Friday, 2 & Saturday, 3 April, 1943 - Grace's letter

General Hospital Annexe,                                                                        No. 11
Selston
Notts.

2. 4. 43       

My Own Darling,

As I write this letter – number eleven – I am wondering how many of my previous letters you have received.

According to the last letter I had from you, only two had reached you.  I sincerely hope that you have received one or two more or you might think that I have forgotten all about you.

I know of course that you will not think that really as you know that is impossible – now – don’t you Darling?

So far, I have received your first four letters so I am hoping there are a few more on the way.

March has certainly lived up to tradition this year!  It came in like a lamb alright but went out like twenty lions.  Up to yesterday there had been a strong wind for three days and nights.  To-day however, things have settled down a bit and the sky at the moment looks as if it is going to pour forth an April shower.  Oh, to be in England now that April’s here!  All the same, I bet you would not mind being here!

There is not much change to report from this small corner called Selston.  Nurse Laughton has gone back to the G.H.N. and we have now got a nurse here called Farrow.  She is a very gay spark and fond of life so she might brighten things up a bit.

I have not heard from home since I came back from my day-off last Saturday so have nothing to report from there.

Do you know – this is the first chance I have had to really sit down and do something since Tuesday.  Sister went off duty Monday afternoon and was coming back Wednesday morning.  For a certain reason which I cannot state here she could not get back until yesterday (Thursday) and now she has developed Influenza!!!  Consequently, yours truly, has been on duty every day and nearly all day.  But why worry – worse things happen at sea.  One consolation is that I have a good staff of juniors so things are not too bad.

Yesterday was “Matrons Day” but as Matron is away the Assistant Matron came instead.  Of course there is such a bustling about on this particular day.  Counterpanes must be straight, sheets turned over eighteen inches and not an inch more or less! – no tapes off pillow cases, clean nighties on everybody – floor swept and everything “just so” as if we had twenty-five stuffed dummies in bed and not ill human beings.  As we have 6 old grannies in over 75 years old and one aged 90 – an attempted suicide, and all of them deaf – I have a little difficulty in persuading them not to have handbags and knitting bags, etc. decorating the beds.  However, with a bit of a rush I had everybody and everything ready at 1 minute to eleven ready for “Her Highness” arriving at 11 a.m. 

As luck would have it everything was alright – there were no complaints, thank goodness.

Saturday.  3. 4. 43

Sister arrived back this morning.  I was thankful.  Who would be a ward Sister? – not me.  It is bad enough being Staff Nurse.

There is Kit, telling me to hurry up as she is taking me out!  Still keeping her eye on me!!  Kit wants me to go with her to South Wales for our holidays.  Nan wants me to go to Edinburgh.  I can’t make up my mind which place to go to.  I certainly cannot afford both places.  I am not worrying about it yet though as we do not know the definite date of our holidays.

And now Dear, if I do not want pulling to pieces by Kit I had better get ready.  Bye Darling.  I am, yours as always, Grace  xxxxxxxx