Stan and Grace

General Hospital Nottingham 1 a.m. Dec: 30 th 1942    My Precious Darling, I suppose this will be the last letter I will write you before I am actually with you again on Friday.   Lovely thought!! When I kissed you Good-bye last time I never thought that we would have five more days together.   Of course, I hoped that we might but it seemed so improbable.   Now that we are actually going to be together again – well – it seems too good to be true.   There is only one snag – I might have a lecture.   I hardly dare look at the “Notice Board” for the new list.   I am hoping that one will not come out before Friday and then Friday morning I shall not look at it, so that I can always plead ignorance. You asked if father had arranged some conveyance to take us home Sat: evening.   Yes – he has arranged for a taxi.   Thank goodness!! I was pleased to hear that you managed to have a decent time at Christmas, even though you had to ...

Usual address Sunday evening       My Own Darling, I wonder what we shall be doing next week at this time?   Only another four days & I shall be home & then after another day we shall be together. Why can’t the time go much quicker. I’ve not much to tell you, to-night.   I’ve just finished work & am trying to get as much cleared up as possible so there will be no fear of some job cropping up at the last moment. I had another TAB inoc. a few hours ago & am just beginning to feel the effects so I really think the best place for me is bed. Am looking forward to a letter from you to-morrow.   I don’t think anything to this Christmas rush business.   It delays your letters too much for my liking.   It seems ages Darling since I had a letter from you. I know you won’t think much of this scribbled note but I thought I must write & let you know how much I am looking forward to the week-end. When you reply to t...

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Christmas night    11 p.m. My Own Darling, Despite the fact that I’ve been surrounded by people all day, I’ve felt rather lonely to-day, lonely for you and for home.   I suppose its a feeling everyone gets on Christmas Day.   I’ve just been wondering what you are doing.   Did you get anyone to relieve you to go to your dance? A week tonight at this time we shall be together, Darling, together for another five days of heaven.   No doubt they will fly past, but we can trust each other to make the best of them can’t we.   I keep wishing the week would fly past, but instead it just seems to crawl along at an indescribable rate.   Ah me!   What it is to be impatient. I feel tired tonight.   I got up at 6.30 this morning & helped to take coffee & rum round to the men in bed.   Then I worked in the cookhouse all the morning & helped to serve the dinner. We had a super dinner.   The conventional type you know, t...

Usual address Tuesday 11 p.m.       My Own Darling, Another three days nearer!   But how slow the time creeps by.   Do you find that too. I received your Christmas Box today, Dear.   It was grand of you to buy me such a marvellous present, but you should really have saved your money.   We shall need lots & lots one day, you know! I’ve written to Mother to tell her that I shall want to wear civvies next week for the sole purpose of wearing your gloves.   There is only one thing left now.   I shall have to get a commission, so that I can wear them every day!!! But seriously; you couldn’t have thought of anything better, for even if I don’t get much time to wear them in the next year, they will be extremely useful when I come back to England.   There now, look at me.   Talking about coming back before I have even gone.   That shows that I am not very interested in this cruising around at the Army’s expense. ...

Nurses Home General Hospital Nottingham Dec 22   12.30 a.m. 1942 My Precious Stan, I was awfully sorry Dear to hear how you have reacted to your T.A.B.   I only wish I was able to get to you and nurse you.   No – I don’t think I would excite you.   If you were really ill Darling and I was looking after you, I would be a nurse until you were well again. However, as I am not able to be near you in person you will have to be content knowing that my thoughts are continually with you.   I do hope that you will soon feel alright again.   Only another 10 days and we shall be together again.   I am getting impatient.   I suppose that our time together will go quickly again.   However the fact that we shall be together again is enough for now, or at least it will have to be. The Colonel seems very anxious to have you married.   How about yourself – what did you have to say about it all? Darling, I have a confession to make – I hope y...

Usual address Sunday   19.12.42* My Own Darling, I should actually be in bed tonight with you in your blue nurse’s uniform ministering to me!   I had a TAB inoculation yesterday & the result tonight is a temperature & a splitting headache. Still, I don’t think I should find your presence soothing – I always find it most exciting.   The result would be a still higher temp. I suppose. Did you get my wire yesterday?   I felt so excited that I felt I must tell you straight away, my Dear, & that was the only way I could think of doing so. Words cannot express with what impatience I look forward to 1 Jan 43.   A repetition of those last glorious five days was a thing I had dreamed of, but not dared to hope for!   I felt on top of the world immediately I heard & the Colonel said “Well, I told you I was going to give you another leave to get married, didn’t I?   Ah me!   Wishful thinking I suppose.   I can hear you saying ...