Monday, 6 November, 1944 - Two Letters

Nurses Home,
Kendray Hosp:
Barnsley

6.11.44                                                                                 207

My Precious Darling,

I hope to finish writing this letter to-night but there is very little ink in my pen and I have not brought any with me.

Kit and I have been in this place just over twenty-four hours and as yet have not “found our feet”.

I have been like a fish out of water all day on the ward.  It is so very different from general nursing.  There is not the usual bustle and the beautiful big wards and – in spite of all the bustle – the routine in a general hospital.  I am afraid that I feel a bit “homesick” for the old G.H.N. at the moment.

I am working on what is called the Cubicle Block – which means that there is not one big ward but several small cubicles.  Half of our time is spent outside and oh dear – it is so bitterly cold!

As soon as ever we arrived last night we were marched away to have no less than four needles stuck into our arms – that was even before we had seen our bedrooms.  Within the next few days we have to have a medical examination and believe it or not another so and so x-ray!

What so you think my first job was this morning? Bathing babies!  I began to think that I might as well have taken my midwifery.  The youngest child I had to bath was only 10 days old.

Kit and I were off duty this afternoon so we decided to go into Barnsley.

We did a spot of shopping and then went into Guests for tea.

I must admit that the food here is both cooked and served better than at the G.H.N.

Well my Darling, you must be tired of reading this shop and I am afraid that it is not much of an anniversary letter.

However Dearest, I have the satisfaction of knowing that most probably at the end of my time here I shall change this job for the best job in the whole world – that of being your wife.  I am looking forward to that day so much.  I do love you Darling and am missing you so very much.

Will write you again in a few days time when I have got ? settled down.  

Ever your own, Grace xxxxxx

 

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

6 Nov 44.                                                                            235.

Hello, my Precious Darling,

Happy anniversary, with a big kiss X to seal the wishes.  It has been a good one for me to, so far I’ve had another letter from you – quite a surprise, after having received three yesterday I didn’t expect one today.  As you say, the dawn of each month (and the sixth especially) makes one feel that its another milestone passed on the long road towards that happiness we both are looking forward to so much.  But sometimes in our more impatient words, it does seem a long road, doesn’t it, Darling?

I’ve thought of you more than ever to-day Precious, wondering how the first day in your new home has gone down.  “First days” are usually rather demoralising things aren’t they?  However, by the time this reaches you, you should be settled down both in your new surroundings and in your new type of nursing, too.

I was pleased to learn that you had had Vera up at No. 19 again, but sorry to learn that it had been rather too much for her.  Before you take her again, you will have to have her out on a few shorter walks.  I should think that it’s a long way for her right up to Burntwood Road.

It was nice to hear that your brother was still in England, but I think I noted a certain amount of frigidity in the one sentence with which you dismissed the subject.  Has he upset you, Darling?

You apologise for not having any news in your letter.  You needn’t have bothered, Angel.  Even if you just wrote three words in a letter “I love you” it would be quite thrilling enough.  That phrase always causes a flutter inside me, Darling.

An orchestra on the wireless is at the moment playing my latest favourite “I’ll be seeing you”.  Do you like it, Dear?  There are one or two very pleasant tunes in use at the moment aren’t there?

Tonight being Monday, its “B” night, or in other words Beer and Bath night!  So tonight I am feeling quite clean (outside at any rate) and the weekly bottle of beer had made me feel in quite a mellow mood.  It's amazing how one looks forward to the weekly bottle of beer.  And talking of beer, I always will remember how much I wanted a drink when we went to that dance at Lundwood and how I daren’t have one for fear of upsetting you.  Just shows how much you have had a grip on me right from the start.

Well, Darling, its getting late and time I was in bed, so I’ll say “Goodnight”.  I wish I could say it in the old way and take as long in doing it as I used to.  However, those divine moments will come again as soon as I am home.  Until then Darling, you’ll just have to imagine.  All my love always.  Stan  xxxxxxxxxxxxxx