Friday, 11 June, 1943 - Stan

2364226                                                                                                 29.
Sergt. S. Bristow
Headquarters
15 L of C Signals
B.N.A.F.

Thursday, 11 June 43.*

My Very Own Darling,

I have just received your air letter dated 27 May 43 and so I thought I would sit down and reply to it straightaway.  I wrote an ordinary letter and an airgraph two or three days ago.

You would be surprised what a grand effect your letters have on me, my Dear.  They make me very happy, but at the same time they always make me wish that I was on the way home to resume the grand life that we had been living for the 12 months prior to my departure for this part of the world.  I have been thinking about you a lot this morning, Darling and finding it difficult to concentrate on work, I thought that if I spent a few minutes with you through the medium of correspondence, I might be able to make a bit of progress with the work later.

It is difficult remembering the news that you have put in previous letters.  I agree with what you say.  I often wonder if I repeat my news at all.

I told you that I had been to the pictures the other night, didn’t I?  I went again last night.  Twice in one week!  Fancy that.  It’s almost like being back in England!  The pictures out here don’t seem to be too popular with the French, for they never build large cinemas as we do in England.  I suppose the climate is against cinemas, for one thing.  The cinema I have been to has no air cooling system and consequently by the time one gets out, one is absolutely bathed in perspiration.  What we will suffer in the name of entertainment!

So you have been going out to lunch again!  That brings back happy memories of the times we have had lunch together – and one time when we didn’t enjoy it.  Remember the day in Leeds when absolutely everything went wrong?  It was a good trial of both our nerves and I think we came through with flying colours.  I was never more pleased to get back to 56 Brierley Road than I was on that day!  Lunch, pictures and everything seemed to go wrong, didn’t it?  It’s either too hot or too cold when we got to Leeds, although I should like to be in a position to go there again to-day!  Wouldn’t you?

I wonder how much longer we shall have to live in the past amongst our memories.  I am simply aching to get to the future when we shall make memories for the future years so that when we get our old age pensions we shall be able to sit round the fire and have lots to talk about!!!

It has been extremely hot to-day – it seems to be getting hotter and hotter as each day passes.  I have spent all afternoon down on the beach, swimming and generally acting the fool in the water with one or two more sergeants!  One of my first jobs when I get home will be teaching you to swim.  Yes, I can hear all your protests!  You don’t know what you are missing though.

During a short absence from the office someone has pinched the typewriter so I shall have to finish this in this manner.

I will write a longer letter towards the end of the week in a green envelope.

I love you very much, Darling & the arrival of each of your letters emphasises the fact even more.  I seem to be missing you more as each day passes.  Let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long before we are together once more.

All my love Darling.  Yours, Stan  xxxx

* Stan has got his days mixed up.

There is also a letter from Grace today.  Scroll down to the previous post on the main page to find it.