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?
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!
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.
Carman’s present for his brother! I remember him as very good at presents, and am sure they enjoyed it.
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 2teeth! 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.
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.
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.
Friends in England must have sent Cyn the Daily Mail newspaper from Coronation Day with the Everest headline and the details of the ceremony, and then the Illustrated London News from June 6th, a magazine with a few colour photographs and lots of black-and-white ones covering the whole day.
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 atlast! 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.
Milton and Lillie Costain, when they visited Saskatoon in 1946.
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- atlast! 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 & ofcourse 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-
Charlie & I were up at 5:45 this morning & listened into the Coronation Service. It was wonderful to hear it, but of course I had to have my little weep! I expect when we hear the Queen this afternoon I will flood the place!
I went to Church at 11 a.m. (Communion Service) & it was very nice. The little church was full and Mr. Stewart gave a most touching little address. Afterwards Margie, Cy, Tommy, Danny, Baby Peter & Margie’s Mother and Father all came to coffee, so we had a full house! Did I tell you Margie’s Mum & Dad had given them a car? Isn’t it lovely?
This is the Coronation Stamp & I am sending them off to Peter & Ann Sutherland for their collections & they should be dated today.
Not a very exciting stamp…
We heard the news of the climbing of Mount Everest on the midnight news & I was so thrilled. Tonight we go to watch the Hughes television – I wish you could come too.
I am so sorry that I have been such a time in writing- nothing wrong- just busy! At last we have had lovely warm sunny weather the last few days- my family are all well & full of fun & so of course I feel full of fun to & (comparatively!) bounding with energy!!
Lindy & Charlie are both so well now & it is lovely to see them so happy & cheery. Charlie is eating enormously! He is supposed to have 5 bottles a day of 6 ozs each, or 4 of 7 1/2 ozs- instead he has 5 of 8 ozs + cereal + fruit + veg + meat & veg soup! Making up for lost time! He is so big now- over 15 lbs- & blonde, blue-eyed & rosy cheeked – full of smiles & as strong as can be. He is outside in the pram all day now, & is just about wrecking it, he kicks & wriggles so – poor Lea!! As for the little car bed, he hates it & bangs around in it so that we only put him in it late at night till 6 a.m. when he is really sleepy! We have ordered a bed for Lindy from Eaton’s – it has come, but not the mattress yet. It is a child’s bed, suitable up to ‘teen age (5 ft. long, but nice & wide). It has a little rail about 1/3 way down each side, so she can’t roll out & is finished in a neutral colour just like the crib & decorated with teddy bears! I have padded & quilted (on the machine) the patchwork quilt you made & it looks sweet & just fits the crib. Linda’s “doggy” quilt from Til & Lois will fit the bed, so we are all set! Lindy is quite tickled at having a bed, so I don’t think she will mind moving. She is better now than she has been for weeks- eating well & doesn’t get so tired. She has quite pretty pink cheeks & looks lovely – I think!! She plays out at the back quite nicely with a little French boy from next-door – Richard – he speaks no English, so to say they play together is perhaps wrong – they each dig in the dirt & pick up stones happily & say nothing!
I am so excited about tomorrow – I feel we should have a party & drink healths & make a celebration! However, the Hughes have very kindly invited us to see their television so all evening we will be sitting watching the Coronation! The television film is to be flown over in jet planes! I want to go to church in the a.m. but will have to see.
Had a spree in town on Sat. – bought a red & white dress, white hat with red veil & red shoes – whoops. Must stop- Charlie is fed up & must get dinner. Thank you for lovely letters – will write again soon XXX from all & love – Cyn.
I am so sorry to have been such a long time in writing but – as usual! – we have been having a hectic time! I know you will be anxiously waiting to hear how little Charlie is, & he is safely home again & doing fine. We are taking him to the Dr. this afternoon to get the last 2 stitches out & then, thank goodness, the whole thing will be over.
Before I tell you our doings, thank you so much for two letters of yours – the 7th & the 14th- You asked in one to tell you how long these took, well, both of them arrived on the Tues. following mailing, which is much quicker than usual. I think the other day your plane goes out is a Tues., isn’t it? Then I sometimes get the letters on a Sat. but more often the Mon. or some day the following week. I was glad to hear St.Vincent won the cricket- it must have been fun.
Well, we took Charlie into the hospital a week ago on Sunday & his operation was on Monday & he seem to do just fine all the time. Every time we went into see him he was lying sleeping, looking so big & bonny & healthy that I’m sure people must have wondered why on earth he was in! All the nurses spoiled him to bits & now he just yells till he gets what he wants!! I thought I would have so much time while he was away & I hired a sewing machine, but actually, we went down to see him 3 evenings out of the 5 he was away & Carman arrived one of the others, so my leisure wasn’t as pronounced as I had hoped! However I have decided to keep it a month & hope to get more done – if nothing else I have mended sheets & other horrid chores!
Yes, Carman arrived on Thurs. evening for dinner & began work on Fri. Mon. (18th) was celebrated as Victoria Day & a holiday, so he had a nice long weekend to get settled. We went to Pete & Lu’s on Fri. evening (+ Carman + Margie & Cy) to a kind of reception they gave for a Prof. & his wife from Sask. so they could see all their old students. On Sat. Charlie came home – he sicked a bottle or 2 & had loose bowels & was a bit fretty but otherwise all right – all over now. Mon. afternoon Cec took sick- gastric ‘flu we gather – that night Linda got it & was sick & diarrhoea next day- Tues. evening I got it! Fortunately it seems to be sudden & swift & we were all over it in 12 hours.! But I think we have had every kind of cold and flu going by now!
The weather still isn’t too good – nice one day & changed the next, but hope it will get settled. I dug up & planted a flower garden yesterday – the same seeds I sent you! Our lovely park is going – 16 trees are being chopped down this week for the road to be made, then 6 apartment buildings. The trees that had the swing are down among others – it is so sad.
The year before: Cyn with baby Linda -and trees!
Lindy is calling so I must go. Lots of love from us all, XXX Lindy & Charlie.
Thank you so much for your last letter. It was telling me about the cricket, which must have been fun to watch and also of how busy you were over the Coronation Fete. I didn’t gather when the latter was to be – is it over yet or is it to be nearer the actual Coronation? I didn’t write last week- my tremendous 60¢ effort exhausted me perhaps! No – actually our summer came all of a sudden & we have been having simply heavenly weather – so hot too, when it comes so quickly – 88° on Sunday, but it is cooler now, thank goodness. All the leaves came out in about 3 days you know & I have been busy washing blankets. Lindy has discovered the joys of the sand pile (very dirty!) but still wants me with her all the time, so we have been trying to go out as much as possible.
Charlie went into hospital on Sunday afternoon & had his operation at 11 a.m. yesterday. We finally had to call the hospital as no one called us, & they said he was doing all right – so maddening that they are just too, too casual about the whole thing. Cec & I went up to see him last night & I felt much happier after that. He was asleep & looked so rosy & chubby, with all the covers kicked off as usual- I had expected him to look pale & pinched but no- he looked as sweet & healthy as could be. He had had both dextri- maltose & formula so mustn’t have been sick with the anaesthetic it seems. I am going to call the surgeon this afternoon & hear what he says, but from what the hospital says, he is doing well. By the time you get this he will be safely home & all better again. Dr. W.’s office called me last Tues. & told me went to take him in but on Wed. he got a little cold & I was worried but it was gone by Sunday. Somehow I got more agitated over this op. than the last one, although I know it is not nearly so serious, but I think I was stunned last time! However, I am glad it is over now.
Both Lindy & I have renewed our colds & are snuffling again – isn’t it the devil! I have rented a machine for this week while Charlie is away, so I am going now to turn middle to sides of old sheets! This morning I cleaned out your old room & polished the floor for Carman- we expect him about Thursday.
Before I finish, I sent off your earphone batteries last week – hope they are not too long on the way. I am mailing a sea letter with flower seeds & have the “snap-clips” for Charlie’s overalls to send too. Couldn’t get a catnip mouse at Woollie’s – will try somewhere else! Linda tells everyone “Grannie has a little kitten”!! She also says “See Grannie” when I tell her of you.
A Family History in Letters 