1st - 3rd July, 1943

 Grimethorpe                                                                                 36

July 1^st 1943

My Precious Darling,

This is the first night of the first day of my holidays.

I thought that I would like to write you a few lines Dear before I finally retired for the night.

Kit and I left Nottingham at 10 a.m. and I arrived home at 3 p.m.  Of course, you know what it is like – my first day at home – we women seem to have so much to talk about.

As I wanted to shampoo my hair almost as soon as I arrived I did not get up to 19 but shall be going up to-morrow.

Mother and Dad have just come to bed.  How I wish you were here now Darling.  Remember all those other nights?  Ah me!  Maybe one day we shall repeat those heavenly nights.

It is Grimethorpe Wings for Victory week this week.  There is great activity here.  A dance is being held to-morrow night at the local “Ball-room”.  Have not made up my mind whether to go or not.  I don’t suppose I shall.

Kit and I got our tickets this afternoon for Wales.  We are going on Monday for a week.  Mother and Dad are not going to Blackpool until the third week.

As Mother keeps reminding me that it is getting very late (to say nothing of the remarks that Vera keeps passing) I had better say Good-night my Darling.

July 2^nd, 11.30 p.m.

Here I am, once again, to give an account of my days doings.

Believe it or not, this afternoon I walked Vera up to 19 Burntwood Road.  I am pleased to say that she is none the worse for it.  She was very thrilled about it.  I also saw the photos and postcards you sent John and Janet.  They had arrived quite safely this morning.

The sun has been really hot to-day so when Vera and I returned from our walk I tried to do a spot of sun-bathing.  I really would like to get brown but it is no good.  I came in looking the same as when I went out.

I bet that you are looking brown now.  Oh Darling, what I wouldn’t give for just one glimpse of you.  I suppose that will not be for several more long months.  Isn’t it going slowly?

You know Dear, it is almost hopeless trying to write as Vera and Dad are holding a conversation with each other, Vera being in one room and Dad in another.

I have just told Vera to “shut up” but I am afraid that she does not take commands from her young sister.  In fact I was very nearly pushed off the edge of the bed on to the floor so I guess I had better not say any more.

Vera says that she hopes you can read my scrawl as she never can. 

Of course, I could not say much to that.  I am afraid that it is terrible.

July 3^rd

To-day has not been a very exciting one.  The usual Saturday in Grimethorpe.  There was a boxing match in the sports field in aid of the “Wings for Victory”.    I did not patronise it.  I am not so fond of seeing people knock others about.

The main feature of the day – to my mind, was the arrival of your letter (one in a green envelope) at 9 a.m.  Darling, it was a marvellous letter.  I know that they all are but each one seems more thrilling than the last.  It had only taken a fortnight to come too. 

In it you recalled many happy memories of last summer.  There does not seem to be much use in being here this summer – alone.  Everywhere I go and everything I do makes me think of you, my Precious.  I think of the last time we did them together.  When I went to your home yesterday I thought of all the other times I had been there with you and wondered how long it would be before we were there together again.

I am so glad and I am sure that you are that we have all these happy memories to look back on.

When I told Mother that there were some lemons on the way she said “Oh how nice.  I hope they arrive safely and then I can make some lemon curd!”  So there you are, the lemons are spoken for.

In spite of you having put the wrong number on the box I am sure that they will be delivered as we know the post girl quite well so she will not deliver them to the wrong house.

Yes, Dear, I did promise to write 10 pages didn’t I, but really, at the G.H.N. nothing ever happens to tell you about.  There is just the usual hospital stuff and if I told you any more about that than I do already you would be bored stiff.

This has not come up to 10 pages but it is a lot better than my last four have been.  I will start an Air Letter to you to-morrow.

Au-Revoir my Darling, and I love you more than anyone else in the world.

Yours ever, Grace  xxxxxxxxx