Leonard to the family:

Dear Alec, June, Susan & Carol

Many thanks for both your letters duly received the first one on Friday of last week and the second this morning. We were glad to hear you were all well enough to enjoy the Christmas but Oh dear Carol I wonder what happened to delay the Christmas card Grandfy and Grandma sent you? it was posted at the same time as Mummy’s & Daddy’s and Susan’s – we we shall have to see the postman’s nose*. Never mind it arrived the next day and you had one all to yourself. When we had your letter could just picture Carol wanting to know where her card was when all the others arrived. 

Yes we are through the holiday period again now but what weather and what a lot of illness about. Friday was about the limit. I think it is the worst day in my memory and I did not go outside the house but watched cars and pedestrians from front room window struggling to get along. You must have had a terrible journey in car. Frankly I should have been afraid to risk it and I’ve had a few rough journeys between here and Bristol. 

Mum and I still have a trace of cold about us but we cannot expect to be free of it so long as this bitter spell continues. For three days I did not go down to greenhouse which is most unusual as like to look in there at least once a day. We were quiet over the Christmas and our greatest difficulty was to keep warm in spite of roaring fire. Last Saturday we had it in mind to go over to church to service for Mrs Drewitt at 11 a.m. but conditions were so bad that we and a number of others cried off. Les Garland told me afterwards they had a terrible journey from church to graveside having to stop seventimes for a rest. The undertakers – from Swindon – said it was the worst job they had ever experienced. The trouble was the icy state of churchyard. 

Not much time at Weston or Bridgwater in either direction going down could only say hey ‘how do’ and coming back ‘cheerio’ – the delay at Huish Crossing – which I mentioned last letter upsetting the timetable. 

Glad to hear your Castle Bar venture turned out satisfactory financially. Did Bob Hill turn up? Our party on Old Year’s Night was good but vicar had to cry off as his car was out of commission and he’d been hiring taxis all day. One of our party offered to pick him up but I think the main objection was that he had had a busy day and was not feeling too good. Anyhow in his absence the curate seemed to open up more and as usual a good time was had by all – total number twelve. Sickness kept a couple away and a third had been missing all over the Christmas period and the following week because he could not get his car out of garage. 

What does Eric Benn think of the Bristol area? And what a journey he must have had from Ruislip on Monday. To give you an idea of conditions here on Sunday at the 11 a.m. service in church there were twelve in choir and fourteen in congregation. In the evening it was much better for the Carol service but not up to average. 

I see that both of my fermentation locks are frozen up – I left water in them – so unless I am very careful shall lose them when thaw sets in. Several bottles of water have already split in garage but as far as I can tell the bottles of wine in the cabinet are safe. Fortunately just before this weather set in I had radiator of car treated with Bluecol so not likely to be any trouble there. So Susan and Carol both had a bit of fun in the snow – it’s nice if you can stick it. We all used to like it years ago but nowadays would rather be out in the West Indies for a few months. A nice Premium Bond win would make this possible but no such luck – not even an odd bob from the football pools. 

We now have an invitation to go to Lynn on a Sunday early in New Year to have lunch and pick up a bag of potatoes we ordered at digging time but I’ve written to Don and told him we are not moving about until weather changes and suggested 28th of January as a tentative date. Even so if no break in present arctic conditions we should have to put the visit off to a later date.

Have been pricing typewriters recently and find I’m well out in anticipating a purchase at about £4 or £5 – must be living in the distant past. Don told me the one he has cost £4 but he bought it about 10 years ago. He was lucky as I do not think he has had any trouble with it to date. Anyhow I may get hold of one in the near future much better than writing. Can hardly hold biro at the moment – fingers cold – but must get letter away first thing on Thursday in the hope it will reach you on Saturday as usual. Have mislaid your first letter so if I’ve missed any points will you please repeat next time.

Roy and Mrs Hewitt due to come to tea this afternoon so plenty of tongue pie – Mrs does not care for TV (probably interferes with her own efforts, in other words too much competition.) You won’t forget we have a small parcel here for Susan and Carol from Mr and Mrs Richings of Weston-super-Mare.

Have not  met our new neighbours yet at Martindale but he had a bonfire going every day throughout the holiday period so must be getting rid of a lot of household rubbish. Heels are still away in the Midlands – good luck to them – and due home next Monday. Hope they turned off water and emptied pipes before they left home. You cannot remember I expect when mum and you were in hospital at Trowbridge and I went into lodgings only to find house flooded when I went back owng to burst pipe. That was in winter of 1927 at Westbury Wilts.** 

Well I think this is all for another week so will close with all our love to you both and lots of kisses for our two lovely little granddaughters.

Mum and Dad

P.S. everybody who has seen them say what lovely coloured photographs we have of you all.

*I have been unable to find any reference online to ‘seeing one’s nose’ but I suspect it’s a variant on tweaking someone’s nose, i.e. a semi humorous response to as minor infraction not unlike giving someone a ‘flea in their ear’.

**Alec would have been five at this time and I have no further information about it, although he was clearly a sickly child as a few years later had a full year in an isolation hospital.

Eva to the family on the last three quarters of Leonard’s sheet of paper:

Dear Alec June Susan and Carol,

Mr and Mrs Hewitt duly arrived and departed again at 10:15 p.m. when dad offered to get out the car which was a good hint.

The paths are nearly as bad as last Friday when they were like glass, but I don’t think it is quite so cold, but miserable. Haven’t done any washing yet: our colds stick around.

Glad you all had a nice time during the Xmas. We take the Evening Post now as young Christopher Pearson delivers them this end. Of course we did not have a chance to put on the TV last evening the clapper went non-stop, one thing about it she doesn’t expect any reply in fact at one stage I saw Dad with his eyes closed having a catnap.

No more now lots of love from Mum and Dad.

Eva’s drawing, in full colour, features a large carrot with a smiling face which appears to be smoking a pipe; a Union flag; a rather muscular rabbit and a little girl in red dungarees with a balloon in each hand.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for letter again this week, arrived just before we went out for the usual shopping expedition. You will be pleased to know that Susan after a bad spell had recovered sufficiently to return to school during the week. Almost to the minute however, Carol decided that it was her turn again and took up the running*. June had to get Ethel to come in to look after her while she went to the school for Susan. Most of the week therefore in the illness stakes has been devoted to Carol. Two visits to the Doctor have failed to produce anything that would stop her hacking cough so after one full night of it we resorted to the old formula – half glass of Granfy’s Cherry Wine. Result sleep for all of us. I think that it is a two-way cure, it cuts the phlegm, and induces sleep all at the same time. Throughout the day at about three hour intervals she gets another small drop, and that defeats the cough.  She woke up coughing and spluttering again this morning, but after the noggin, there has been no sign of a cough. Of course Susan now qualifies. There has been an awful lot of illness in Susan’s class and she tells us that there are now only 16 present. I believe the normal figure is nearer 30. 

Hope you have managed to get some of the property clear of debris etc following your decorating exploit. It does not take long to get in a mess, but rather longer to get it straight. I can picture the difficulty you had with the “windows” – all of them – and I am glad that we have no such problem here. Cutting-in is such a tedious job, and so far we have not shone at that game. I am not surprised it took a whole packet of polyfilla to fill the gap left by the pitch rail. We had a big filling job to do when we took down the pantry, and we overcame the expense of buying several packets of Polyfilla by buying ordinary plaster to fill most of the gap, and then only topping up with Polyfilla. Plaster is a lot cheaper than Polyfilla. Shall expect to see great signs of improvement when I arrive, and hope the visit has not upset your plans in any way.

Regarding gardening, you probably recall that I told you I would not bother any more with the indoor chrysants. Accordingly I left the remaining ones outdoors. Despite heavy white frost they have continued to grow and flower as normal. They are in better shape than the supposedly outdoor chrysants that are in the strip at the end of the lawn. Another white frost out there today so will wander down and see if they have still survived.

Saw Eric Benn yesterday and he said that he had another week to do in London before he goes to Bristol. He says he will travel home at weekends when he can. No talk of where he will live. 

I have seen David Dimbleby and agree with your remarks. Put Chataway with them and you have a handy trio. 

Had Friday off to give June a break with the children. Took Susan to school in the morning, and tried to get the car out to fetch her, but battery well down. Cannot recall that I had done much night driving but it had not been used for a week. Had visions of getting Eric’s charging plant in again, but had another try on Saturday morning. Before switching on the ignition, I turned over the engine many times**, then pumped the float chamber hard. Turned on the starter motor, and it gave a few uncertain turns and stopped. I thought this was the end, but gave a turn of the handle on spec, and it was away first touch. Of course it did not take long to get a charge back into the battery, and things should be O.K. again now. I believe you said that the battery was an old one in any case, so may want renewing soon. 

Note your grape wine still going. After bottling mine (with corks loose just in case) I tested for gas pressure after a week, but none was there. Oddly enough, your cherry has produced enough pressure to force out the cork overnight. The wine may have been encouraged to work again due to being left on top of the T.V. in a warm room. We could not find a cork at all, and was sure we had put it on. By mid-afternoon we found it behind the T.V. set. I put in a bigger cork last night, and rammed it home. To make a comparison the bottle was left on the T.V. set again, and this morning there was a distinct pressure there. Do not worry it will not get a chance to do any damage at the rate it is disappearing. 

I gather you got the point about a second garage. What with firewood, steps, garden implements and toys, not to mention dahlias stored for next year, there is hardly room for the car. 

I seem to remember the flagpole at the church being erected sometime during the early Thirties.  It was put there in replacement of an even older pole.

Surprised to hear that you are buying potatoes already. What went wrong with you this year’s crop?

The scillas should make a good show. We have not potted up anything this year. everything you brought up that had not previously been reported expired is still going strong and we hope to be able to keep them now. The children show no signs of wanting to pull the cacti about but occasionally they get careless.

What is the point of going to the Coal utilisation lectures when you already know that the best fuel is electricity? Some tea by the way. Could almost taste that coffee cream cake. 

Well there is not much news to report from this end again. We have not seen or heard from either side of the family since writing last. At the office nothing much moving, but lots pending if only one could get round to doing the big jobs instead of being tied up with a myriad small pressing items which are almost routine. Lay had a week’s holiday, the first he has had this year apart from the sick leave he had early in January.

Well we are expected to attend a children’s service at the Methodist Church this afternoon so must start to pack up. Love from us all till next week.

*Three years old and already so manipulative, deliberately being ill just to upset her parents!

** Younger readers may not be aware that at this time all cars were supplied with starting handles; see this video for further information.

Alec to his parents:

Dear Mum and Dad

Thank you for your letter duly received by breakfast time yesterday. glad you like the drawings again and note they have been put in the art gallery. Sorry to report that we have had a lot of trouble with Susan again. Early in the week she was showing signs that she was not exactly herself, and came home from school a couple of days running with evidence of having had accidents. The last time she brought a message for June to see Headmistress next day. I managed to get home fairly early myself that day (Wednesday) and we took her to the doctor. He would not say what it was of course, but said we had to keep her in and warm. The following day she moped about the place and when I got home discovered she had been very sick (chairs, carpets etc). Of course the night had been interrupted and in fact on Friday night June slept in with her and I had Carol. Fortunately on Saturday she showed considerable signs of improvement to such an extent that we were able to get weekly shopping done plus other jobs, and took her with us. Today she seems a lot better, and apart from loose cough and snivel.* Glad to hear you are both free from ills to date.

Should imagine no difficulty in making up your mind to pack up digging etc. when weather turns against you. I cannot say I am very enthusiastic about doing anything in the garden although it looks the usual mess at this time of year. 

We paid a visit to Reading Yard on Wednesday, Lay, Mures and myself. Had another informal chat with the staff side of the L.D.C. and they told us that the men were opposed to more Work Study at Reading as they had not seen the results of the previous investigation but had suffered the staff cuts nevertheless. I pointed out to them that this was entirely due to the N.U.R. at the time refusing to consider the scheme until they had considered another that was still being compiled, and after that had refused to take part in any consultation on any subject (National Ruling) for several months. I think they half believed me, but wanted to see it in writing with Mr (Sid) Greene’s signature on it. Fortunately in my papers I have a copy of Greenes letter on the subject, and we can get access to the original at Unity House so this one will bounce back in their direction very soon. 

The ice plant has already put out several new shoots so hope we can get a decent growth by next year. The tradescantia has put out several more flowers which last only about one day.

Perhaps you cannot remember that when we first came to Number 84 there was an old lady living in Number 82 who had allowed the garden to go to rack and ruin? The grass was long and had not been cut for ages.** She moved very soon after we arrived. Be interested to know what the house will sell for of course, but as you say it will not be much of a clue to the value of one with garage or garage space. Incidentally I had a Schedule A assessment for the garage this week. 

I had a feeling that you would not have been down to the river lately. What about the pond? Is there any water left in it or are there any eels left? If there is water then there is a good chance that there is something alive in it. Fish, especially eels, are very hardy. 

I cut up the remains of a sleeper to use as logs on the fire last weekend, but so far we have not used many. There is still plenty of wood to be cut up. Have so far not had any antifreeze put in our car. Will have to leave that job for a while. 

Good crack about the hat. They do not miss those things even if half blind. This one does not look as if it is in hiding by the way.***

Note from both your comments that the decorating is in full swing. Do not know whether to call you Peter or Adolf.**** So you have gone for the brick wall idea too. Should have thought it more original to disguise the fireplace as a five-barred gate. 

After this week’s episode from Susan, we shall postpone doing anything special in this house. Sympathy would be strained to say the least if they gave new furniture that treatment.

Had a taste of one of the Apple wines I had been keeping. I think it has gone to vinegar. Unless more sugar makes it palatable I shall have to throw it away. Do not know if I told you that I decanted the apricot wine to bottles last week. This is very good. Note your point about the grape wine, but as mine has been in the warm all the time, fermentation may have been faster and may now have been completed. In this case I think I had better put it to bottles.

We have three wall brackets in our dining room as you know, and it was as replacements for these that I mentioned the subject to you earlier. The present ones are fixed to the wall by a flat panel approximately 5 in by 3 in a 6-inch spur jutting out at right angles with a flat top and curving underside. (This just prevents it from looking triangular.) This spur looks to be about 1 inch wide, and support at the end a square block about 1 inch and a quarter size and half in deep. On top of the square the lamp assembly complete with switch rests. I cannot say I like the design but it has the merit of being simple. The thing would be required to be of a dark colour to match the rest of the fittings in the room, but otherwise design is up to you.

Why did the locals turn out in such force to the British Legion parade this time? We had some big parades on the 30th, but thought that sort of thing had declined recently. 

Note your work has involved the moving of chairs at cetera from place to place. We shall soon want a second garage to put the car in. 

The children saw the drawings and Carol it was who guessed what they were first. Susan can now read short sentences from Alice in Wonderland so must be getting on well at school. 

I know Joe Reed. Hope his complaint does not turn out to be bad, but it sounds very suspicious to me. 

Glad you were able to vote for Mrs Hewitt and get a bit of local support on the T.G. She will talk them into anything. 

Well must close now in the hope that next week we can give you a clean bill of health. Love from us all. 

*As we all know, children who are five and three years old respectively spend a lot of their time deliberately becoming ill in order to inconvenience their parents. I have yet to see a single word of sympathy from Alec in any of these letters – our childhood illnesses were of no concern to him except in terms of having to take us to the doctor or having to clean up after us. His utter inability to empathise is even more mysterious when you consider that he spent eight months in an isolation hospital as a child; surely one who had been so ill himself would understand illness in others – but no, clearly he had the monopoly on suffering and nobody else was ever going to be as ill as he.

**He would be horrified to see the back garden of number 84 now; it doesn’t seem to have been touched since we moved out in 1967 and rumour has it that there is a fox den somewhere beneath the brambles.

***Har har, silly women buying silly hats and looking silly in them! This misogynist humour is typical of its time, of course – women drivers, what a scream! – but shows a distinct lack of (a) charity and (b) original thinking. Whyever would one marry a woman – professing to love and honour her in front of all one’s friends and family – and then ridicule her for her choice of hat? Honestly, there are days when I really want to go and dig Alec up and slap him upside the head for his thoughtless and often cruel stereotyping and utterly dismissive words and actions towards women. The fact that he was cremated twenty years ago would, of course, make this difficult, but it doesn’t stop me being angry with him.

****That is, ‘Peter the Painter‘ – i.e. one of the supposed anarchists from the Siege of Sidney Street, or of course Adolf Hitler who had some talent as an artist.