Once they were home from the holidays, and had the pictures developed, Cyn made a booklet for her mother to show her cottage life. She put her own photos in the scrapbook, continued to write her mother letters, Carman went back home to university, Cec stared working hard, and Carol, on receipt of the pictures, pasted them all in her own photo album featuring her grandchildren! It was a memorable holiday all round.
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.
Round Lake. Thursday. About 27th (?) Aug!
Dearest Mummy,
I am so sorry that I haven’t written for such a long time. I brought a whole scad of writing things up here & this is the first time I have even had my pen out! I sort of imagined myself sitting back with nothing to do but read & write while the children played contentedly in the sand by themselves, but of course it’s not a bit like that! However, it is a glorious place & we are having a lovely, lovely time, so what does it matter if we don’t have much “sitting back” time!
The lake is big – about 7 miles across & even longer I think- it reminds me of Ullswater or some of those in the Lake District & has one or 2 little islands in it. The nearest town is Pembroke 24 miles away & only one little store near her, so you have some idea how isolated it is, but the milkman calls 3 times a week which is nice. There are pine woods all round the lake & our cottage is built in the midst of them – then a sandy track (not really a road!) then the beach & lake. It reminds me of Millie’s & Ford’s camp, but being right on the lake it is even nicer & the cottages are spread out & mostly empty now, so we are very private. The cottage itself is adequate but not fancy – we have a wood stove for cooking & a pump over the sink & a little “house” up the hill! It has electricity though, & there is a beautiful fridge & lamps & a hot plate which is nice.
The weather on the whole has been perfect. We drove up on Sat. 15th & that night it got very cold – Cec & I sat under a blanket & huddled in front of a little electric radiator all evening! Next day Lee & Barry arrived (Cec went into Pembroke & got them from the train) & Jim didn’t come till Wed. as he had work to finish. Between Sun. and Wed. it was dull & cold, mostly, some days bright and sunny, although at night it was icy! However, we kept the stove on all day & it was all right although Charlie’s 6 a.m. feed was a chiller! After Wed. however it got warmer & warmer & is now around 85 – 90 in the day & just nice & cool at night. It was sweltering this morning but now a wind is blowing & the lake is all waves. Carman came up on Fri. evening & stayed till Mon. afternoon & enjoyed it thoroughly & on Sat. afternoon Joan Gallagan (the pretty girl who was Dr. H’s sec at N.R.C.) came with her sister Kitty (their home is in Pembroke). They brought corn & we had hot dogs & had a nice picnic & bathed & had fun.
I am going onto another A.M. as I haven’t told of what fun the children are having.
Lots of love- Cyn.
Mon. 27th July 1953
Dearest Mummy,
Here are the christening pictures, so at last you are up-to-date on how the family is looking! Actually we are not often all so dressed up, but at least it shows we can do it once in a while!! Lindy & I both have our new hats & dresses on- our hats are white & my dress white with red & Lindy’s white with little brightly coloured flowers – she looks so grown up in some of the snaps, but not so much in real life! I was quite surprised that the christening dress still fitted Charlie quite well, but there was no such thing as draping it elegantly for the picture! He kicked & wriggled & stuck his feet out & didn’t approve of skirts at all! He is so different from Lindy in so many ways it is really funny – when he cries he still floods with tears whereas she rarely can squeeze a drop out; he just loves to be kissed & squeezed & cuddled & laughs & chuckles, while Lindy is quite an independent little piece & just likes to cuddle on occasion; at his age Lindy was sitting up by herself, but Charlie has no interest in sitting, he just loves to get on his feet! He is quite steady & needs very little help, but sitting by himself he wobbles around & can’t balance on his little bottom! Do you remember how Lindy used to wake up for her late feed with such a sweet little smile? Well Charlie is so funny – he’s just like his Daddy & has such a struggle to wake up – rubbing his eyes & screwing his face up & blinking for ages! Altogether, it is so amusing to compare them & in looks they vary quite a bit now – Charlie is a real honey-blonde with curly hair & his eyes are a very bright blue – Lindy’s hair is brown & her eyes are quite a different shade of blue – everyone says she is like me & Charlie like Cec- I don’t know, of course! It is sweet to see them together though as they are going to be such friends I think – Charlie loves to watch Lindy & laughs & gurgles at her whereas Lindy is getting fonder & fonder of him & talks to him & wants to hold him & bath him & even feed him! If he cries she runs to him & says “It’s all right Charlie” & of course if either of them really howl the other does too! She gets such a thrill if Charlie uses her things too- no sign of possessiveness at all – if Charlie is in her table or wears overalls of hers or anything she is so tickled & pleased about it! Lindy’s talking is really going on wonderfully we think – she is getting quite good at personal pronouns & says “I’ll get it” & “I’m tired” & “Charlie in his carriage” & also has began to use negative statements & says “That’s not Lindy’s Daddy” when she’s waiting for Cec & a car goes by & “Lindy can’t reach it” etc. which we think is very advanced. She has picked up some funny expressions from Carman- when he’s pleased he sometimes says “Oh, bully, bully!” & Lindy is always saying “Bully, bully says Carman”! One morning after breakfast she got on my knee & bounced & I said “Oh don’t do that – I’m full of breakfast.” so she grinned & said “Mummy full of breakfast – Lindy full of beans!”
I just wrote a note with the other snaps last week, but really I have very little news – it has been so hot that we tried to do as little as possible. It is pleasanter now – has been very damp & humid, but is now warm, but not so roasting hot. We got Lindy one of those plastic paddling pools – just a little one, but she loves it – has only been in it twice as it got a bit rainy for a few days, but I think will soon get very used to it. At present she is chary of lying down & doesn’t even sit much, but loves to stand & pour water on herself from a little pail! She has a little yellow terry cloth bathing suit & I tie her hair back & she looks a pet. We have all this on the front grass as there is no back now of course, so all the passersby enjoy it!
On Sat. Margie & I decided to go over & see Lu & the baby in hospital, so Margie drove me in their new car. She has driven her Dad’s cars for years & Cy was the one who’d never driven before, but they both have licenses now. It seemed very odd & “chuggy” after MacTavish! We had the latter all overhauled last month & various new engine parts & he goes like a dream now. Lu was looking wonderful- her entire labour lasted exactly 2 hours beginning with the water breaking & she had precisely 2 pains! We saw the baby too & I really think it’s not just my newborn babies who look funny!!! He is to be called Peter Alan after his Daddy- Lindy thinks baby brothers are all the go — she was reciting last week “Leslie has a tiny wee baby brother – Nancy has a baby brother – Danny has a baby brother – Lindy has a baby brother, Charlie!”
After I got home on Sat. I was just cooking dinner around 6 when the phone rang & this was a cousin of Cec & Carman’s called Cliff who was driving out to Nova Scotia, and had just got to Ottawa, so of course Cec asked him to come over & with a little judicious stretching (onion soup I had already made – bacon with the liver – a big salad + the veg I’d cooked & cake with the raspberry sherbert) there was enough dinner! He is in the Air Force (a Flying Officer) & is just Carman’s age (21) but he’s already married. You were surprised that Carman had a girlfriend at his age, but he thinks he’s a bit slow as so many of his pals are already married! Anyway Cliff’s wife is called Elsie, & although we all liked Cliff very much, none of us cared for her & I thought she was awful! They were stationed last in Saskatoon so Carman knew them quite well, but Cec hadn’t met Cliff since he was 4! He is quiet & pleasant, but she is loud voiced & has an annoying laugh & seems quite brainless & isn’t even pretty! What got me was that she was so gauche & seemed to have no kind of social sense at all – when I, as hostess, offered to take her upstairs to the bathroom she just said “Oh, I’ll just sit awhile” & then when I said I hoped they hadn’t eaten as dinner was just about ready she said “Oh well, we did eat sometime this afternoon – when was it Cliff?” & I could have kicked her teeth in! Apparently Cliff had dated her in Edmonton & then was posted down to London, Ont. & was lonely & fed up there & after 7 months wrote & asked her to marry him & she went right off & did- poor boy. Cec & I were just saying that she’s not going to be much help to a fellow in the Services with a career to make – Services’ wives always seem to have to fit in well, or else it reflects on him. They were just staying overnight in Ottawa, so we put them up on the sitting room sofa-bed. Cec & Carman were sweet though- Charlie has given us a few disturbed nights lately- more teeth, we think – so they packed me off to bed & washed all the dinner dishes & on Sunday morning Cec got up & got everyone’s breakfasts & brought mine to bed & I just got up to wave the guests farewell!
Yesterday of course was our 4th wedding anniversary. We had thought we’d go out on Sat. evening & have dinner at the Château Laurier etc. but on considering our finances & the fact that we are going away next month, we decided to postpone the splurge until later, & actually with Cliff & Elsie turning up it was just as well & we really had a lovely day. As I say, Cec brought up my breakfast in bed & he’d decided (for no reason!) that the 4th Anniv. was china & so here on my tray was a lovely card & a beautiful china cup & saucer. It is English china – one of these cups just white with a gold rim outside & inside a lovely spray of yellow roses – the pattern is called “Golden Rose”. My present to Cec was much less enduring – a bottle of Graves! We had a yummy dinner – grilled steak with mushrooms & tomatoes, mashed potatoes, celery & radishes, then fresh blueberry pie with ice cream – & of course the wine! I was talking to Phyl Douglas on the phone in the afternoon & it turned out it was their wedding anniversary too- the 8th! They were going out to dinner, but we said they must come up & have a glass of wine with us before they went – Alec just got back from Europe last Tuesday. After dinner Cec & Carman & I just sat & chatted & then Carman washed up for us & Cec & I strolled down to the corner for cigarettes & seeing the Earle’s light on we phoned when we got home & asked Patsy to come over. Carman was feeling a little lonesome we thought, so Pat helped cheer him up – she is working in a Bank now & is really a cute girl. The Earles just had a big shock a little while ago – their son (22 or 23 I think) finally divulged that he got married last March! Another bit of gossip – remember the Orans who lived on the other side of the Grahams? There was the old lady, her daughter & her granddaughter – another Pat- anyway the Mama – a very bossy woman we think- just got married last week, so I heard Pat telling Mr. Labelle! We’ve seen her dating this old boy, but didn’t know he’d brave all the women!
I mentioned a page or two back that we were going on our holiday next month & I am getting quite excited. Phyl & Alec Douglas & family go on Sat. for 2 weeks to this cottage on Round Lake (up towards Chalk River) & we have it for the last 2 weeks in Aug. It is right on the lake, has a sandy beach & shallow water, a screened porch & all sorts of amenities like milkman calling daily etc. & Phyl & I are going to arrange to share baby equipment – i.e. she takes up playpen, crib etc. & then leaves them & uses mine here & we bring hers back. Lee & Jim & Barry are coming with us, so it won’t be so expensive ( it is $35 a week) & will be fun too- there are 2 b’rooms with double beds & a couple of camp beds for the children. I was trying to explain to Lindy today about the holiday, but the only thing that registered was that we would “play & get all wet!”
Thank you so much for your long letter posted on the 20th- it arrived on Sat. so was quick. You asked about Boris – he is of Jugoslavian extraction, but came to Canada when he was 8, & you would never know that he hadn’t lived here all his life. His surname is Stoicheff & his home is Toronto- his parents (he is the only son & has 5 sisters) live in a kind of Jugoslavian community there- own church, school etc. & Boris & his sisters are some of the few who have moved out of the close national circle as it were & gone onto Univ. etc. He came to N.R.C. as a Fellow, but is coming on the staff this fall, much to his joy as he likes NRC & the work very much. He got the little silver mug engraved with “Charlie” & it is really sweet – Charlie drank his orange juice out of it today.
About Ruth, Amy just sent a P.C. by sea, but I wrote back A.M. & have since heard from Ruth. She was quite upset as she couldn’t feed the baby, but he is thriving now. She chose a high chair from Harrod’s & should have it now so I hope it’s nice – Amy tells me she is sending Charlie a silver napkin ring- hope he uses it more than I use mine now! I am having Harrods send me a few Viyella rompers etc. & will see what the duty is. We are looking forward to your parcel which hasn’t arrived yet, but we are all enjoying “Mrs. Mike”. Cec has just finished at & I am 1/2 way through – I read a short version in some magazine once, but am enjoying the book very much. We have decided that it will be less confusing for Lindy if we celebrate her birthday at home before we go away, so we are going to have it the weekend after next & by then I hope your parcel will have come. We plan to get her a little tricycle & she will enjoy that at home & it will save taking it up to the cottage. Lindy is getting to know about birthdays now & I told her she was going to have a birthday soon & she is quite tickled & says “Lindy has a birthday – Daddy say “Happy birthday Lindy” – Charlie say “Happy birthday Lindy”! By the way, we hope Lindy’s shyness is passing- she was quite friendly with Cliff & demanded to “Kiss Clip good- night “!
By the way- we did see the same coloured Coronation film as you & I thought it was absolutely beautiful – the colour was easily the most glorious I’ve seen, & I thought the whole thing was perfectly done- television was lousy compared to it.
Must stop or this will weigh a ton – Charlie’s o’alls (as Lindy calls them) will be lovely I’m sure. Kisses from Lindy & Charlie – Love to A. Moo & A. Trix with lots & lots of love from us all —
Cyn.
23rd July
Dearest Mummy,
Just a very hasty note as Cec is coming home early & I am going to make a lightning dash downtown to look at the Sales! I was to go on Sat. but it was so hot – ever since I last wrote we have been in the 90˚s & only down to 70- something at night, so it has been pretty juicy — or rather I should say we have been juicy — oozing in fact!!
We are all fine & well except that little Charlie has a slight tummy upset with the heat I think & is only eating milk. We got Lindy one of those little plastic paddling pools yesterday & she is so cute in it. Your parcel of “Mrs. Mike” & Lindy’s fairy book arrived yesterday – thank you lots & lots. Lindy will hardly part with her NEW book!
Just got the news at noon that Lu Forsyth had a son this morning! Only 2 hrs labour- pretty good!! Boys are the fashion just now, aren’t they?
Must dash, but will write very soon.
Hugs & xxs from us all –
Cyn.
14th July
Dearest Mummy,
This is a couple of pictures Dan took, printed, enlarged, & mounted for me (I have copies.) He thinks they are wonderful, but we don’t think there’s anything super about them except that Lindy is having fun & they show our “back” as it used to be- no nice trees now. They were taken on Sunday a.m. when Cec had dressed Lindy etc, so so she is not poshed up!! It was early June I think & the bits of girl visible are Leslie Crabtree!!
I am enclosing the “corners” you asked for- can’t think why I didn’t get more than one pkt. but will send more when you need them.
Lots of love,
Cyn.
Cyn was having a busy summer and it is obvious that her lodger, Dan, can do very little right in her eyes now. The pictures are bigger than the snaps normally were, and are unposed and spontaneous, which Cyn doesn’t seem to like, but I think show a fun moment in time! Dan’s picture of Charlie captures a charming moment too. This was written on the same day as the air mail letter that arrived in Kingstown, St. Vincent on July 24th, but I’m sure it got there much later!
Tues. July 14, 1953.
Dearest Mummy,
Thank you so much for your nice long letter about your holiday in Mustique – I am so glad you had such a lovely time & that the trips there & back weren’t nearly as alarming as you expected. We were all very interested in your description of the island & tell A. Moo that the map is very clear! The letter arrived this afternoon & I am very sorry you were disappointed in getting no mail from me – I know by now you will have, but I have been slipping from one week to two lately I’m afraid. I like Carman very much at & I’m delighted to have him with us, but there is no doubt about it that I am kept busy with 2 babies and 3 men! I get up at 7 as Carman has only one bus he can catch & pack lunches for both him & Cec – he has no canteen where he works & it is ‘way out in the country – isn’t it silly? Of course with him here I cook & bake a bit more- cookies etc. & although I don’t do his personal washing there are extra towels, sheets, etc. & the children seem to wear more & more clothes all the time! Claire has been coming fairly regularly recently thank goodness, so that has been a blessing.
Since I wrote last, who do you think we have seen? Your old friend Charlie Barnes & his wife! She is an Ottawa girl & they are here from B.C. visiting her family, so we had them over on Wed. evening. Of course I was very curious about Mrs. B (Phyl) (ex-air-hostess) & she is very nice- slim & dark with short hair- vivacious & slightly gushy!! But Charlie is FAT! Yes, & of all unbecoming things has a chin like a bullfrog!! But still nice! They have a little girl of 9 mths, Nancy. On Sat. evening George had a meeting of the ex- Cambridge Canada Club with Cec & Charlie & one or two others (Jim couldn’t go) so I had June & Margie over & we had a Girls’ Gossip! I knew Margie was curious to meet June, so I am now all ears to hear what she thought of her! But she is so much nicer & more content now. She has got a Fellowship at N.R.C. for next (academic – Oct.) year, so will be doing congenial work again too- is keen to start a family though!! Poor Margie has been having a bother again- she asked Cec & me & Carman & Pete & Lu to dinner last Fri. evening (Lu’s baby due a week today) & on Fri. morning had to cancel it as Danny had ‘flu. She was so fed up as the boys have had coughs & colds on & off & the baby has never really been good, so she has had such a time. However, as we had Donna (the babysitter) all ready & I didn’t want to cook dinner (!) we took Carman & collected Pete and Lu & went out to the Island & ate Chinese food & of course enjoyed it as much as ever!
I can’t remember if I told you in my last letter, but it is so important – your Grandson has 2 teeth! He was fretty for 3 or 4 days after we had him to the Dr. & we thought it was the shot & then Cec suddenly found 2 front bottom teeth! Don’t worry about the overalls being big – he is wearing all the clothes now that Lindy wore at 1 yr. & will soon be out of those! Lindy wears all the dresses she wore last summer- I turned down hems of 3 or 4 & then found they were all too long & the unturned ones looked far better!
I have been thinking of poor little Irene all week & know you will be too – I can hardly believe it yet. I wrote to Bill & Mrs. Scott, but there is nothing to say except that I loved her & miss her already.
xxxxs from your babies & love from us all – Cyn
Mon. 6 July.
Dearest Mummy,
I seem to get worse & worse about writing letters, but somehow I always seem to be odd- jobbing in the evenings these days – and – like you – Cec & Carman & I play cut-throat once in a while!
Thank you so much for your Air letter which came today (29th June) & A.M (25th) & a long A.M. letter (22nd June) which came last week. You were all set for your trip to Mustique (?) & I hope that you had a simply lovely time, not marred in the slightest by the whale boat! 2 1/2 hours didn’t sound a very short or quick trip to me, but as Jean’s descriptions often tend to be a bit dramatic, I hope that this was the case & that you didn’t find crossing nearly as bad as you expected. The bathing & picnicking will be fun & I’m sure you will be enjoying the change.
Since we last wrote Charlie has been christened. It was on the Sat. afternoon (27th) & just Cec. & Lindy & Charlie & I were there as Boris had a previous engagement at a wedding. The Rev. Stuart was very nice indeed – so sweet with Charlie, who chuckled & “talked” through the service! Lindy was most intrigued with the brass plate jug etc. by the font & Cec had to keep grabbing her to prevent her grabbing them! The original idea was that Boris & his girlfriend Joan & Jim & Lee & Barry would come to a buffet lunch on the Sunday at 12:30. However, a very sad thing happened to some friends of Jim & Lee’s- a young Jewish couple called Leon & Toby whom they originally knew in New York. They moved to Ottawa about the same time is J. & L. & have a little girl Robin about Barry’s age & now have a baby boy 3 mths. old. Well, Leon was killed in a car accident driving from Toronto & the funeral was on Sunday, so J. & L. & Barry went & looked after the children for Toby while it was on. Boris & Joan couldn’t change their time because of other arrangements so we had a kind of busy day – they came to lunch at 12:30 (Chicken Tetrazzini, salad with stuffed eggs, hot cornmeal muffins, christening cake & ice cream) then left at about 3:30. Boris brought Charlie a lovely little silver christening mug & is having his initials put on it – this was the first time we met Joan, his girlfriend, by the way & although she is pleasant, we don’t think she is nice enough for him! The Ganders arrived about 4, just exhausted. It was a terrible hot, humid day & Barry’d had no rest, so we had tea & fed the children & put them to bed, then later had a salad supper around 8 & played a hand of bridge. I was tired!
Wednesday was Dominion Day & Cec & Carman had a holiday, so we went a little picnic to Rockcliff Park in the afternoon – Lindy loved it. We had Charlie to Dr. W. for his 6 mths. check up a week ago on Friday- he weighs 17.6 & is taller than average- says he is doing fine. He got his 2nd shot & was quite fretty (for him!) for 3 or 4 days & had us up at night or so – however last Sat. Cec discovered 2 new teeth- bottom front! Have some snaps to send taken after christening.
You will of heard by now of Ruth’s son & also I expect from Nan of Irene’s death. I got Nan’s letter today & can hardly believe it- poor little Irene- she loved life so much. Nan & Dottie had said she wasn’t well, but I didn’t realize how bad it was. When you are away you can’t help but think that people are the same as when you left. I feel so sad for Bill & Mrs. Scott – they will miss her so terribly & so many other people will too.
Lindy & Charlie send hugs and & kisses. With lots of love from us all – Cyn.
Tues. 23rd June.
Dearest Mummy,
I am sorry that I didn’t get a letter written last week, but with one thing & another I just seem to be spinning all the time. “One thing” was the weather which suddenly got terribly hot (93° in the shade on Sunday) – that awful humid heat where you are just wet continuously & “another” was the noise at the back, which really got on my nerves. All last week, day & some evenings till 10, we had a chainsaw (noise like an outboard motor on a boat) cutting down trees, a bulldozer steam shovel digging holes & digging out rocks & tree stumps & a tractor scraper. Sometimes they were right up against the house & the noise was deafening – of course the children couldn’t sleep properly & Lindy was scared stiff of the saw & wouldn’t go outside without me, so you can imagine how hectic it was. We called both Police & City Eng. Inspector to no avail – can make any noise till 11 p.m.! Thank goodness it is better this week, but you wouldn’t recognize our lovely “park” – it is all raw earth – no grass – no trees – great rocks & tree stumps here & there & huge trenches dug right up to our back paths. My poor little seeds were just coming up nicely & they are all trampled on & finished. So sad – but at least we had one year.
Thank you so much for your A.M. of 15th July- I am glad some of the odds & ends arrived safely. I sent off a tiny packet from Charlie for you not long ago & I have some photo “corners” that I must send. We are all looking forward to your parcel – it sounds very exciting & will be such fun. The books haven’t arrived yet but will come soon I expect- I had heard of “Mrs. Mike” but haven’t read it so will love to get it.
Last week was Cec’s birthday you know, so he had his b’day cake (choc.) on Sunday & on Tuesday a.m. Lindy & I took his presents into him & Lindy woke him up with “Happy birfday Daddy”! I got his big photo of HMS Indomitable framed for him & we gave him a new ashtray (lead shot type like his old one) & a couple of books & some new glasses. I also got him a sub. to an English book club but none have arrived yet. In the evening we got the children to bed & at 8 o’clock Margie & Cy & Phyl Douglas (Alec has just left for 6 wks in England & Europe for N.R.C.) came to a buffet supper. I had cold chicken, hot stuffing balls, hot sausages, salad & hot rolls (made myself!) & then fresh fruit salad, the choc. cake & coffee. We had lots of fun & the girls insisted on washing up, so I didn’t even have that to do! On Thurs. we had the Herzberg “children” to dinner. Paul is 16 & Agnes 14, so they would be insulted! Dr. and Mrs. H. had both gone to a big meeting in the U.S. & they were looking after themselves, so we thought it would be nice to have them. I was scared they might be vegetarians like Pop but they both tucked into pork chops with a will & it was lovely to watch them – I had forgotten how teenagers could eat! They were very easy to entertain & with Carman there it helped. They said they had a wonderful time most enthusiastically & I think they really did.
At the weekend it was so hot & miserable we thought we’d take a picnic dinner to the Arboritum for a change. Jim & Barry came with us (Lee had a sore throat so stayed at home) & we just got all set – food out – Charlie’s bottle ready & it began to rain & thunder! I don’t know whether I’ll managed to persuade Cec to do it again as he is no picnic fan & this just put the tin lid on it! It was “Father’s Day” on Sunday & we gave Cec cigarettes & a pocket knife, so he did well last week! I just got Lindy 2 sunsuits & a little bathing suit from Eaton’s & they look so cute- it is quite cold & raining now, of course!!
Big hugs from us all & xxxs from Lindy & Charlie – will write soon again. Lots of love from Cyn.
Wed. 10th June. 1953.
Dearest Mummy,
I have two nice letters to thank you for since I last wrote- one long & one A.M. form, 28th & 31st May. I have been meaning to write all this week, but of course I have been busy!
The last time I wrote was the day before Coronation Day & I wrote you a note on the day with the new C. stamp, but I sent that ordinary mail, so you won’t get it for a while. Coronation Day was nice, but somehow very wearing & we all felt exhausted next day! There was a church service at St. Margaret’s at 11:00 & I wanted to go, but I had invited the Garretts with Margie’s Mother & Father to come over for coffee, so I phoned Margie & explained & we arranged that they would come between 11:30 & 12. Charlie had me up at 5:45 a.m. for his feed, so I turned on the radio & listened to the broadcast from England. It was just before the Queen arrived at the Abbey, so I sat & listened until 7:30 just as she was crowned, then I felt so sleepy I went back to bed for an hour until Lindy got me up! I dashed around & tidied & made breakfast (& cookies!) & got to Church on time. It was a Communion Service & the little Church was full- the Vicar gave a very short, but nice little address, so altogether it was quite a long Service. The Garretts had arrived when I got back, so I chased around & made coffee & we had quite a pleasant – but confusing! (7 adults, 3 children & 2 babies) little visit! After they left we had a sandwich & at 2:00 we listened to the round-the-world broadcast & then Churchill & the Queen. There was a big procession & display etc. in town & the Queen’s speech broadcast in the Square & just after was a big Air display, so we just went out on our front grass & saw the planes going over – the climax was a group of jets flying a perfect E II in formation & they were excellent. I then went in to do all the washing up & get dinner ready & had just begun when Mrs. Hughes called me to come in for a moment- the television had begun & the Queen was on & looked lovely, so I went in & they had quite a few neighbours in. Cec & Carmen took it in turns to come in & I sat & waited & waited to see the Queen – saw all the other people going into the Abbey etc., but of course she didn’t appear for ages & then just as she did, I realized Carman had come for Cec & I went too & found it was 6 o’clock & both my children crying, poor little things! After we finally fed them & got them to bed & had dinner & drank the Queen’s health & washed up at last! Carman & I went back to the Hughes’ & saw more of the television- there had been a delay in a part of it arriving, so they were showing it over & we saw the Crowning & the remainder of the whole ceremony which was just what I wanted to see.
Then I came home & Cec went & saw some of the procession back. It was wonderful to be seeing the whole thing actually on Coronation Day, but I was a little bit disappointed in the television. In the Abbey many of the shots were taken from high above & then enlarged so that the people looked odd & foreshortened & some quite unrecognizable- I didn’t know Princess Margaret at all & when Lord Louis Mountbatten & the Duke of Gloucester came in together I couldn’t tell which was which. Also of course, all the time you felt so much was lacking without colour & I am looking forward hugely to seeing the colour film- it is on this week & Cec and I hope to go tomorrow night, if everything is under control. Anyway that was our Coronation Day & I was tired! I bet poor little Elizabeth was too.
After that we all just rested on Wed. & on Thurs. Cec & I went along to our “local” & saw Bob Hope & Bing Crosby in “The Road to Bali” – so nice having Carman as sitter! Lindy & he are quite good friends, but she is at a very shy stage with strangers just now & takes a long time to get used to people- Cec made the mistake of trying to sit her on Carman’s knee in the car, a few days after he arrived & that upset her & made the process longer, but tonight she actually kissed him goodnight. She made us laugh yesterday at seeing a particularly gaudy sweater of Carman’s hanging over a chair, she said “Carman’s? Carman’s pettitote?”!! She is so funny & cute just now – she is full of beans & feeling well – she is outside nearly all day playing in the sand. M. Labelle made a little sandbox for her & Richard (Reeshard!) under the tree at the back & Cec got sand for it & she just loves it. She is quite content if Richard is there playing beside her, but if he tries to take her things (or even his own if she wants them!) she gets quite alarmed & cries- she is still a bit young for playmates & he isn’t old enough either, but he is a good tempered little boy – the language is a bit of a difficulty – I can’t tell him when not to do a thing except by saying “No- no” and he just says “No” back!
Lindy is beginning to say such a lot of quite complicated things now – she realizes that they have names & says “Boy called Richard” & “Daddy’s car called Tabish”! Sometime she gets stuck & doesn’t know what something is- the other day she pointed at a little spot of paint on the window & said “That’s a – that’s a- ” then she stopped & thought & finished up triumphantly with “that’s a porcupine!” with a great grin at me! Sometimes when she begins to cry I’ll say “Who’s making that funny noise? Is it Lindy?” & she’ll stop & say “No” then I say “Is it Barry? Donnie? Tommy? etc. etc.” & she’ll say no to each one & then when I say “Well, who was it then?” She’ll say “A truck!” or “Daddy” or someone else & I’ll say “Well, I am surprised!” & of course she laughs & laughs. Well, last week she was chatting away & said “Daddy hiding round the corner” – (telling me of something that had happened before) – & then she changed it to “I am surprised at Daddy hiding round the corner!!” We think she has a marvellous memory too for her age- yesterday I put on little yellow rompers on Charlie & she said “Charlie’s suit- Mrs. Herzberg?” & sure enough it was the one Mrs. H. had brought him about 2 months ago. Charlie is good & bonny & cute too – he is like Lindy was- such a bright looking baby & so responsive. Other babies seem to lie like lumps in their prams, but he looks around & laughs & coos & squeals – he is so active – thank goodness the mattress for the little bed came today so we can soon get him into the crib. Do you know, he is wearing the little white shoes & socks we got for Lindy when she first stood up at 9 or 10 months? He has kicked & worn holes in all his booties, so one day I tried on the little shoes & they just fit – soon to be too small for him. He is nearly out of the little white cotton rompers I first got Lindy & I can see all her last summer sunsuits etc. will just fit him – if ever we get any nice weather.
Carman went to Toronto last weekend to the big Trade Fair & to see his Aunt & Uncle, so Cec & I just messed about at home. It was my last weekend with the sewing machine I rented & I worked hard & got everything done I wanted – I was so pleased & really enjoyed it. Altogether I 1) turned sides to middle of 3 sheets 2) made 2 sheets for Lindy’s bed 3) sewed patches on sheets, shorts, underblankets etc. 4) made a new soiled linen bag for Carman 5) made 2 pillowcases & 1 sm. one for Lindy’s pillow from a bolster case I had (in a set from Sheila- wedding present) 6) made curtains for Carman’s room (material from Eaton’s catalogue! – a slaty blue with a raised white spot- 6d. size- quite a different colour to the one I expected, but o.k. as I wanted something neutral- the couch cover is so bright.) 7) quilted your patchwork cover 8) made 3 cushion covers for the sitting room 9) made Lindy’s dressing gown- at last! Got the material at Xmas you remember & never got around to it- white Viyella with little blue flowers, faced with plain blue & 10) a little kilt for Lindy made out of my yellow & black tartan skirt! It never hung right & shrunk in the wash, anyway. Wasn’t that a good $6 worth? I really did have fun though & wished I’d had time to do more, but I hadn’t much chance as Charlie has been a bit restless in the evenings off & on so he’s been in the dining room & that is where I had the machine. During the evenings this week Cec & I have also had a spurt on & we have finished & varnished Lindy’s chest of drawers (natural colour) & it looks really lovely. We have also stained the other one we bought 2ndhand last autumn. It was such a wreck- Cec had to use varnish remover by bottles full & then sand & sand for ages & he got kind of discouraged but at last we got to it again & after putting on oak stain it looks quite nice (antique effect!) & we’ll shellac & varnish it too. It will go in Dan’s room (match the desk) & we’ll take back the maple chest of drawers which we loaned out of our room.
With all these “extracurricular activities” I have a pile of ironing as high as your hat & of course owe hundreds of letters. I heard from Amy – she & Charlie will be G.P.s but Boris is going away to Ohio for a week for a meeting, so we’ll wait till he comes back for the christening. I also had a letter from Joan Appleyard- she & Ray are coming to Chalk River (Atomic Energy place 50 miles from here – Joyce & Les Hayward are there) in September, so won’t that be fun? They are having another baby in Oct., so they are following in our footsteps!!
I now must iron a shirt, finish washing some woollens, finish the formula, wash the lunch dishes & make dinner! It is now Thurs. afternoon & I want to get all done so we can go to the pictures tonight. Will answer your letter soon – looking forward to the parcel so much- Cec’s b’day next week, so it will be his b’day present too! I hope that you enjoyed your big C. Day reception
& that you are doing some gadding with A. Trix – Cec & I laughed & laughed over the 4 mths. but know how you feel!
Big xxs & hugs from Lindy & Charlie & much love from us all-
Cyn
A Family History in Letters 