presents – symbolical perhaps of his connection with marble at his monumental works.

Talking about putting paper down under carpets etc. do you know I have had paper down on wood floor of front room to catch drippings of paint etc. but the draught has been so strong at times that I have had to put something on the paper to keep it down. I’m getting on slowly with with the papering. Started yesterday afternoon but only got on about three pieces before it was dark. The trouble is trying to match the pattern. It certainly is a most awkward match and the pattern only repeats itself once every 22 inches so unless one is very careful there is a lot of waste with each cutting. Today I managed to finish the chimney breast and either side of same so I’m more or less on the straightforward pieces now. Will try and enclose small piece of paper for you to see pattern.

That Mr Webb you mentioned knows a thing or two if he is thinking of double glazing his windows – it makes a wonderful improvement and I have thought of it once or twice myself but that is as far as it has got.

Noted you told Susan we had been up to Ealing – hope she was not upset. It seems so near and yet so far and I’m sure we did the right thing by not seeing them on that particular day. We are both looking forward to coming up at Easter and it is noted that it will only be four weeks from Thursday this week. Have you given Susan a plot of ground into which she can plant her seeds? Must see if I can find a few seeds – would dandelion seeds please Daddy?

Had a letter from Lyng last week asking us to go down on a Sunday in the near future so have fixed for the 17th inst. when can bring back the cwt. of potatoes Don has been storing for us. He told us that Jessie’s husband’s brother*** who has been ill for a long time had been taken into hospital seriously ill. Have since heard that he has passed away. We think it was some sort of stomach trouble but shall hear more next Sunday.

Mum and I are going to Bristol – by bus – next Monday. I want to see Pictons again about some more glasses – it is many years since I last had eyes tested and feel some stronger ones are now necessary. Shall also have a look round the Bristol Selfridges i.e. Lewis’s as we require a few things for redecorated room.

Have now heard from income tax people. It appears that when National Health pension was paid me from 21st March last year they did not start to tax that money until August so have re-coded me for 1963-1964 to cover the period March to August when tax was not deducted. They are probably right but I’ve had the satisfaction of getting the information out of them. I suppose they will want a bit more when the national pension is increased on May 27th. But how much lower can one be coded than ‘I’ which is the number now allotted to me.

I am sorry to admit June that my collar size is 16½ and not likely to get any smaller.

What has Beeching done about closures on the E.R. Alec? We hear quite a lot about W.R. closures in the local press but nothing of other regions’ troubles. Is your own job continuing satisfactory from your point of view? I mean has it turned out as expected?

Plenty of rain here too and even if available I could not have done anything outdoors since the snow disappeared. I see some of the broad beans are likely to survive – perhaps a total of three parts of a row out of two rows. Must get in some more as soon as possible. By the way Geoff asked me for some runner beans. I should be glad if you will kindly tell him I have not forgotten them but at the moment I am up to my neck in the decorating business. Will post them on later.

The horse is turning the field near the fence into a bit of a quagmire and he’s still being fed on hay because there is practically no grass available yet. The little girl next door (Ruth) was a year old last Sunday and they brought her in to see us dressed in her party frock. She has not crawled at all and is almost walking.

Mum has been on one of her half-day outings today – to Frys at Keynsham – brought back a good sample of various kinds of chocolate. She will tell you more about it but apparently it is a tremendous place now and they provided tea for the party.

Well I really think this is all for this week. Hope you are all keeping better now, all our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls.

Mum and Dad.

P.S. finished papering 6 p.m. Wednesday now have to clean the front room up. 

*It’s a matter of perspective, obviously, but Edith Baker was born in October 1895 and would have been 67 at the time Frank died: this does not seem particularly ‘old’ by present-day standards. When Edith was born, average life expectancy for a female would have been 74 – which in the end she handily exceeded.

**Or could have something to do with forcing children to eat things they find repulsive???

***Okay, this is where I have to confess myself defeated. I do not know who Jessie is or was, nor her husband, nor his brother. I can only imagine this is something to do with Don’s wife’s family (Joan): presumably her sister, although I am not currently in a position to check this information.

Sunday 10th March, 1963

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Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for the letters duly arrived on Friday. I am glad I was able to have a few words with you both on Monday, and I am sorry I was unable to say goodbye as we seem to have got separated at the church. I had an idea I would have seen you when I got back as we arrived at number 17 at 3:30 p.m., much earlier than I really expected. I am sure you did not see our return as we came down Coldershaw Road which is a road parallel to St. James’, but almost opposite Eccleston Road. I looked at the pavement as we turned the corner but you were not in sight.

I am glad you were able to come up. It must have been a long day for you and a tiring one. Note you got back at 7:45 p.m. which is a whole lot better than if you had travelled on the 6:30 p.m.. I hope you had a good tea on the train – and no railway sandwiches. I think they do things rather better now than formerly, but at a price.

We found the children in fairly good order at the Grays when we got back. We did not stop long with Mrs Baker although we all had a talk for about an hour. As a result Iris’s brother Tony and his wife are coming to see us next Sunday. They have been living at Rayners’ Lane for some time, but we have never exchanged a visit.

Note you had made arrangements about the car and that they were carried out satisfactorily. I put ours in for its third annual test on Friday, and had no trouble with it. Had to part with 15/- [about £19 in 2023 currency*] to be told it was o.k. I feel they have slightly tightened the brake and steering although in the latter case it may only be pumping up the tyres.

I agree about the whole pattern of things changing on a station. It does so in an office. I have moved to and fro the same office at Paddington over the years, and each time I returned after a short lapse the change was immense. I believe that now at Paddington Freight Train office there is no-one left who I knew when I joined them in 1942.

By the way did I tell you that about a year or so ago I ran into Tom Hobbs. He told me then he was shortly to retire and asked to be remembered to you. I expect he has retired by now. Geoff was telling me last week that would Woodward retires at the end of this month and not on 1st March as I suggested.

The rise in status and pay of my job is well appreciated as you might expect. It was almost wholly unexpected from my point of view. There may be more changes to come. All my immediate chiefs (for ‘all’, read ‘both’) and my colleague are ex-Workshops men, and they are setting up a Workshops Division of the B.R. at Derby. There is a strong rumour that one or more of them have been told off to apply. It can do me no harm.

I should imagine that the cheapest of the veg in the London area is due to the proximity of the Kent supplies. Kent as you know is the so-called Garden of England, and they enjoy advantages of weather and short transport haul. What influence Covent Garden Market has on it all I could not say, but at least it supplies the sort of competition that keeps prices down.

I expect you did have your full of walking especially as you had been to Selfridges with Geoff.

Rain, you say? We had a lot yesterday. We needed it badly to clear away the muck from the streets and loosen sore throats. We got it all right. It was raining when we awoke, and it was raining when we retired for the night, and in between it really pelted down. Motoring to Ealing yesterday in the rain gave the car a chance of a wash underneath to get rid of the salt etc. that it must have picked up during the snow. Roads were running with water and the brooks were very full.

Can imagine you in the throes of redecorating your front room. Pity you can’t go to the do-it-yourself shop and get them to do it themselves. Did not manage to get into the garden yesterday as it was so wet, but may wander round to size up the situation today if the weather keeps up.

Grandma’s clock still going without stopping at all. I wound it up yesterday. It keeps good time too. It has now been working satisfactorily for one week.

We had another session with Susan in the week. She was poorly on Wednesday and had to retire to bed with a basin. Everybody pretty fit now though. Both June and I have had very sore throats, but the arrival of the rain has got rid of mine anyway.

We do not know what will happen to June’s mother as we know she does not like it at Eccleston Road. What Pauline and Peter intend to do also cannot be ascertained although we know that Pauline is most reluctant to live there. Peter intends to get married but does not want to have a house. He would be prepared to live there, but as as he would be out in the evenings that would not be company for Mrs Baker. There is an ideal solution to the problem, but it all depends on the people involved making up their minds and stating what they intend to do. Thereby hangs the problem.

Sorry you found your tin of paint has gone off. Not a cheap joke that at 12/10d per tin. [Approximately £16.30 in 2023 currency.]

It is a good idea to have plain carpeting (fitted carpet I think they call it) instead of lino. It looks a lot better and I am sure it is warmer. If you can run to having the whole of the room covered with fitted carpet it is the ideal solution. Do not forget to put plenty of paper down underneath as it all helps to kill the draught. (Teaching grandma to suck eggs did you say?)

A neighbour of ours, Webb across the road, told me a week or so ago that he intends to have double glazing in the room which faces the wind. He said he was not having the same trouble as he had this year. They could not use the room on that side of the house.

Well I think I will close this letter now as I think you have most of the news. Hope you are both keep still keeping well. We are looking forward to seeing you at Easter. Susan was told that we had seen you on Monday last, but June told her that she had not told Carol as it might have upset her. Susan understood alright and is looking forward to your visit. The girls are collecting seeds to plant in the spring. They have been told that granddad will show them how to do it when he comes up. You have therefore got a job lined up for you.

Cheerio for now then. Love to you both from us all here.

*My research suggests that the cost today would be in the £40-£50 region but that this is not a standard charge. 

Tuesday 5th March, 1963

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Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol,

Just a few lines this time to let you know we arrived home safely last night and were actually indoors by 7:45 p.m.. Mum and I were glad to have made the journey to be with you all for such a short time on such a sad occasion and we thought Mrs Baker kept up remarkably well under the circumstances, although inwardly she must have felt very distressed. As you know we left June and her mother at the corner of the street in which the church is situated and made our way back to the station for the 3:48 p.m. thence to Paddington caught the 4:45 p.m. Paddington through to Yatton. Had tea on the train and this somewhat seemed to curtail the journey. We hope you both were not over-tired after your efforts in regard to the arrangements and journey to and from Ealing and that you found Susan and Carol in good order at Mrs Gray’s on your return. Thank you for arranging for our sheaf of flowers. There were some very nice ones there and it is nice to know they eventually went to a hospital. My guess is you were back from Mortlake about 3:30 p.m. as we saw a hearse returning through the main road just before we turned up to the station at West Ealing.

We motored to Clevedon station in the morning and I had already arranged with Binding and Payne’s to fetch same and give general service and inspection for Ministry of Transport requirements and put car back in station yard in the evening for our use later. All arrangements carried out satisfactorily and what a difference in car – it had not been in for attention since last May. Now it should be right for our next trip to Ruislip which we are both looking forward to.

The horse was all right – Mr Bushell had given him plenty of water and there was enough hay left for him by me in the early morning.

Saw nobody at Temple Meads on forward or return journeys yesterday. Even the inspector on the down side was a stranger to me. It does not take long for the whole pattern of things to change.

After we left June and her mother we had another brief look in the shops and can confirm the cheapest of the vegetables and plenteousness [sic] of them at Ealing compared with this part of the country. We both had had enough walking by the time we left London but it was a much nicer day for weather than today. We noticed rain between Reading and Swindon and apparently there had been a little here.

Today we went to library and butchers and the do-it-yourself shop for a few oddments then afterwards I have had the time in the front room finishing off the plastering and rubbing-down the paintwork. Hope to get a full day in there on Wednesday but it will be several more days before I finish.

We thought a wonderful improvement had been made so far at number 17 Eccleston Road the small room we were in and the kitchen looks very nice indeed but of course we realise there is still a lot more to be done before the builders and decorators depart.

Well I think this must be all for the present – expect you are trying to get back to normal again this is bound to take time after such a shock and a loss of a loved one. All our love to you both and lots of kisses for the girls. It won’t be long to Easter now.

Mum and Dad.