Monday, 16 October, 1944

2364226                                                                  
Sergt. S. Bristow
Headquarters
15 L of C Signals
Cen. Med. Forces

16 Oct. 44.                                                                          222.

Hello my own Darling,

There’s just been a smashing programme on the wireless which brought back quite a lot of memories about our early days.  It was an operatic request programme with both the Tchaik Concerto and the Warsaw Concerto in it & as their beautiful notes came over the air I thought of the way you argued which was which when I was absent mindedly whistling a few bars of one of them.  Remember?

The APO put a spurt on this morning & delivered a letter which you didn’t post until 10 am on the morning of the 12th.  Four days is excellent going isn’t it?

I had to smile about your interview at the Kendray Hospital.  Fancy picking Friday the 13th!  I hope that it was lucky for you though, Darling.  I am excitedly looking forward to your next letter to learn that you managed to get in there.  It should be quite pleasant for you to be in Barnsley and so very near home.

Will you have a lot of studying to do to get your Fever Cert. Darling, or is it just a question of getting the experience?  I hope you don’t have to work too hard.

Since we moved we have had to attend the Public Baths for a soak, as there’s no bathroom in our new abode.  I’ve been tonight & it wasn’t so hot.  I don’t think I’ve ever described this aspect of Italian life to you.  Its funny to see them.  As a bathroom is still a scarcity in Italy a lot of families use them & they have family bathrooms in which there’s a big bath in which Momma & Poppa can disport themselves whilst the bambinos splash around in a smaller one in the corner.  I was unlucky tonight for my pal and I got pushed into one of these bathrooms & as he got in first he bagged the big bath & left me to struggle on in the smaller one!!  Needless to say, that didn’t please me particularly.  However, it all goes to make life interesting.

I wish you were here at the moment, Darling – there’s some socks require darning.  However, I don’t think that we should waste time darning socks if you came into my bedroom.  What do you say?  Still I suppose I shall have to roll up my sleeves, put my tongue between my teeth & get the job done.

Just room Darling to send all my love to you.  It belongs to you so keep it safe, won’t you?

You mean everything to me my beloved.  Your husband to be  Stan xxxxxxxxxxxx

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