Christmas presents
Mummy Brown and white cotton dress. Pink slip. Pearls & earrings – lipstick & rouge.
Dad Tie- Magazine “Holiday” for 1 year.
Nan Brown & white striped cotton dress trimmed with green. White necklace made of strands of tiny little white beads like those I made at home. I bought it & then discovered that it was threaded on the thinnest thread & it broke even when I was looking at it (5 & 10!) so I threaded it all over again. White earrings to match of tiny white beads threaded, & put in the shape of a bow.
Dottie A chatelaine & earrings to match – pretty I thought- of silver with turquoise blue stones. The earrings are in the shape of a flower & the chatelaine is two bigger flower things, attached to each other with a chain, to wear on the lapel of a suit or on a dress like this
Also 1 tablet soap.
Peter A toy called a “Quirrly “– it’s like a spring & does things like walking downstairs. Also two little cotton sweaters with round necks & short sleeves – one pale yellow and one pale blue.
Bar A pair of stockings (rayon)
Geraldine A set of plastic toy knives & forks.
Ruth A compact. Do you remember how thrilled she was with the lovely one Monie sent me last year? Well I tried to get her one like that, but they cost a dreadful price, so I got her this one – square, gold-coloured, with two flowers on the front. It was quite expensive, so I hope she likes it. I enclosed a cake of soap for Amy.
Peter & Christopher Allan A box of candy.
Irene An organdie apron- white with red spots – very “cute”! Also a piece of soap for Mrs. Scott.
Mary Egan A set of plastic measuring spoons – different colours – also a plastic dish for the baby.
Miss Lefroy A perfumed flower (paper) to put in her hankies.
Mrs Allan A box of toilet soap like red roses, & a coloured tea towel.
Anne Chapman A pair of nylon stockings.
Jessie Fisher A pearl brooch – it was so pretty that I nearly sent it to you instead of her! It was shaped like a crescent with pearls and a little brilliant.
Lillian A box of “pancake” make up that she wanted.
Pam Hapgood (she has written to me quite a bit) A pair of gold earrings (5 & 10!)
Ivy Pagecroft A “date kit”! A box of Pond’s cream, powder etc.
Jessie Hall & Zinnia – I have presents for them but I haven’t sent them as I still have had no word from Jessie since I left England. No thank you for Zinnia’s parcel – not even anything about the new baby & I don’t even know her address. I have a pair of stockings for her & a little handbag & some flower hairslides for Zinnia, but I’m not going to send them, although it’s a shame Zinnia should suffer for her mother’s shortcomings.
I just got my American presents yesterday, & this is what I got-
Aunt Muriel A white woolen cardigan. I thought she might like something warm, & white is worn over here a lot & would go with anything.
Aunt Ettie A pair of service weight silk stockings.
Mona A pair of pigskin gloves.
Margs A paisley-patterned wool square.
Mil A box of Elizabeth Arden talcum & toilet water.
Hugh & Mona A funny record of “Old Macdonald had a Farm” with all the animal noises- Mil won a “record player” when I was there in the summer.
Alan A cute little tiny drum with candy in & I’ll get him some other little toy.
Three white linen hankies for U. Artie, Bill & Ford.
Til A pair of black suede gloves & two pretty embroidered hankies
Lois A red lizard belt & two blue hankies
Ruth A white linen hankie
David & Mary L. A record like Hugh’s
Altogether I think I spent about as much on my few American presents as I did on all my English presents, but of course I knew that any little thing I sent home would be useful & a novelty, but over here, everyone seems to have everything & it’s much more difficult. Also everyone I’m giving presents to here is being very kind to me. I forgot to tell you, I got A. Phine two hankies too, but they’re cheap ones!
Love from
Cyn
P. S. I somehow don’t suppose any of my parcels will arrive for Christmas. I think the U.S. P.O. and the English Customs are two of the most disgusting institutions!
A Family History in Letters 