Friday, 11 June, 1943 - Grace

G.H.N                                                                                 This, I think, is 30.

Friday, 11-6-43

My Own Darling,

Your air letter dated June 2^nd arrived on June 9^th.  Exactly one week.  It was quick work, wasn’t it?

Yesterday I received an ordinary letter dated May 16^th, so that was good going too.

Darling, I was so thrilled with them both.  I found your ordinary letter particularly interesting.  Of course, I always find your letters interesting but it is nice to know where you have been and what you have been doing.  You have certainly covered some ground!!

I was pleased to hear that you have completely recovered from your illness.  You sound as if you are really enjoying life at the moment – swimming in the Mediterranean and eating strawberries!  However, I might tell you that I had a strawberry a few days ago.  It was the first one to be ready in Mrs Brown’s garden.  I also had some gooseberries and standing on my bed table is a huge bowl of roses which I brought back with me.  I always think that when roses are out it looks as if summer is really here.

We have been hectic on the ward since Wednesday.  It is our ‘take-in’ week – Sister is away on holiday too.  Not that any of us mind Sister being away – she does not make much difference when she is here.

I am pleased that the photo arrived alright.  Of course I understand now, only it seemed to be taking such a long time to reach you. 

Have you managed that film yet to take some snaps of yourself? (or at least, get somebody to take them for you).

8 hours later

I would liked to have posted this letter to-day but could not finish it before I was back on duty this morning.  I decided that I would finish it at tea time, but no – my luck ran out.  We have been so busy that I only had time to dash into the dining room, have a cup of tea and dash back again into the ward.

We had four new cases in and two of them were for the theatre and one for a blood transfusion.  It does not seem much on paper, but when there are only four of us and twenty-four other patients as well (most of them very ill) it takes us all our time to cope with things.

However, we got everything straightened out and the patients settled for the night before we finally got off duty at 11 p.m.

Really, I quite enjoy being busy.  Even though, at times we hardly know how to get a bath and get into bed we are so tired it does give me the satisfaction of feeling that one has really done something.

If I do not stop taking shop I might get a severe ticking-off when you answer this letter and that would never do. As usual, Darling, I will finish my letter by telling you to come back soon and then I still miss you – terribly.  It is exactly four months today (by the date) that we last saw each other.  It seems like years to me – does it to you, Dear?

All my love, Precious.  Yours ever, Grace  xxxxxxxx

There is also a letter from Stan today.  Scroll up on the front page to find it.