During the war, Cyn, her family, and friends in Newcastle had come to know some of the Polish officers who were part of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. Her friend Anne had met and married Tadek Winnick, who had become a British citizen, and they were now living in Cambridge with their baby daughter Janita. But her friend Ludwik had a mother in Warsaw, to whom Cyn had sent parcels, so he had returned there, presumably after the forces were disbanded in 1947, and in 1950 Cyn had sent a Christmas card to his mother’s address, explaining her marriage and move to the States. This letter is his reply, alluding to their mutual interest in philately- see the envelope!- and giving interesting details of his life. The shadow of the Cold War hangs over this letter. I hope she answered and sent him his requests.
I have transcribed this as faithfully as I could, but some words gave me trouble, although the general sense is clear.
Warsaw, Poland.
1. J. 1951.
Dear Cynthia,
After the long interval, who was about one year, I have got desired letter and erlier two “Lifes”. Thans ever so much. I thought that you being somewher in a big World completely forgot after me.
I am enjoying to know that you have a happy married life and to know that your Mother lives quietly in her native country. Please write to her, that in Poland is very cold winter, snow, wind and that I envy her tropical sun, warm, tell her that we in Poland see the coloured people only in the pictures except Paul Robeson, an american singer who was twice in Warsaw.
Dearest Cynthia, the cardinal differance in the mood of life, there where you are and here is, that you can organize your life as you like and wish but our life is bound with realization a great idea which is called socialism. In our country are performing the big transformations in all kind of life, social, political, cultural and economical. It is very difficult to be out of those changes. One must deal with them.
As you know I am living in Warsaw with my mother who keeps our small house. I have a dog name “Azor” he is very funny dog and attached to our home. I get up very erly in the morning at 5:30 and go by bus to my office. The communications in Warsaw are difficult problem. It takes me one and half hour to get office. Work begin at 7:30 up to 18:00. We have many conferences, meetings and akademies[?]. I am welfare officer in a big cooperative which has establishments in many cities in Poland. I like my new job, because social welfare helps many people especially women children. When I am at home I read very much. Histori of political system, teorie [theory?] of Marxism, art, philosophy. My hobbies is collecting the new one Polish stamps. I have many of them and I would like to send you some of them.
I am not get married yet because the times are unquiet but I appreciate the married life and I am longing for. I fear the war because I have to go away.
My thoughts are travelling to those times when I was abroad and I am longing for friends.
Dear Cynthia, the post is going well, always put adress in the same way as last (my mother). I have got all the magazines which you sent to me. Do not fear, please send them as much as you can. “Lifes” are very interesting lecture[?]. Excuse me my asking but if you can send me some coffe. Unfortunately there without coffe for a while. My mother remembers that you were so kind and during the war sent her some tins. She keeps them as a souvenir, but they are empty. Please write to me as often as you can. Maybe soon we could see once again. I think that independent of which side we are, we always could be good friends. You know, the world is divided, but not really. Please write me, your husband knows foreign languages. In the New Year the best wishes and I wish be peace. I send you and your husband my best regards.
Your friend
Ludwik.
P. S.
Excuse my English, it is very bad, because for a long time I did not speak at all and not read. Please, let me know, if you read the nice book Somerset “On the Edge of a Razor”. I am enchanted of this book. What you thinks, Larry was a communist or not, because as you know, he left all his things and went to America to be a chauffer. I read this book in Polish but I would like to have original copy to compare.
I send you some Polish stamps for your friends, if you want more I will send more, because I have many of them.
Once again I send for you and your husband the best regards and please write to me as soon as possible.
I was going to write you a great long screed, but instead I fell asleep after dinner & although Cec waked me as I’d requested, it took me about an hour to come to! Now I have finally washed the dishes but it is 9:30 & near my bedtime again! This sleep business is really amazing – I just zonk! out, & get nothing done at all, but everyone says that it passes after a while, so let’s hope it won’t be long!
I have three letters to thank you for & did we enjoy them!! The first I got last Thurs. noon when we came home for lunch & when I saw it I tore upstairs & ripped it open full of excitement, only to find that you hadn’t got ours yet! Actually, I hadn’t got one from you the previous week & this was it, delayed somehow. However, it was fun to get & we enjoyed reading it. Then the next day, Friday, we rushed home again- & there was another letter & this was it! We dashed upstairs & I read it aloud to Cec while he got lunch ready & we laughed so much & got such a thrill because you were so excited! We are so delighted that you are coming to be in the fray, & Cec has decided that if it is triplets you can have one – nobody else, just you!! We don’t know why you are against the twin idea – we think it is lovely & anyway we think that it would probably be much easier for me to have 2 little weasley, measly twins, than 1 big bouncing effort!! Shirley at work keeps asking me how Squidget & Midget are?!!
Today at noon I got your next nice letter & it was lovely. Thank you very, very much for writing a lot – we like it- the more the merrier! I am absolutely overwhelmed with all the offers of knitting and baby things – it is gorgeous & I think everyone is very sweet to be so thrilled & energetic. I will find out more about the layette etc. & write full details as soon as poss.- thought I’d buy a nightie pattern & send you! As you will gather, I told at work & also Dr. and Mrs. S. & have written to Cec’s family. At the weekend I was going to write to everyone in N/C, but ended by not doing so well. On Fri. evening we went to an Ice Hockey game with the Dockerills, – the Univ. here v. Toronto Univ. & Michigan won. We then went to the Dockerills & had tea etc. so were late home & so slept late Sat! I cleaned & we went shopping & then at 7 p.m. met Dawn Hendrix (a friend from work – her husband was away for the weekend) & we went to the pictures to see “Whisky Galore”. It was called “Tight Little Island” here, but as we missed it in England we were longing to see it & it was gorgeous- funny, so that we laughed & laughed! Afterwards Dawn came back & we had snacks etc. & she stayed till 2 A.M.- I was dying of sleep! Sunday I did write various letters – poor Mr. Cooper for one- he wrote me just before Christmas (sea mail) and told me Katie was very ill, & said he hadn’t your address, but then you told me you’d heard of Katie’s death & had written. I also wrote Denis, Dorothy & Winnie, but I’m holding it till I get Nan, Dottie, Irene & Amy’s done! I intended to continue the good work Mon. evening but slept till 10!! Last night we went to a v. good movie “Born Yesterday” which was most amusing- A.Ettie will have heard of the play in N.Y. What do you think – I had a note & cheque for $5 from Mill- wasn’t that sweet of her? Wedding present she said- must write to her tonight. Will write a real do at the weekend! My love & thanks to Aunties & cousins. Cec is back at the Lab. but would send love to Grannie –
With lots & lots from your little
Mummy+ [Cec’s handwriting:] the old man.
P.S. What do you mean “there are no twins in the Hazell family”?
Love the tone of indignation in the Postscript! However, she was quite right, until (spoiler alert) one of the New York cousins had grandchildren.
Or would you prefer to be called Granny or Grandmother or Nana? Take your choice – we don’t mind! But we thought we better break the news to you gently that you were to be a grandmama in August- about the 20th to be exact! [Cec’s handwriting:] Twins- no less- at least that’s the Doc’s preliminary diagnosis! Cock-a-doodle-doo!! [Cyn’s handwriting:] What do you think of that? Aren’t we clever! We have been giggling around ever since the Dr. mentioned the word “twins” & we’re so tickled with ourselves we could bust! Actually he also said that it was too early to be really sure, and he couldn’t promise them to us, but we’ll be quite disappointed if we get a single instead of a double now! [Cec’s handwriting:] I am very intrigued with the idea of getting anything for half price in this day & age.
We are so pleased we don’t know what to do. And you should see Cyn. Her back porch has completely disappeared, and and since she hasn’t lost weight, it’s been distributed to other places. What a figure! Real whistle-bait. [Cyn’s handwriting:] Just wait till I developed a front porch instead! At the moment I am all bosomy me which astounds me!
This is all been a bit incoherent, so I’ll begin & tell you all about it. We have been panting to tell you and have had the worst time not popping out with the secret, but we wanted to wait till I’d been to the Dr. to make absolutely sure. Even now I have quite a lot of difficulty really realizing it’s true but the Dr. says I’ll get more & more convinced as time goes on!
We began to suspect about a week before Christmas & while the Boveys were here & Connie was drooping around & talking about being preggy I wasn’t feeling any too bright myself! I’ve not had any morning sickness at all – in fact all along I’ve felt fine in the morning, but wilted a bit in the afternoon & evening! I’ve only been sick 2 or 3 times, although my tummy hasn’t felt very happy sometimes, but on the whole I have been fine. All last month I felt very tired – particularly the first two weeks- remember my telling you of feeling tired! (did you suspect?!) – anyway I spent most of the evenings sleeping & retired to bed at 10 o’clock to sleep some more! I’m better now & have more energy, but still go to bed early.
There is a huge University Hospital here & it has a new Maternity Hospital, so I rang up the Clinic there & made an appointment. Along I trotted feeling quite scared, but the nurses & Drs were very nice & apart from being examined inside & out there was nothing alarming! Of course we will be in Ottawa when the twins (!) appear, but the Dr. said they would take care of me as long as I was here, & then send their report to the Hospital in Ottawa when we leave. I am so pleased that they will be little Canadian buns & not American buns!
I had two Doctors make the examination- one was an intern I think, & they certainly gave me the once over! However, they said that I was in good physical condition & that everything seemed fine – the only thing was that something or other seemed bigger than was usual which was a sign of twins!! They gave me prescriptions for Vitamin tablets & iron pills (which everyone gets) & a little book with diet etc. – I’m to eat lots of proteins & 1 qt. of milk a day. Milk is one of the few things I turned up my nose since Christmas, but the Dr. said to try to drink a little each day & the taste will come back, so I began drink chocolate milk & am up to 1 pt. a day now. He says that my weight is fine, so I am pleased- still 116- haven’t put on any more yet, but have a slight bulge fore! All my clothes are fine – isn’t it a good job I lost some weight first, or I’d be busting out all over!
Milly, at work, is “expecting” as I told you & I am having the worst time, not bursting forth with my news when she talks baby! We’ll wait till you have the news & will then shout it from the housetops- figuratively speaking! I have bought wool & baby books, but so far have only knit a pair of baby bootees forMillie! I’m relying on you for nighties & on Mrs. Johnny for The Shawl! I was shattered at the price of baby wool over here – the equivalent of £1 for 3 balls of baby wool & a knitting pattern! Expensive little brats!
You asked about our plans for this year – well, Cec’s thesis is due in Cambridge in June – we don’t know the exact date yet. Then we’ll have to wait here till he has his Oral Exam.– probably with Dr. S & one of the Mish. Profs. as examiners. Then we head for Ottawa – probably early July, & find ourselves an abode.
[Cec’s handwriting:] We expect to be settled somehow by late July. The important thing is, we think Grandma ought to come & look after the parents in August – especially if it’s twins! We don’t know what sort of a place we’ll be living in, but we thought it would be best to start making plans & we can settle details in the next six months.
[Cyn’s handwriting:] How’s about coming to see your Cyn looking like the back end of a bus & catching a first glimpse of your 2 screaming little grandchildren?! (One of each, Cec says- one with & one without!) We do hope you’ll be able to plan to come to us – we promise we’ll keep you busy, from morning till night as we will be busy househunting & furnishing too probably! Such excitement!
We must stop now or will bubble on for pages! Write soon & tell us if your chicken wishbone wish is on its way to coming true! Thank you heaps for 2 lovely letters yesterday, written on 21st and 28th- I sat with my feet up all afternoon & read them. We are so delighted that you are having such a lovely, lovely time.
Will answer your letters & write again soon.
Lots & lots of love
from
the Proud Parents!
Cyn & Cec.
P.S. Will write to Les Girls in England sometime this month- better not mention it in letters till I tell you I’ve written.
We are in the middle of a ColdWave and you basking in the sun & a bathing twice a day!! Since the weekend it has been so cold- the night before last was 5° below zero, & another place in Michigan not far away was 43° below! Last night and today weren’t quite so bad as it was snowing but plenty bad enough for me! We were very pleased because MacTavish has been a good car & has started off each morning without a murmur, & lots & lots of people were stuck & couldn’t get their cars to go at all.
Since I last wrote your two kiddies have been poorly bad with colds. I told you that Cec had an awful cold the week before last, but it seemed to be getting better, then on Tues. of last week I began to get a sore throat etc. & stayed away from work in the afternoon. However, Wed. it was really in full swing & continued so & to make matters worse, Cec’s cold got bad again too, so there were the two of us snuffling away & feeling mis. together! I stayed at home all the rest of the week & Cec worked at home most of the time, but it wasn’t really till Sunday as we began to feel at all cheery again, & even now we still sound coldy & are snuffling & blowing away. It’s the most horrid cold I remember having for a long time, but being back at work this week we feel quite cheery again & in our usual spirits!
You can imagine there’s not much Noos with our being in the house most of last week. I used to stay in bed most of the mornings & Cec would bring me my breakfast, & I would get up around lunch time. Cec worked, but I felt so heavy and fractious! that I would read for a bit & then get fed up & knit for a little etc. etc.! I was finally reduced to “Set in Silver”& (s-sh!) “Jo of the Chalet School” & they kept me amused! On Sunday Cec went up to the drug store for a paper & came back with a jigsaw puzzle!! Quite like old times! Millie (from work) & her husband Jerry called in to see how I was on Sat. and mentioned they were doing one, so it reminded Cec as it were & it really was fun. We began it on Sunday evening & got about 1/3 of the way when I was sent to bed. Then on Monday morning lo & behold- it was all done except the sky- my naughty little husband! We finished the sky on Mon. evening, & now Milly & Jerry are going to swap theirs with us! Cec & I were saying though, that it doesn’t seem right doing jigsaws without you & Frank here too!
Last week to cheer our colds we got your nice long letter begun on Jan 12th, & telling about going to the bungalow, & also that atlast our parcel had arrived. I am so glad that it did get there safely, though late, but sorry that you had to pay so much duty – I suppose the bag & galoshes would be the worst offenders. I was sorry the silly little snapshot album got there first as a false alarm! It was supposed to be just an oddment in the big parcel, as you had mentioned you needed another album, but when I was packing it just wouldn’t fit in, so I sent it separately. You needn’t worry that I am still holding out over the snaps we took in Canada – I still haven’t got them – probably Carman is busy just like his big brother!
This week I got your little fat envelope with the John Hazell diary in it, & I was so pleased! It is lovely & I am delighted to have it – Cec was going to get me one, but hadn’t done so yet, so I hadn’t got one & was feeling the need- thank you very, very much – & also for the cute Christmas card with all the little “cards” in. I didn’t say thank you for your letters yet, but we both love them, as we always do, & say thank you very much.
It is my bedtime now, so I must stop, but will write more at the weekend. Have a lovely time at the beach – we’ll be thinking of you.
With lots & lots of love
from Cyn & Cec
I want to add a note about the ‘comfort’ books Cyn was ashamed of reading while she was ill. I have mentioned my library before- 5000 + books- which I built up by hanging on to all my books from childhood on up, and those of my parents, and then adding to the collection. So besides battered Agatha Christies, Sayers, Simenon, and sundry other murders from the Classic era, I have Cyn’s “Set in Silver”, a copy originally given by her to her mother in the 20s judging by the handwriting, and suffering from mold due to our occasionally flooded basement in twentieth century Ottawa, when the sump pump broke down. C.N and A.M. Williamson wrote mild romances about the early days of the automobile (even one about the air)- a sub-genre with a brief life, but one shared by Dornford Yates, whose books had more adventure in them, with car chases that I believe influenced Ian Fleming. Would James Bond films be the same without Yates and the Williamsons?
I have been a bookworm since childhood, and was always puzzled by those questions about hobbies since if you had a book to read, you did not need a hobby, but now that I think about it, I have to admit my hobby from my teens on was ferreting out books for my collection from secondhand bookshops! The Chalet School books, of which Cyn had three, were English school stories by Elinor M. Brent Dyer, set in Austria in the 20s- to me, an exotic, unfamiliar setting (as to the mountains anyway, Ottawa had plenty of snow); a completely different sort of school life- only girls, living at school, speaking different languages; and I wanted more! So while Cyn had a few books by these authors, I collected as many as I could, helped by the reprinting of the Chalet School books in paperback in the 60s, the bookshops in England with the discards of the decades, and then the internet with access to discards across the former empire. (I should mention that the Chalet School books have a very solid fan base, some of these books are very expensive now, but the writers on fan fiction sites keep the school going for free!) Now I may have a dozen Williamsons, all the Chalet books, and all the Dornford Yates, Maurice Walsh- not literature, but the genre junk of Cyn’s day, plus a lot from my own day. My excuse for carting around this library all my life was that I invariably lived in places without book stores and with limited libraries- and libraries throw out their old books (some of my best acquisitions result from this habit) so they aren’t always available to reread, which is what Cyn and I wanted to do. Now there are ebooks, so the present generation will not have the packing problem I had whenever we moved, and can read privately without going s-sh like Cyn…
Cec and I have just been up to the Drug Store for my weekend treat- a chocolate milk shake! It is a really cold night & everyone else was drinking coffee & hot chocolate & warming things, but it was so long since I had had a milk shake that I defied the weather & enjoyed myself! We used to go up to the Drug Store nearly every weekend, but when I was dieting I was good & haven’t had more than 1 or 2 since then – now I am 116 lbs. with hardly any back porch so I am beginning to relax!!
We didn’t get a letter from you this week, but maybe you are like me- I meant to write to you this week earlier, but there was just no news as we hadn’t done a thing. We got a letter from Irene saying that she & Bill had done very little since New Year except sit by the fire & that they were getting into a rut, but Bill said it was a lovely comfy rut! Well, we are just the same- certainly Cec works each evening, but I am so loathe to go out & just love to stay at home! Cec had a great work session on with late nights etc. until he finished what he was doing at the beginning of the week, then the poor boy got a really horrid head cold & has been poorly with it ever since. He stayed in bed on Wed. but had to go & take his class on Thurs. but stayed in again Fri. & it wasn’t until today that it began to clear a bit so that he could breathe more easily & taste things again.
We did go out once last week – on Monday to one of our concert series which was the Don Cossack Choir. They are a choir of men- originally from Russia after World War I, & so are no longer very young, but they were fun & we enjoyed them. They sang all in Russian- some sort of Church music, some folk songs etc.- their conductor is a little, wee man ( 4ft.10in.) and in a tight uniform & riding boots he looks so minute!
I don’t remember if I had got your letter telling about your New Year when I last wrote- anyway thank you so much for it. Cec & I both enjoyed so much your Christmas & New Year letters & loved hearing all that you had done. It all sounded so much fun, & as if you had had such a good time & we were so happy. I was disappointed that you hadn’t got my parcel yet, but goodness I do hope that it has arrived by now.
Contents of Parcel!
All my parcels to England seemed to get there in good time – I had a letter from Ruth written before Christmas & she had got hers then- no mention of duty!! I also had a letter from my Father- the first I have had since I left England. Thanking me for the parcel & quite nice & appreciative of all the things- he mentioned them all & which he liked best & he was particularly taken with the patience cards, so I am much encouraged to send more. He wrote of playing chess, draughts & bagatelle & doing crossword puzzles etc. & is still very full of his RC religion.
I had a letter from Dottie & she was down staying with the Burtons near L’pool & poor little Pete had caught this horrid ‘flu & was quite ill for a while & still very peaky. It seems really serious in England & must be very worrying for everyone, & doesn’t show any signs of improving yet. I’ve heard nothing more from Anne & how she and baby are getting on, but hope they are all right. Must stop now & go to bed – Cec sends his love & a snuffly hug – hope all the aunties are well & you too, honey bun –
We got your parcel this week and it is lovely! Thank you very, very much for the beautiful luncheon set – it is really a wonderful piece of work, and both Cec and I are so impressed at the immense amount of work you have done for us. I am panting for the day that we have a really nice dining table, so that I can display it in its full glory, because it will look so lovely on a beautiful shiny wood. Thank you also very much for the bamboo mats – they are so nice and will be awfully useful. I had meant to say to you in one of my letters after you mentioned sending some to people in England, that I would love some for my birthday, but you forestalled me & I am so pleased. It was really a lovely parcel Mummy, & both Cec & I are thrilled with the luncheon sets – by the way – I thought I had better tell you – there are 8 little mats & only 7 big ones – Cec thought he should enquire at the P.O. but I didn’t think there was much hope of finding it there- also I wondered if perhaps the 8th mat was still in the making! Anyway don’t worry because there are lots, but I thought I would tell you just in case you had one more to send.
When we went to collect your parcel (the postman puts a note in the door as we’re out & we go to the P.O. to collect) we found one from Joan Cox too, with bubble bath for me & braces for Cec & a cute little wooden kitchen calendar, then next day we got one from Cec’s family, so our Christmas lasted a nice long time. Cec got cigarettes from Carmen & I got a little fat woman with a kitchen pad & pencil from him, & from Mom & Pop we got a pretty plant pot holder – Devonshire ware- in the shape of a duck- I must get a nice little plant to fit in it.
Since I last wrote we have been very quiet – Connie & Leonard left us exhausted! We had a letter from them by the way – very formal – & no word of how Connie was feeling! Each evening after dinner I just lay on the sofa & read & dozed & was sent to bed by 10 o’clock, so this week am feeling more like myself! Cec has been having one of his terrific work sessions, so has been toiling away at night while I slept, but last week was still holiday, so he was able to work at home. I drive to & fro in MacTavish and he is being a very good car.
Last Thurs. Pete & Mary Jo asked us to dinner & bridge with 2 other couples so we went & had a very nice evening. Their little girl, Jody, aged 3, stayed up to receive us & was so sweet & such a little chatterbox. Her Mummy & Daddy come from Baltimore & she has a real Baltimore accent & made Cec & I laugh by saying the flowers were so “purty”!!
On Sat. Bob Peebles, one of my bosses had Cec & I to dinner along with the rest of the Field Office. He is a middle-aged bachelor, but cooked & served a very nice dinner & we had quite a pleasant evening. I don’t like work 1/2 so much now my friend Edie has gone & miss her a lot, but part of my feelings may be post-holiday reaction!!
Thank you lots & lots for your lovely, long newsy letter written at Christmas – we loved it & were so happy that you had such a nice time. I will answer your letter & will write more at the weekend & must go & wash dishes now! Thank you again, honey, for our lovely present –
With lots & lots of love from Cyn & Cec.
Mats from the West Indies! I don’t have my grandmother’s beautiful crocheted luncheon set, but we always had everyday mats- not bamboo, palm leaf-from St Vincent, and I still do.
Happy, Happy New Year! Cec and I send our love and all our good wishes for a beautiful 1951, and hope that you have a lovely time.
We have had the laziest New Year’s Day! In fact, since our guests left on Sat. we have been in a state of collapse and exhaustion, and have done very little except sleep and rest! That sounds bad, doesn’t it, but the fact is that we were really tired when Christmas came, and visitors are a bit of a strain anyway, so it’s nice to relax and have this weekend to ourselves.
I’ll begin at the beginning though, and tell you all about Connie & Leonard’s visit and what sort of a Christmas we all had. Actually, the week before Christmas was hectic – we were busy at work, and each evening at home I had jobs to do- scrubbing the kitchen floor!- icing the cake – ironing- finishing Christmas shopping- making cookies etc. so when we got a letter from C&L saying that they would spend Fri. night in Detroit & come to us on Sat. I was very pleased. We scurried around & were more or less set when they arrived at about 11:30 on Sat. – the friend they’d stayed with brought them in his car. Connie & Leonard looked just the same as ever – their shoes beautifully polished!! The friend, Howard, is an ex-Englishman from Plymouth (knows L’s uncle) who married a US exchange teacher before the war & came over here with her. He is naturalized now, but his wife died recently & he is very nervy & strung up, poor man. He was going on to spend Christmas with his in-laws, so only stayed for a cup of coffee. We gave C&L our bedroom, so they unpacked & we had lunch & in the afternoon the Simpsons, Joan & Oliver & their little boy Christopher, came to tea. They knew the Boveys of course, so we all had quite a gossipy time, & Christopher was very cute & very intrigued with a gum-drop tree which we gave him! They finally went, & we had dinner & by then were all a bit tired, so just chatted till bedtime. Cec & I slept on the sitting room sofa which pulls out into a double bed & wasn’t bad at all.
On Sunday we had the Sutherlands coming to tea, so after our morning breakfast & chores we were all buzzing around when Connie had a nosebleed & eventually fainted. Apparently, she has these nosebleeds sometimes but this one was very violent & she just passed out & scared us to bits. Fortunately, we had some brandy (for the Christmas cake!!) & she came around quite quickly, but looked poorly. However, she was up when the S’s came & we had quite a nice tea party & Connie took the rest of the day quietly.
She was going to go to Church with me on Christmas morning but didn’t feel too well, so I went by myself, & when I got back we had breakfast & then opened our presents! I can’t remember what I told you in our funny Christmas day letter so I’ll tell you the presents again anyway. Cec & I thought C&L so queer as they didn’t give each other anything! Connie had a pair of new shoes with her that she said were from Len, but there was no word of what she given him, & she told us at great length one day of how they took very little notice of Christmas at home etc.! Anyway, Cec & I gave her a pair of nylons, & some plastic bowl covers for the fridge, & Len a pair of gaudy nylon socks & an Esquire calendar of 1/2 clad girls(!!), & a box of sweets to both. They gave us a book of pictures of Oxford & Cambridge & gave us another book of pictures of England when they left, the photos are lovely.
Cec gave me a dress! It is pretty pale blue, & a lovely brown cord boxy handbag. I gave him a pr. of slacks(!) – they are a nice gray–blue, & finally finished that gray- blue sweater!! & a new belt & an ashtray & a diary! We had a nice time anyway. We also got the Book Club from Dottie, & a sub. to Reader’s Digest from Merle & Dixon, & some pretty little square mats with flowers on from Amy & I got a book from Mrs. Allan & a hankie puff from Nan & a little diary from Miss Lefroy. The S’s gave us a bottle of sherry (fair exchange- we gave them one!) & Gunborg gave me a cake, & Mrs. Kaufman made me a lovely sponge cake. Irene sent me a box of bath cubes & Bill sent Cec a book of cartoons, so we really had a lot. Your parcel hasn’t come yet, but it is lovely to have it to look forward to.
Connie & I stuffed the turkey & put it in, & then Mr. & Mrs. K. came up for a glass of sherry during the afternoon. We finally had our dinner & the turkey was grand, but we ate so much we couldn’t eat any pudding! It was one Mrs. Atkinson gave me ages ago, so I don’t know what it would have been like anyway, but when I went out later, I had forgotten it & it had boiled dry & was like a hard stone! we threw it out!
Next day we took C&L to town & they shopped a bit, but it was very cold (snow on the ground all the time) so we didn’t stay too long. In the evening we went to the S’s “English” party- us & the Simpsons & Dockerills & had a lovely time. We had a buffet style meal, & then looked at colour photos & had Swedish “glögg” (a kind of hot punch) before we went home. We all got presents from under the tree – mine was “foam baths “& Cec got a cigar! Little Mary got Santa’s Candy Store & was thrilled to bits!
Next day we went for our first long drive in the car – to Toledo! We set off at about 10:30 in the morning & Cec drove about 1/2 way, & then I drove the rest. We had a cup of hot chocolate in the middle, but it was a very cold day, with bright sun on the snow, so it wasn’t too good driving, but we managed fine. We arrived in good time for lunch & Til & Lois were pleased to see us, & it was fun showing Connie their pretty house. We had a drink & a nice dinner of roast beef & floating island, & felt very bloated! We took Til a rolling pin & pie plate for her Christmas present! They were very pretty cream oven proof ware, with a wreath of green ivy leaves & she thought they were cute & so did I! We took a Lois a beer stein for her evening beer & she liked that too. They gave us our Christmas & wedding present & so did Ruth, & they were lovely. Ruth’s was towels – gorgeous tomato & lime green ones! Til & Lois’ was a waffle iron and grill combination – yes, I know we have one! And we had to confess we had, (we got it with Marie’s money, remember?) – but this one is twice as big & very nice, so we will have to see if we can sell the other. That reminds me, we got an invitation to Bebe’s wedding, so will have to send something, but haven’t her address – will you send it to me? And ofcourse give her the embroidered tablecloth – I think it is a very good idea & don’t mind a bit. I have one of your table cloths, & at the moment don’t get a chance to use it much, so don’t mind doing without the other.
Lois & Connie behind Cyn & Til.
Ruth & Mary & the children came to visit while we were there, but we left between 4 & 5 & Cec drove all the way home & was very good. My clever little husband.
Next day I went to work for the morning- Cec drove me – & then met the others for lunch in town. They then went shopping & Cec & I came home & I baked a big mince pie & got dinner ready as the Dockerills were coming. We had cold turkey & ham, stuffed baked potatoes, vegetable casserole, salad, cranberry sauce etc. then the mince pie, & everyone seemed to enjoy it. Instead of a jigsaw puzzle this year, Cec got us a game- at least 4 games in 1- & one is Chinese Checkers & we played that & had quite fun.
Friday I went to work 1/2 day again, & then Cec took the Boveys shopping again & I washed! In the evening after dinner we went to the Simpsons for coffee, & then on Sat. morning we drove C&L to Detroit to Howard’s & we all went out to lunch. They were going back by train either yesterday or today. We got back here about 5 & Cec got a cup of tea ready & then I fell asleep on the sofa till 8 o’clock when he woke me for a sandwich! Then at 9 he took over the sofa & slept till 11 when we tottered to bed & slept till 11 next morning!!
We hadn’t made any plans for New Year’s Eve, but Gordon came around & asked us to see it in with them so we did, & Anne and Kirsten sneaked down & joined in too! We called in at Pete & Mary Jo’s on the way home & Gordon came & first-footed us so we had fun. Today we got up late & Cec had a grand time listening to the big football game in the Rose Bowl in California- California v. Michigan & wewon!
As you can imagine our visitors weren’t all joy! We decided that one trouble was that they stayed a bit too long for our small flat, & by the end we were all a bit too much on top of each other. They were very good about helping, but Connie was poorly off & on all the time – she didn’t know whether it was the “debility” thing she’s been having or if she was “preggy”! She was only 1 week overdue, so I don’t know if that was much to go by, but she made me laugh by saying that everyone had been trying to make her pregnant for the past 2 years!! Anyway, apart from that Cec & I think she is very spoilt, & gets peevish on the slightest provocation, so she annoyed us a bit. Another thing that annoyed us was that they are absolutely obsessed with money & could talk of very little else. They constantly were comparing prices with Canada, & every other thing they would say we can’t afford that, and actually they are getting just what we were before I was working & what we still live on (as my pay goes for McTavish) so they are not so poverty- stricken as all that! However, the visit is over & we all parted on friendly terms!
Talking of babies & being preggy, I had a letter from Anne written on the day hers was born- the 19th. A little girl Janita Margarita – 8 lbs 1 1/4 ozs- after only 3 hours labour – Anne very thrilled & pleased of course! We also had news that Jean & Graham are having one in May- Joan & Ray in June- & Millie at work in June! Isn’t it amazing? We were also very thrilled to hear from Jennifer – the D.Sc. teacher from London who travelled over on the ship with us last year. We had often wondered & she writes to say that she & Ben (the ex-RAF fellow who was on the ship too) were married in April, & they have bought a holiday camp in Ontario & are having a baby this summer too! I am so happy to have my curiosity gratified!
I forgot to tell you that your letter with the maps & plans of the island came on the 29th (posted 27th N.) & thank you very very, very much honey. I enjoyed them & am keeping them with me for reference in future – it is much more fun to actually have some idea where everything is.
Must stop now & go to bed – work again tomorrow – I feel quite unaccustomed to the thought! My love & good wishes to Aunties Moo & Ettie- got A. Moo’s Christmas card & your card to the Boveys –
Cyn and Cec had invited their friends, the Boveys, to come for Christmas- the latest physicist pair transplanted from Cambridge to North America, now living in Ottawa where Cec and Cyn expect to go within the next year, but not very happy about it. However, they obviously resumed their Cambridge habits, because this Christmas letter is written as they play bridge together, just as they had in England! Connie and Len had known Carol Ewing from the time before Cyn and Cec were married, so they join in sending her a description of their day. The handwriting switches whenever a new hand is played and someone else is dummy- all except for Len, who played every hand, and was left to send a message on the envelope!
Christmas day – evening.
Dear Mrs. Ewing –
In case you don’t recognize my writing this is Connie starting a Christmas day round robin to you from we four –
Today Cyn & I coped with a turkey all alone without our respective mothers to give advice! After an enormous meal of ‘it’ – or at least part of, plus stuffing, cranberry sauce, creamed potatoes, beans & tomato aspic salad we have retired exhausted for a game of bridge with a faint hope of having the plum pudding & hard sauce later.
This letter will become a bit disjointed because whoever’s dummy adds a bit.
CYN Hello honey bunny – this is Cyn! I am dummy and poor Cec is struggling away with a bid of 3 hearts and a Yarbrough except for one Jack, which was a present from me!!
We have been busy talking about our Mummies all day and hope that you have all had a happy, happy Christmas. I went to Church at 8 o’clock this morning- Connie was coming with me but didn’t feel well this morning – then just got home in time to hear the “round the world” broadcast & dear little Kingie! Cec made it – I go!
CEC Now I am the dummy. Cyn out to make 1 club to get us game.
I am wearing my sweater. Do you know, the one she started sometime ago? Also a pair of blue slacks & a belt – presents from my little wife. We’ve been very practical this Christmas, -we needed clothes & have got them for presents. Fun.
We are having a lovely lazy loafing lounging time with the Boveys. (Cyn is way past her bid.)
CYN Me again! We are doing well just now – Leonard thinks the cards are being horrid to him!
We are having the nicest time – we were fair wore out by the time work finished on Friday, but Connie & Len arrived on Sat. morning (stayed a night with a friend in Detroit) & since then we have had a lovely time. Connie & Len are most helpful visitors & I just put my feet up! You would have laughed to see Connie & me coping with this enormous turkey (14 1/2 lbs.) He was a beauty, but we were quite puzzled by his anatomy – we kept making more & more stuffing to fill him up, & then in the end he swelled so, that the stuffing burst out, but we all thought he was delicious!
Church this morning was very quiet. I drove down of course & found only about 20 – 30 people there, & although there were 3 Christmas trees – two very big – there were no decorations or lights on them, so it all looked rather dim and gloomy. We sang in rather a quavery way, but I piped up.
I was so happy to hear the English programme- did you hear it? I cried & cried & was so pleased about hearing it all!! The King’s voice wasn’t very clear, but we could hear most of it.
CEC Yes Cyn enjoyed Georgie. We have been having a wonderful run of cards- three game bids in a row made.
McTavish is behaving quite well – a few things to be fixed. We are off to see Til & Lois on Wed., if the roads are good. We are being careful. (Cyn made 3 diamonds, so back to bridge.) She was stubborn and now has to play 4 clubs which she won’t make.
You mustn’t worry about (down one) Cyn’s dieting. (down two) I was keeping an eye on her, & she kept her good nature all the week. She lost enough & won’t be doing it again. (down three). But now she’s trying again with 2 diamonds.
How do you like the running commentary on our game. Cyn gave me a ‘dairy’ – and a lovely ashtray. One of these kinds loaded with shot which will stay anywhere you put it. (She made it!!!) (Bridge)
We’ve got our Xmas tree with our little Angel on top, she still looks lovely, Cyn I mean. Lots & lots of love Cec XX XX
CYN Isn’t that a nice husband? My presents were lovely- a dress and a handbag from seats! The dress is a pale blue wool jersey & has a pinky-red & navy blue swathed belt. It buttons on each shoulder with 3 buttons (material covered) and the button holes are bound with the navy & pink – it’s pretty. The handbag is a thing I needed badly as I haven’t a brown one at all – it is “corday” like that black one I bought in Toledo & is the cutest boxy shape – I had a lovely Santa Claus! My other presents were a book by Simenon from Mrs. Allan, a pale blue hanky-puff from Nan, bath cubes from Irene & very pretty little cocktail mats from Amy. Cec & I together got a lovely book of photos of Cambridge & Oxford from Connie & Len, the Book Club from Dottie, & a sub. to Readers Digest for a year from Cec’s sister Merle & Dixon. We also got a cake & sherry from the S’s & an angel food cake from Mrs. Kaufman, & Cec got a lovely book of cartoons from Irene & Bill. Your parcel hasn’t come yet, but it is fun to look forward to & know it is coming. We got Bren’s lovely lacquer bowls & think they are beautiful.
Must stop now, & get it mailed. Poor Len never got to be dummy but sends his love & Connie too. I’ll write a real epic later in the week, but want to send this to tell you we are thinking of you & send hugs & kisses for the New Year.
Just beginning a little note before I go to bed. I have had a busy evening ironing like mad, but I like ironing on Monday evening as there are nice musical programs on the radio from about 7:30 to 11 & it is the only evening that has so much nice music. Tonight they were playing lots of nice Christmas carols and music and Cec and I were thinking how strange it was to think of you hearing Christmas carols sung by a little black boys and girls all in summer clothes, with the sun shining and flowers and everything! Talking of flowers, I had such a pretty dream this morning just between the alarm and getting up! I dreamt I was walking through some fields & it seemed to be early on a sunshiny morning. I seemed to be following some directions as I counted the fields I crossed until I came to a high stone wall & above it I could see & hear hundreds of seagulls flying & wheeling & crying. I was a bit scared to open the door & go through, but I did – and on the other side was a great hillside of bare bushes & shrubs & perched on them and flitting about & twittering & tweeting were clouds of the loveliest little tiny birds – pale blue & pale pink – some pink and blue – some blue and yellow – some blue and grey – & I was just standing there with all the little things flying around. Wasn’t that a nice dream? All in Technicolour too!
We had ever such a busy weekend getting ready for Connie & Len. On Friday night I made my Christmas cake – a Christmas loaf really. I made it and baked it on Sat. morning. Then on Saturday I thoroughly cleaned the bedroom & sittingroom – behind & under everything! I polished the furniture & floor & felt very virtuous! In the afternoon Cec & I went downtown and did a bit of Christmas shopping, but came back in time to wash my hair & for us to get ready for the Physics Dept. Party.
Next Morning- (at work early– Cec has an 8 o’clock class.)
We bought a set of yellow towels for Cec’s brother Russell, who is getting married on Thursday. – we had an invitation & nice note from his bride-to-be, Errol, & although the present won’t get there in time, at least we made an effort!
We got a cute little folding umbrella from Mom Costain- it is ordinary size opened up, but pushes together & scrunches up into a little fat tube! It is covered with a kind of blue plaid & looks quite smart. We also got Gunborg & Gordon a bottle of sherry as their Christmas present & the girls woolly mittens in various colours & patterns!
Continued- a month later!
January 14th-!!!
Dearest Little Momma,
I began this letter the week before Christmas & just never had a minute to finish it, so I am sending what there is along with a few funny things that might amoose you! One is a chart of the display we made for the open day at the Center, so you may get a little better idea of what the Field Office does. There were some pictures taken too, so when they are I’ll send some along. Also I’m enclosing some funny things we gave to Edie on the day she left- the Fri. before Christmas. The Institute collected & got her a dear little travelling bag- a little square box-y over night bag, with place for toilet things etc. – very cute. The Field Office however were supposed to give Edie a present on their own, but Sylvia & I being underlings, didn’t hear much about it, except to give our $1 each! However, eventually they decided to give her the money ($30) & each to write a poem or something silly, & we all went down to the train on the Fri. afternoon (Cec too) & we gave her an envelope with the money & envelopes with all the poems etc. & she had quite a sendoff. I miss her a lot- the Field Office doesn’t seem 1/2 such a cheery place without Edie.
The Physics Party I mentioned earlier was quite a success in the end. There were a couple of skits first & then supper then games & dancing etc. & everyone seemed to have a good time. My only gripe was that I had typed out dozens of carols & had had the sheets mimeographed for everyone & then in the end they only sang 2 carols!
The other enclosure is a picture by Grandma Moses, to cool you down when it is hot! We got a box of Christmas cards & this bigger one was enclosed, so I thought you would be interested to see it & read about the old lady painting. I think they are so sweet & love to see what all the funny little people are doing.
Will write by A.M. in a day or so, so you will get it long before this one.
Lots & lots of love & hugs
from
Cynnie.
This is a Scroll we presented to Edie when she left. Shirley had the idea & I made it up (recognize a “quote” from our passports!!) and wrote it in black & red on a great sheet of paper. We put a big red & gold seal & red ribbons & it looked very elegant! Edie wrote and said she was going to have it framed!
Honorary Award of Merit
To Whom It May Concern: –
Let it be known that on the twenty second day of December, this year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty, we of the Field Office, do hereby appoint and commission Miss Edith Dunkin to be our representative in all our lands of the Americas bordering on the Pacific Ocean. This tenure shall be of thirty years duration, with an option in the favour of the Field Office to retain the services of the said Miss Edith Dunkin, the renumeration thereof to be the token payment of $1 (one dollar) per year.
We hereby request and require, in the name of the Field Office, all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer of this Honorary Award to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford her every assistance and protection of which she may stand in need.
This is going to be a whale of a letter to wish you a happy, happy Christmas, so put your feet up, undo your corsets, loosen your belt & sit back! Cec is going to wash the dishes for me, the honey, so that I can sit & write & write & write all evening!
When I got home from work today there was a nice letter waiting from you (posted 5th Dec.) & Aunt Ettie’s with your page enclosed came yesterday, so I got a lovely spread-out mail even if it came in the wrong order! Thank you very, very much for them Mummy, & also for your great fat 50¢ letter (mailed 28th Nov.) which I got last week- I love getting them all & hearing of your doings & all the news & gossip. It is 10 days since I wrote you the air letter about ourcar, but we have really been buzzing! We have been having driving lessons & seeing about licenses & insurance etc. etc. & have been kept busy, but today Cec went & took his driving test & got his license, so we think he is a clever boy! I haven’t taken mine yet – mainly because they don’t give them on Sat. & I work other days, but I have an appointment for Monday & will take an hour off work.
I haven’t told you much news apart from the car for about two weeks, so will go right back to the weekend of 25th Nov. when we had that terrible bad weather. I was so glad you told me how Margs & Mil & their families fared, as Cec & I were wondering, & we worried about Bill when we heard of the terrible Long Island R.R. crash. They must have had a bad time of it, with all the flooding in the basements, etc. But I am glad that it was no worse & that they didn’t have any really bad damage. We had a regular snow blizzard here, & as it was the weekend & we didn’t have to go out, we rather enjoyed ourselves & stayed in & were cosy at home! The great of the event of the weekend in Ann Arbor, was that Michigan (University) were playing their great football rivals, Ohio, down in Columbus, Ohio, & despite the fact that it was snowing & no one could see a thing, they still played & Michigan won! We listened to the game on the radio & got ever so excited (I still don’t understand it!) especially as it was the last game of the season & when Michigan won, it meant they were the Champions! The winners of this League go to California for New Year’s Day & play a big match against the winners out there in a big stadium called “The Rosebowl” & it is a great honour, so all of Michigan was very pleased! The funny thing was that Columbus got completely snowed up so lots of people who went to the game got stuck there for days!
At the beginning of that week I finally got my last parcels packed & off, & then next weekend we sent all our Christmas cards to England etc. A few, we kept to put letters in, so of course they straggled on & we are finally having to A.M. them! Mrs. Allen’s birthday card was one, & Cec’s friends Cliff & Gwengar, & we still haven’t sent Frank’s to Australia! I already have cards from Dottie, Mrs. Johnny, Mrs. Allen, Auntie Trix, Bar & Geraldine, & Nan & Dick (their’s is a lovely colour photo of Moira Shearer as Cinderella in the ballet.) Dottie wrote & told us that she was sending us another Book Soc. subscription which is lovely, & Bar sent us a very nice little book on Chester with lovely photos, & a pretty hankie for me. I can still hardly believe Christmas is so close & that Connie & Leonard are coming a week on Friday! I have a list as long as my arm of things to do – make Christmas cake & pudding – clean the whole flat – finish shopping etc. etc. & don’t know when I’ll begin!! Oh well, if it doesn’t all get done, Connie will have to turn to & help me! By the way – we continue to get annoyed at Connie & Leonard’s letters – they are nothing but grumble, grumble all the time! They have a flat now but it’s not ideal, & living is so expensive – much more so than the U.S. from what they can see – after all even stamps there are 4¢ compared to our 3¢, & Connie has her old symptoms of depression etc. etc. etc.! However, we are trying to be tolerant & hope that at Christmas they will feel better & more cheerful – if not, by the end of the week we will be telling them a thing or three!! But I don’t think they have told us that even one thing is nice since they got there – can you imagine!
To go back to my activities, on the Wed. (29) evening Cec & I were inveigled into going to a Committee Meeting for the Physics Dept. Xmas Party! The real members of the committee were Gordon & Gunborg – Cec’s pal Pete and his wife Mary Jo (who used to drive me shopping) & another young Prof. Hassen and his wife (the ones who had the funny modern 1/2 finished house – went to tea there in the spring.) We were sort of wished in by the Pete’s & Gordon & Gunborg, but it was a very pleasant meeting at the Pete’s, with drinks & eats etc. & we planned games & carol singing & a skit etc. The party is for faculty & graduate students, & half the entertaining is done by each, so we could shelve 1/2 of the responsibility on the students! Cec & I managed to get out without too much to do – my job is to type a stencil of carols & get about 200 copies run off, so I spent last night typing & Cec got the stencil run off today. I made one funny mistake- on my typewriter at work, the comma key is two commas above each other- a comma in ordinary writing & an apostrophe in Shift- on the portable it is a question mark above a comma, – a comma in ordinary writing and a question mark in capitals, so for one carol title I have “GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN? REJOICE”!!
The next weekend – i.e. last weekend- we bought the car! We began, you know, by seeing an ad. in the paper for an English Ford, 1949, for $495, & we thought, well golly – we could pay for that straight away! And a year old we thought it should be O.K, so on our way downtown to buy groceries, we stopped at the car dealers & asked about it. The man made an appointment to take us to see it next afternoon, as it was at their place outside town, so away we went next day & lost heart the moment we saw it! It was the most hideous mud colour to begin with- all scraped & battered along one side – no mat or carpet inside, just boards – no dashboard, just yawning holes, & to complete it all, it wouldn’t start!! So we abandoned it quickly & looked around & finally saw our pretty MacTavish – that is what we have christened the car, as it is a “Highlander Club Coupe” (with its tartan lining!) The “coupe” means that it has what is called a 1/2 back seat. i.e. it hasn’t much leg room compared to “sedans” & will only hold 2 in the back, but as it holds 3 on the front seat anyway, & is positively huge, we are glad it’s no bigger! We joined the A.A.A. (Auto Assoc. of America) & got all our insurance etc., through them & they give us all sorts of additional help, like free towing if the car won’t start & other things.
Gunborg & Gordon were giving a party for Gordon’s “group” of research students & wives that evening, so Cec & I went up early about 6 o’clock & helped them get ready. They were properly impressed with ourcar & so was everyone all evening long! There were about 30 there, & Gunborg served Mulled Wine (hot & spiced- nice!) to begin with, & then we watched some of Gordon’s movies. After that we played games & then had supper – a kind of Swedish smorgasbord with hot meatballs, & beet & herring salad & potato salad & green salad & stuffed celery etc. with trifle afterwards. Anne & Kirstin were out at a school party, so little Mary was allowed to stay up & open the door for the visitors & she was sweet- she has a new red corduroy velvet pinafore skirt with a little white blouse & she looks like a little Christmas! She stayed up & up & I eventually put her to bed about 11:30 after supper- very sleepy, but having a wonderful time!
We didn’t do much next day except send off our cards, so had a quiet day, & on Monday we saw about insurance etc. & on Tuesday we got the car. Neither of us could get licenses till we had a test, so we arranged to have 2 driving lessons each with a man from the Driving School to refresh our knowledge. My first lesson was straight after work on Tues. & this man came for me in his car & we drove around A.A. for an hour & I got on all right. (He looked just like Sherlock Holmes – pipe & all!) In the meanwhile Cec had asked his pal, Al, to drive the car home for us, & he stayed for dinner as his reward! After that, Al took us a drive in our limousine, & drove to his digs, where we left him & I drove us home – I was fine – except that we got ourselves lost twice, driving about 2 miles from one part of A.A. to another!! We even got onto little narrow country lanes & did we feel silly!! Cec had his 2 driving lessons during the next few days, but I had my next one on Sat. morning & the man told us to practice a little with our car before we took our test. So in the afternoon we drove around & I got groceries, & then we took our laundry up to Gunborg’s as she had told us to, as she wanted to see MacTavish. She was out shopping but I did my washing & Cec & Gordon washed their cars! They finally set out in MacTavish to collect Gunborg- & were our faces red – they stopped at a shop for Gunborg to get something & MacT. wouldn’t start & had to be pushed! We had to have him at the garage since then & they have fixed his battery so we hope he will be good now!
I forgot to tell you that we had Al to dinner again on Friday and afterwards we had another drive around & then all went to the pictures. It seemed ages since we were there last- we saw “The Next Voice You Hear”, which was quite unknown to us, but turned out to be very good. It was supposed to be that God suddenly spoke on the radio at 8:30 one evening & was heard all over the world in every language. You never hear the voice, but see what it does to an ordinary little American family- man, wife going to have a baby, & a boy about 12- & how they feel & what they do etc. It lasts for 7 days (Cec laughs at my description- you know what I mean!) & we thought the whole thing was very well done.
On Sunday Cec felt a bad cold coming on, so he stayed in bed till the afternoon. We had been invited to an “Open House” by Edie & the girl she lives with, Anne (!!) So I set off alone as we didn’t think Cec should go out, especially as it was snowing. There were all the Survey Research people there, so I knew everyone & had quite a nice time- got kissed under the mistletoe by my boss Charlie too! They had a piece very cunningly hung over the middle of the sofa, so each newcomer was caught unawares! There were hundreds & hundreds of Christmas cookies to eat- A. Ettie will tell you about all the different kinds with different German names- & they had a fruit punch, which wasn’t 1/2 so innocent as it tasted. I got home about 7, & Cec was most amused because he gave me the key to get something from the car & although I made 3 trips to the car & back for advice (giggling all the time) I never got the car open at all! The key just wouldn’t go in!
Next day Cec’s cold had become a cough, but I felt a bit funny although I went to work. My eyes were burney & boiled feeling you know, so at noon Cec sent me home & I tumbled into bed & slept all afternoon & most of the evening too. It seem to do the trick because I was O.K. yesterday & today, but Cec still has a cough – must have been some kind of germ we got.
Cyn’s Plan.
This week at work we have been in a furore, as we had an Open Day today with invitations to all the University to come & see us. Each dept. had to have a display & after a meeting Sylvia & I were handed the job – a most thankless one! I planned it out, & apart from 2 posters we got done for us, we did the whole thing ourselves & after toiling all week got it up & ready for 1:30 today. Yesterday we were just about frantic as we were chopped & changed from place to place & no one would co-operate & the 2 posters weren’t ready, but finally we got it done & everyone said it was very good – I’ll enclose an illustration sometime! The Open Day was quite a success – Cec came & we looked about & then had free cake & coffee & enjoyed ourselves! He met all the people at work that I tell him about & I got the chance to show him off! We drove home in ourcar!
Plan executed.
I had intended to begin & answer all your letters, but Cec tells me it is bedtime, so I’ll close & mail this & then continue in my next! Now I am up to date I’ll plunge right into your letters next time.
You know that your little family here will be thinking of you such a lot at Christmas time, honey-bun, & wishing that we could all be together, but we hope that you have a very, very happy Christmas with your sisters and that you won’t be sad missing us, but get busy planning to spend next Christmas with us. I’ll write again really soon & answer all that lovely pile of letters here, so you will be getting another letter before Christmas I hope – But anyway – we both send all our love and all our good wishes for a merry Christmas –
A Family History in Letters 