Wednesday, 26 - Friday, 28 May, 1943 - Grace

Nurses Home
General Hospital,                                                                          (26)
Nottingham

26.5.43     

My Very Own Darling,

Once again I write to you from Selston.  I am only five weeks overdue and as it is Sister’s week-end I suppose I shall be here another four days.  A nurse was sent out to relieve me but the “powers that be” are still hanging on to me.  Ah well - they cannot keep me here for ever, can they?

Enclosed you will find the buttercup that Kit and Joyce have pressed for me to send.  I really dare not do any other but send it after they have gone to the trouble of pressing it.  The censor will most likely think I am wandering a little, sending you such a thing.  I hope it gets through.

As today is Joyce’s and my day off we are going into town.  I am hoping there  will be a letter waiting for me at G.H.N. from you.

27^th Thursday

This mornings post brought with it your letter which I expected yesterday when I arrived at the General it had just been posted on to me.

It was such a grand letter Darling.  It was worth waiting the extra 24 hours for.  However, I am replying to it by air letter as they get to you quicker than these.

I am afraid that I have only time for these few lines now.  I will finish it later.

Friday 28^th

Third time – so I should really manage to finish your letter.  You know, Darling, whenever I pick up my pen to write to you, my thoughts wander and you know in which direction.

I find that time has flown whilst I have been day dreaming.  I only wish I could find words in which to put all my dreams on paper.  Ah me – let us hope that soon those dreams will be realities.

Your airgraph dated 14^th May arrived about an hour ago.  That made me two letters in two days!  I hope you are receiving my letters as well as I receive yours.

I am eagerly looking forward to receiving your next ordinary letter, telling me about the scenes etc. which you have seen.  You men are lucky – I am really jealous of you being out there.  How I wish I was there too.

However, there is a saying which goes “They also serve who only stand and wait” so let us hope that is true.

I also received a letter from home this morning.  The first since I came back.  I was beginning to think that they had forgotten about me.  Mother is feeling better but the doctor says that she still has to take things quietly.

Vera is much the same.  She says that she received an Airgraph from you Wednesday morning.  She says that John and Janet have got the bicycles which they were after.

Eric has sent Bessie some snaps.  He is keeping alright and according to the snaps – looking fine.

That is all the news from home.  Vera has managed to make it fill three sheets of paper.  I do not know how she managed it – of course it was just to give me the impression that I had received a long letter.  However, I suppose that is better than nothing.

We received some of the wounded at the General last week (From your part of the world, I mean).  Consequently we had to take more of the civilians out here.

I have just finished reading a very good book “Atlantic Meeting” by N. V. Morton.  Yes, you have guessed right, it is about the meeting of Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt off the shores of Newfoundland in August 194.  Morton was on the “Prince of Wales” and he tells a very interesting story.

Having spent the last ten minutes trying to think of some more news which might interest you but finding none I think that I had better finish my letter.

At the moment the sun is shining and it feels really hot so I think that I will go out and sunbathe.  Here comes the woman to sweep the bedroom so I will definitely go out.

You have all my love, Darling.  Always yours, Grace  xxxxxxx

This is Grace's letter begun on 26 May.  Although an 'ordinary' letter, it is still written on thin airmail paper, but consists of several pages and would be put into an envelope to send.  Sadly the buttercup is no longer with the letter!