August 27 1953- # 2

Thursday.

Continued:

Dearest Mummy,

The children are having a simply wonderful time. Charlie’s appetite is about 3 times what it was at home & he just gobbles up all his solids which he didn’t bother about much before. He is pulling himself up to stand now & in his playpen & crib & sits up as straight as a little ramrod without support. He has no sense of caution at all – bumps himself & bangs his head & falls off things – even out of his crib!- & yells for a minute & then grins when you pick him up! Both he & Linda love the water. It is gloriously warm & to  begin with they both paddled & Lindy would walk in up to her waist. Then last weekend Cec got an old inner tube from one of the car tires blown up & we all have such fun with it. Linda gets in at & holds on with her arms & we push her or tow her all over- way out of her depth & even waves splashing in her face & she shrieks with laughter! We took Charlie right in for the first time yesterday and he splashed & kicked & was practically swimming – they both screamed their heads off when we made them come in! Barry loves the water too, but doesn’t like to go out beyond his waist even in the tire. Lee & Jim are a grand couple to share with & we are all getting on fine. The big drawback of the cottage is that it is only partitioned inside to about 7 or 8 ft. & curtains on the bedroom doorways, so if one child cries it disturbs everyone. Linda & Charlie just seem to take such short naps in the day & get tired & fretty, & we feel if we could just leave them in a closed off bedroom they would sleep longer.

The bedrooms are very small – we have Charlie’s cot in ours & the bed & about 6 ins. between. Lindy & Barry’s beds are “sofas” in the sitting room, so they go to bed in our rooms & then we transfer them at night. In the a.m. we usually do chores- dishes, beds, sweeping, washing etc. & in the p.m. the children sleep & we have a little rest, then play on the beach & bed, then dinner, children to bed – dishes – & bridge for us. I rinse diapers in the lake after boiling- makes it more interesting! We have a boat & go rowing -all are sunburnt (Cec red back!) & Linda has a little peeling nose!

Cec got us all big straw hats & Lindy looks a hoot in hers. We are taking lots of pictures to send you. Forgot to tell you, we have tame chipmunks too- they are so sweet & eat peanuts from our hands.

Lindy & Charlie send big xxxxs & lots of love from us all – Cyn.