Dearest Mummy, How awful to be burgled! Like Auntie Moo, I am so glad that it was no worse, and that your valuables weren’t touched, but it is a very scary thought that strange people were prowling around while you were asleep. I am glad to that the police (though silly!) got some results, as you would have felt even more uneasy I should think, if the men hadn’t been caught. Poor Doris would be very upset at losing her materials and other things – it is really pathetic that people should go to such risks for such small rewards, but to them they mean a lot I suppose. Over here, robbing banks for thousands of dollars seems to be the fashion – a larger award for their labours!
Talking of Doris’ losing materials makes me think that in the Eaton’s catalogue there is always a thing which fascinates me- a bundle of cotton material remnants– it tells you that none are smaller than 1 yd. I think & some more of course, & as I see there is one in the new sale catalogue. I think I will get it & send it to you. Some of the patterns etc. may be hideous, but some should be O.K. & you could maybe make some thing for bazaars or give them to deserving people, as well as using some for yourself & your grandchildren, I hope! That sounds as if I expected to get a lot for my money, doesn’t it?!! But anyway it should be fun to see what comes! This seems to be reminding me & reminding me, but bazaars make me think of your asking about little toys from W’worths, which I have been meaning to mention. I am sure I could get some for you very cheaply – do you remember the tiny plastic cars you took to Bill & Janie’s David? They have bags of those & all sorts of wee dolls feeding bottles & rubber pants, shoes, coat hangers etc. When I go downtown I usually bring some small thing back & one day I brought for Lindy a pr. of blue panties for her doll Susie. Afterwards Linda said sadly to her Daddy “Cigarettes for Daddy, a car for Charlie, panties for Susie, but nothing for Linda!”
Although commenting on your burglary, I didn’t say thanks for my letter – both Cec & I read it with great interest – Cec always enjoys your letters unless they tell about a lot of people & then he gets lost! He is back at work tonight – a horrid rainy night – I am sick of the weather – 2 fine days & then rain for a week is what it seems to do – so maddening. I was going to answer your letter sooner, but Cec seemed to have 24 hr. tummy flu over the weekend. He came home on Friday feeling lousy & spent the evening going to the bathroom & finally was sick as well. He had a restless night & felt low all Sat., but a bit better Sun. & today seems to be O.K. again. While he wasn’t feeling well he told Linda he wouldn’t kiss her as he had germs, but would hug her instead, so last night about 1 a.m. Lindy woke crying with a dream I think & I went in to her & settled her again then went back to bed. In about 5 mins. I heard her again & went & said “what’s the matter honey?” “Sob! Sob!” said Lindy “I have a little germ!”
With Cec not feeling well the weekend just seemed to go, but one thing we did yesterday I know you will be interested in- we drove over to see Wendell & his parents! Yes, he is back from Italy- 2 wks. ago & such a muddle the whole thing is- his parents are both old – Mr. Atchison has had one stroke & Mrs. A. has a bad heart & was in hospital 2 mths. with it last winter. Lea had a job as a matron of a hospital in Rosthorn- a small town outside Sask. where is Cec’s brother Russell & his wife live, while Mrs. Costain looked after Darryl. She (Lea) liked it very much, but had to have her appendix out & must have got run down & anyway lost her job; got her migraine headaches again & she just about had a nervous break down. Poor Mrs. Costain had flu, Darryl had bronchitis & what with one thing & or another, I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on. Mrs. Costain was coming a trip this Fall to Merle & family in Port Arthur, then the Aunt and Uncle in Toronto & then to us, but now she has put it forward so that she can travel with Lea & help her. Wendell tells us that they are on their way now – spent this past weekend with Merle & that Mrs. C. will stay in Toronto while Lea & Darryl come here to the Atchisons and Mrs. C. come to us presumably at the end of the week although we’ve heard nothing! Cec says he hopes we can keep it out of the Atchison’s difficulties, but Lea, poor girl, what a situation! & the Atchison household will be most depressing I think – both the old people seem to talk & think of nothing but their illness & weakness etc. & I don’t know how Darryl will manage. Cec asked Wendell what his plans were but he just said he didn’t know what he was going to do! We only stayed about 3/4 of an hour- the big hit with Linda was the piano! She saw one for the 1st time at the Ramsay’s when we were there & Don played a little for her so when she saw this one she wanted to “make music”! She & Charlie sat up on the piano bench & plonked & she loved it! Afterwards she said to me “Why didn’t I play “The Drunken Sailor”?”!! which was one of the songs Don had regaled us with.
The only other thing we did last week was to have Joyce & Les Haywood here on Thurs. evening – they were due to come at 9 & didn’t arrive till 10, so you can imagine how bright we were all feeling by then! They are leaving– next week to be exact – to go to Vancouver. Apparently ever since they came here Joyce has been very unhappy & discontented – I knew that they didn’t seem to be settling very quickly, but Margie says Joyce has been miserable- nothing good in Ottawa etc. until she & Cy were fed up with it – the whole thing being, we think, that in Chalk River, a little place, she was a somebody, & here no one takes any notice! Anyway her people & Les’ are in Vancouver & Les got an offer of a job there (less salary) but they finally decided to go. We have seen very little of them – the once they invited us I was still ill & then we dropped in one night and had a cup of tea, but that was all the visiting we did. The week after Cec came home from Columbus Margie & Lu & I & Joyce & Willa Woods met & had an evening out it – I think I forgot to tell you about it. Lu & I had been talking of this since Easter & we finally organized it & had a good time. We went to dinner at a place called the Green Valley just out of Ottawa (where Joan & Boris had their reception) & just ate & talked. Then a week ago Friday Cy & Margie had Les & Joyce, Lu & Pete & us over for the evening, so that is about the sum total of our meetings with Haywoods. Les I like- he is quiet, but humorous, but Joyce, though nice is very nervy & shrill & highstrung & not nearly as nice as Margie & Lu, so I don’t really mind one way or another about their leaving.
Cec was busy all last week on our back “terrace”, & it really is going to look nice I think. I told you he made the children a lovely big sandbox – the sides are nice smooth round pit props which are lovely for the children to sit on & it is big enough for about 6 children. Then he made & put up a swing for them – it is suspended from the little back porch outside our kitchen door & they just love it! The first few days the screams to get them to give each other turns or come in for meals! There was crazy paving all on the ground there, so Cec took it all up & made a path along the edge of the flower garden & put sand under the swing – most of the terrace part is crushed stone, so the path looks very nice. We have masses of wild red puppies growing all amongst the stones & everywhere – they look so pretty. xxxxxx from Linda & Charlie. Lots & lots of love from us all. Cyn.
Carol’s reminders of what to ask Cyn about when she next wrote!
Cec’s birthday in Columbus at the Spectroscopy Conference.
25th June. 1954.
Dearest Mummy,
I said I would write you a great long letter while Cec was away & here it is, he’s been & come back & been home a week & I still haven’t written! Actually I was kept busy while he was away & we gallivanted off in the car, so I really didn’t have much time & since he came back I’ve had to catch up on all the work I didn’t do while he was gone!
Thank you so much for your letter mailed 14th – I got it last Sat. (19) so the mails are being really good now. Cec got your birthday letter before he left & was so pleased with the pictures. I have been scolding him for not taking more – there has been a film in the camera for months & months & it just doesn’t ever seem to get finished- last Sat. I persuaded Cec to get the camera out & then Charlie began acting up & crying & fussing to go in the car until Cec got so disgusted with him that he just put it all away again! However I hope we will get them soon.
A happier car occasion!
It is so nice to have Cec home again & Columbus was terribly hot & steamy so he was doubly glad to get back! He enjoyed it though & as all the Michigan crowd were there he renewed a lot of old acquaintances & of course among the others, saw Gordon. There has been talk & vague rumours about him coming up here all year, but nothing definite till just lately so I didn’t mention it. Now, the idea is that they will all come to Ottawa for 2 days in Aug. on their way home from holidaying at Cape Cod, so that Gordon can see Dr. Herzberg & plan for a future longer visit. I have written & told Gunborg we want them to stay with us (could put the double couch thing with the single bed in the spare room for the girls – us on the sofa & G & G in our room) but have heard no more. It will be such fun to see them again & can hardly imagine how big the girls will be– Anne has graduated, so is going to England for a year at the Perse School in Cambridge where she was before & will stay with her Aunt. To return to our doings – we all drove Cec to the airport on the Sunday afternoon & Phyl & family were there to see Alec off & Joan to see Boris off & various other families, so there was quite a group – oh & dear Dan – but no Lyn thank goodness! We saw them all away- Charlie’s word for plane is “woo-woo” & “Dada woo-woo” was very exciting!! Cec got a seat at a window & waved to them, so they got a good look & were thrilled, but didn’t much care for the noise of the take off! The day before was a big Air Force Day & Rockcliffe Airport is just behind us so Cec & Charlie sat on the little back porch & watched planes all afternoon! Cec thought it was such fun to have a son who enjoys the same things he does!! Linda didn’t much care for the noise of the breaking of the sound barrier which we’d heard at the rehearsal the day before (shook the house!) so she stuck to me inside mostly! After the Daddys had gone we went back to the Douglas’ & had a cool drink for a little while & then came home. On Monday – rainy, dreary day – we went to town. The weather has been so weird – as soon as we get a nice day there are violent thunderstorms & the rainy days & then the whole thing over again. We parked the car at Friemans & had apple juice there, then went to the market & got 6 tomato plants & some seeds & then to Woolworths. It was a great success & I was surprised at Charlie- I thought he would want “Up-up” all the time, but no, he toddled along & the only times I carried him were when I wanted to hurry – across roads etc. Unfortunately we had one mishap- when the car arrived for us to go home I lifted Charlie into his chair & George, the doorman, lifted Linda in! Well – she has this mania against strange people lifting her & she screamed & kicked & yelled & nothing I did would quiet her, and she kicked & yelled most of the way home, which was a pity as we had such a good time otherwise. On Tuesday we drove across to see Lee & Barry & what do you know- Lee is pregnant again! Poor girl – she is feeling pretty rotten & looked awful, but she insisted that we come as we hadn’t seen them for so long. Jim was there as he stayed to do the washing, but he left soon & instead of coffee or anything Lee got an early sandwich lunch & then we left about 1- got there at 10:45. The next day we went to tea with Esther Calaman & the baby – she was so lonesome as John was away too & it was their first parting! Then the next day we went for groceries to a Loblaw’s store and they have wee carts for children as well as the big ones for mummies so Linda was very thrilled! I gardened quite a bit while Cec was away- weeding & planting seeds – & on Wed. evening Mrs. Rothwell had a bridge party for me! As I couldn’t go out, she & her guests came to me & she brought a basket with china, food, coffee & all – wasn’t it sweet of her!? Becky, her daughter-in-law, was there & a girl Flora, young married from down the road & we played the silliest chatty bridge, but it was funny! They are all old Ottawa families, so the conversation was very “Do you remember so-&-so” & “How is so-&-so” but it was fun anyway.
Cec was to arrive home at about 3 a.m. Friday, but the plane was grounded in Toronto for bad weather so they came on by train from there which was better really as they had berths & slept & didn’t arrive till breakfast. The children were so thrilled to see him- Charlie all over him at once – Linda quite standoffish for an hour or so, then climbed onto his knee & kissed & kissed him!! Sat. we celebrated as his birthday & Sun. was Father’s Day, so Cec had a really pampered weekend! Chocolate birthday cake & roast chicken & strawberries & a pair of bathing trunks & books! The children are awake so I must finish & dash to post this. It is a lovely hot day & I have their paddling pool out. Cec has made them a beautiful big sandbox in the back & they are in luxury! I have begun a “letter answering” letter, but will send it by sea & answer all your questions! Lots & lots of love from us all – Cyn
This long letter is disjointed because the first three pages are missing. Cyn writes the first 9 pages on one side and then turns and writes page 10 on the other, up to the back of page 4, where the letter ends at page 15. It was mailed in an Air Mail envelope but because of the stamp collector, half the postmark is missing- it was sent in June and appears to have arrived in Kingstown, St. Vincent, on June 19th 1954. The Costains seem to be settling into their new neighbourhood nicely- keeping up with their old friends and making new ones, and discovering connections that show how small a world the Ottawa of the time was.
June 1954. [starting page 4] imagine what it is like, but Cec says it will undoubtedly make up for it! We have been gardening quite busily – with the rain the weeds have been sprouting badly, so whenever I am out with the children I am busy pulling & in the evening Cec & I have been planting a bit. There is an old man with greenhouses just down the road so we have bought some plants for our front big bed from him – canna lilies – nicotina- blood-red petunias – asters & white & purple sweet alyssum for a border. We have roses & big oriental poppies & iris just waiting for some sun & Cec has transplanted chrysanthemum slips – I plan to plant a few seeds in the bare spots but haven’t got them yet! Do you have Balsam & Portulaca? They are supposed to flower all summer & be very pretty so I thought I would like to try some – also do you remember that pretty plant you tried to find the name of when you were here? It had green ferny leaves & a spray of pink flowers? I think it is Love-Lies-Bleeding & will get some seeds & see! Our doings haven’t been very exciting lately, but on Sat. evening we had Alec & Phyl to play bridge & had a good time. Alec has just been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada which is a big honour – particularly at his age – & was away in Winnipeg to their annual meeting. Everyone is very pleased at his success as he is so well liked & so helpful at work as well as being very clever. Next week is the big Spectroscopy Meeting down in Columbus, Ohio & Cec is going down to it with most of the others from the Lab. They will fly down on Sunday & back on Friday – all expenses paid! We had vaguely talked about driving down with all of us & me & the children visiting in Ann Arbour & Toledo, but apart from my illness & the move discouraging us, I really hate the thought of travelling much with the children & staying in other people’s houses. They are so much happier & better at home & it would be no holiday for me – in fact much more wearing. When Cec is away we’ll have the car & hope to visit Lee & Barry & a few others maybe.
Last week Cec & I went to the pictures to see Walt Disney’s nature film “The Living Desert”– our 2nd time this year! There is a Dutch girl called Jo Vanderbruk who is a maid with some people not far away & if her “family” don’t need her, she will sit for us & seems very good & capable. Our egg man, Martin – also Dutch – found her for us & her sister works for Mrs. Aiken (Mrs. Hughes’s d.) across the road. We liked the film but were a little bit disappointed as we had heard so much about it & probably expected too much.
It had won the Academy Award the year before for Best Documentary.
The weekend before we had invited Joyce & Les Haywood out on the Sat. evening, but in the morning Les phoned to say Joyce had a bad cold & they couldn’t come. It turned out to be a pouring wet dreary day, so on the spur of the moment we phoned Chris & Phyl (as Alec was away) & said “how about some bridge? “& they were both delighted, so Cec drove in & did my grocery shopping & brought Chris home to dinner & Phyl came later & we had a nice evening. On the Sunday it was quite pleasant & we went over to the Ramsays to tea. Their older girl, Shirley is about 5 & Wendy just 3 mths. older than Linda, but both so plain! Nan is expecting again in September & is very well but dreading the heat. Don’s parents arrived this Sat. for their first visit to Canada, & Don is taking them a 6 weeks tour of Canada & the States beginning with the journey down to Columbus this weekend. Chris is going with them to see the sights as he will be going back to Denmark this Fall & it will be a lovely chance for him. I don’t envy poor Nan left to cope with the 2 children alone for 6 wks. but she says that anyway it is so much better than taking them on the trip she doesn’t care! I told you about the previous weekend when Chris was with us, so I won’t tell you anymore about that except that we did enjoy it. He is so nice we all wish he would marry some nice Canadian girl & stay here, but there doesn’t seem much chance as I don’t think he has even dated anyone. The weekend before that was Boris’s wedding & I really can’t remember if I told you much about it. Joan looked very nice & had such a pretty net and lace crinoline dress and a long veil – the only thing was that at the reception I didn’t feel she matched the dress! She was full of bounce & kept dashing around whereas I felt she should be stately & dignified! Her matron of honour was small & fair in a pinky-mauve taffeta (Cec thought an awful colour & I’m not fond of it either) & Boris’ 2 sisters – dark & tall – as bridesmaids in a fairly deep blue taffeta. They wore bandeaux of the taffeta with pearls on their heads & the bouquets were pretty- pink carnations & blue hyacinth blossoms threaded on pink pipe cleaners as trailers & the whole frilled with net to match the dresses. My outfit was admired also & I think it is nice too!! My hat is so- just a little poke bonnet affair but a pretty red & the dress is very plain but the stripes go in a nice way & the frills make it pretty.
I am so glad that you like your birthday dress too & that the cousins approve – I hope you find it really useful. Joan & Boris have a furnished flat for the summer near N.R.C. but we weren’t able to go to a “Present Display” they had just before the wedding so we haven’t seen it. The fellows had a stag party for Boris a day or two before the wedding & they had a good time except that Dan repeated his birthday party behaviour & made an absolute fool of himself. Drunk & sick & revolting & Alec & Cec had to bring him home & put him to bed. Cec was so furious & disgusted with him that he has hardly spoken to him since & thank goodness they have moved now. They have rented a house for the summer & it is over the other side of the town, so I don’t intend to see much of them in the future. Talking of the other side of town reminds me that a few weekends ago we had a phone call from Mrs. Burrough – remember – Al Macnamara’s m.-in-law? Al was in Ottawa for the weekend on business, & as it was such a short time they were inviting his friends to come & see him, instead of his trying to get around & would we come to tea on the Sun. It turned out that they had just built & moved into a new house right next door to their old one. They had a big garden on a corner before- an extra house lot & were offered $3000 for it, so instead they built themselves a bungalow & sold their old house. It was a pouring wet day, but we drove out & ploughed through a sea of mud to the house which was still quite unfinished inside – they had been in 2 weeks & there were no cupboards yet & lots of finishing to be done & afterwards we discussed it with Pete & Lu who were also there & couldn’t imagine why they condemned themselves to such discomfort. We had a very nice tea – about 6 or 8 of us there – it was Lu’s first meeting with Mrs. B. & she told me afterwards that each time she looked at her my description of her as having a face like a Pekingese jumped into her mind & she nearly giggled! Al has just got his Ph.D. from Sask. & he & Betty will be back in Ottawa in the Fall – Al going on working for D.R.B. under Pete. I have all sorts of letters to thank you for, but as this letter is getting so long already I won’t try and answer them this time, but next week when Cec is away perhaps I’ll have an orgy & go through them all! You asked a few questions on Lindy’s little letter so I’ll answer those- about 5 miles to Cec’s work at NRC I think – just 15 to 20 minutes drive anyway. I haven’t heard a word from Jessie all year- sent a note with a new address asking for news & if the baby had arrived etc. but no reply as yet. Had a note from Anne early in the year, but nothing since. She was back teaching again & the baby was doing well, but she seem to be finding it pretty hard work & I don’t wonder. Janie was at nursery school. No word of Jessie F. in her letter & I can’t recall anything startling about anyone else. I never hear from my father now & haven’t written since I was ill. Keep meaning to make up a parcel to send, but haven’t done so yet. You ask if I had met Mrs. Hughes’ daughter, Mrs. Aiken, yet & I did – just last week. My neighbour, Mrs. Rothwell, took me over one evening & then just left me on the doorstep as she had a man coming to do the garden! She is a funny old lady, but it was quite embarrassing as we had only met in front of the television set on Coronation Day so our acquaintance was of the briefest & Mrs. R. had invited us over! However we chit chatted about children & living out here etc. & then I asked something about “Was her mother up at the cottage now? “& she replied “Oh well – she’s in Toronto at the moment – but you know Mrs. Hughes isn’t my mother. My father has been married twice & he & my mother were divorced & Mrs. Hughes is his 2nd wife!” Well – I was amazed! Of course, I passed it off & we talked of other things, but when I came home & told Cec, we were both so astonished! I think Mrs. H. always just talked of them as “the girls”, but I had so taken it for granted that they were hers & now to find she really has no children. Mrs. Aiken (Shirley) has 3 boys – 5, 2 (Charles) & 8 mths. & she seems very nice. Their house is very, very, modern as I told you & she showed me over & I found it most intriguing. It is big & has its back to the road & a lovely view over the fields behind through one entire wall of glass. Very nice in many ways, but still a lot of work I think. I have never mentioned my neighbours much to you, but they are worth it. On one side of us is an old wood house which has obviously been here for years & has a big garden. It belongs to an old country dame who works away in the garden wearing a most aged sunbonnet. With her live two daughters – one with a little boy Jimmy & the other, Mrs. Hansen, in the upstairs with her husband & two children, Pauline (4) & Glyn (2). The latter were the children we saw at first & thought it would be nice for Linda to have company, but we were soon put off! A.) Mrs. H is one of those talky- talky- talk women – completely unexpressionless face, but gabs continually- about my age or younger I suppose. The first 2 weeks we were here I couldn’t put out a diaper on the line or pull a weed out of the garden, but she was over talking to me. All full of plans of how I would take her children a walk one day & she’d take mine the next etc. & if I set out a walk, she’d dash & say to wait she’d come too. You can imagine! I was SICK of it! I knew all about her pregnancies & that she thought she might be going to have another baby & really her conversation was not edifying! B.) The children both are runny-nosed & dirty most of the time & although the little girl seems quite a good little thing she mostly looks a sight. C.) Pauline has an accent & before long Linda – the little copy cat – was saying “Yeah “& “Hellow” & “Paulaine” & worse! I, of course, corrected her, & then I heard her saying “Say ‘Yes’ Pauline – not ‘Yeah’” “Can you say ‘Yes’ Pauline?” etc! Anyway, as you can imagine, we weren’t enthusiastic & apparently Mrs. H realized it & took the huff as she never comes near now & yells at Pauline if she comes near us! Just as well. Also – she is having another baby apparently & hasn’t been out much.
Charlie on our lawn with Mrs. Rothwell’s front steps in the background.
My other neighbor, Mrs. Rothwell, lives in the tall 1/2 of our house & is very different. She is a “Lady” just in the way Chris & Miss Lefroy are & in fact reminds me of them a great deal in many ways – about 65 to 70, I imagine. In appearance I have an idea that she looks as I remember Mrs. Maconachie looked- wavy white hair & a roundish face with blue eyes. She is so funny in many ways, but a real dear – her son, Ben, inherited Grandpa’s big old farm down the road & all this was once his land, but now of course he is selling part of it for a building & making lots of money. Mrs. Rothwell’s husband was something quite important in the Agric. Dep’t. Of the Gov. & they are all well-known Ottawa people, so she is quite the Grand Old Lady of the district. Ben is married to Becky (I have just met them casually!) & have two little girls, 5 & 4, Cathie & Margo, & Georgie 2, the latter with very bad eczema, poor little fellow- also gets asthma etc. & can’t touch dogs, cats etc. or have flowers near or anything. Mrs.R. also has a daughter with 2 boys & 2 girls – and who is their father – none other than Dr. Goldwin Smith – Charlie’s producer!! Mrs. R. & I were so amazed when we discovered! She & I chit chat most days in the garden & she is a lot of fun & likes to be Lady Bountiful, Cec says! She drops in with custard or jellies for the children or something or the other & I am so far behind in returning favours I’ll never catch up! She likes the children & Cathie & Margo come to see her quite often & Linda likes to play with them. Once in a while Mrs. R.will drop in for a chat & it always amuses Cec as she will one day bring me a book about the painter Cezanne, or another day something else & he says she is trying to educate me! But like Miss Lefroy I think she is very interested in everything! I also have made an acquaintance down the road – a girl called Pat Tomlinson with a little girl, Joanne just 3 mths older than Linda & a 3 mths. baby girl, Susan. We chatted one day when she passed with the children & have met a few times since & she seems a real nice girl & Joanne is a sweet little blonde. So far she & Linda don’t do much except gaze at each other, but they should get to know each other soon. I had them up to tea last Fri. & Pat & I were talking & she said her husband was in the Gov.- working for the Veteran’s Admin in a certain building. I said, oh yes, Cec & I had gone there once as he got D.V.A. help of course & when we came to Ottawa he had called. So Pat said “Oh, my husband worked in that dep’t. with fellows who studied abroad” so I said “How funny – maybe he remembers Cec – all I can recall of the visit was that there were 2 men & the younger one wore a hearing aid” & she said “Well – that’s Bill – my husband!” Wasn’t it a coincidence? I must end now & mail this – it is now Wed. & a lovely hot day so we will go in the garden when the children wake up. Next week I’ll answer some of your lovely long letters & thank you properly for the knives – they came safely & are a blessing. Lots of love from us all, xxxx from Linda & Charlie- Cyn.
Many happy returns of tomorrow! Here it is your birthday eve, and I had meant to write a long letter to you at the weekend so that you would get it not too late for your birthday but somehow we had such a busy and eventful 4 days that it just flew. Anyway, I do hope that you will be having a really lovely time at the sea & that your birthday will be very happy with lots of nice bathes & fun! It is so nice that you are having this little holiday just at your birthday so that it is like an extra present, & I hope that both you and A. Moo will really enjoy it & enjoy having Angela with you next week.
I am afraid that my correspondence lately has been mostly cards but before I get down to telling you our doings, I want to tell you how much the children enjoyed your Easter cards – particularly Charlie! His was the one with lots of dear little rabbits if you remember & he calls it his “book-book”, & when I am reading Linda a bedtime story he will go & take it from the table where all my birthday cards etc. are & sit & “read” it – gabble– gabble – gabble! He loves it & carries it around with him & won’t let anyone else have it. In the children’s room there are dozens of picture hooks (Mrs. S. must have had pictures of her children at every age!) so I have made cutouts from the pretty Christmas & birthday cards and put little loops & hung them up & they look very cute. Lindy’s little girl Easter card is already up, but I’m afraid Charlie’s little bunnies will be worn out before they ever get there!
I have been meaning to tell you that I sent your birthday parcel over 2 weeks ago, so I am afraid it will be very late, but I know you will forgive me. It is disguised with a parcel of old clothes so I hope that you won’t have to pay duty on it & that it won’t be too squashed. A. Moo gave me such a wonderful idea for a b. present a while ago when she suggested material for an evening dress, & I was all enthused over it, but then of course I was ill so long & when I finally went down town with Margie one Sat. I was thoroughly disillusioned. I don’t know if it was just the wrong season & pretty, summery materials weren’t in yet, or if they don’t have much of the “evening” type of material as it is worn so little here, but anyway, we didn’t see a single thing that we liked at all. I got quite tired & discouraged, so we retired & had a nice cup of tea & a gossip & I bought a pair of red shoes! However, I have shelved the idea & will keep on looking at materials & in the meanwhile have sent you a compromise! That is, not an evening dress, but a pretty afternoon dress which Cec & I hope you will like & find useful. We chose it from the catalogue as I haven’t been down town again & I got a 14, which I do hope will fit. I am a little worried about the waist, but think it will be fairly long, so hope if it is too tight that you will be able to get it fixed. If you are only 122 you should be sylph-like though! I am tackling curtains at the moment – dividing the big sitting room ones (3 widths in each curtain – going to make 6) & then I am going to fix my pretty birthday dress all ready for the nice weather. We have 6 crocuses out in the garden & masses of other bulbs popping up & are so thrilled! So far not many other signs of spring except lots of rain! Continued in my next xxx Cyn.
[Written at the top:] Thank you so much for your letter mailed 12 – got it Mon. My skirt & top sound scrummy!
Dearest Mummy, See!! How did you know that we would get a house all of a sudden like! But this time we really surpassed ourselves – saw it Wednesday night at 9 p.m. & moved in on Friday!! So as you see the whole thing happened less than a week ago & already we are settled in & feel as if we’d been here for ages! In my last letter I told you that we were putting an ad. in the paper for a house – very alluring we thought “N.R.C. professional wishes to rent unfurnished 2 or 3 bedroom house or bungalow with garden before June 1. East side within 15 miles of Château.” We were most intrigued to see if we got any answers at all & in the end we got four- one at $125 a month; one at 135 a month; this one we took & one more after we taken it so I got no particulars, so we felt we got our money’s worth very satisfactorily! We got the phone call about this one on the Wed. evening as I told you & it sounded so good that we got a sitter & went to see it at once & then took it on sight! It is on the Montreal Road, but right out past Eastview & then past the city of Ottawa limits. I have a vague idea that you & Cec came a drive along here once & if you remember there is a great big N.R.C. building – very modern – & we are about a 1/2 mile further on. The house is about 2 yrs. old & is right on top of a hill (the highest point in the county) & has a wonderful view- it has a lawn & flower beds & lilac bushes in the front & at the back a kind of stone terrace & then quite a steep hillside down to some meadows (all snow, ice & water at the moment!)- an acre of land altogether. The house is white stucco with black trim & is very modern looking – it is actually semi-detached but the other half is twice as tall, so the whole thing looks a little odd!!
Mrs. Rothwell had the taller half and rented out a basement suite at the back of her half.
I have drawn you a plan so you can see how it is inside- the living quarters are all upstairs as it were & in the basement is a huge garage – washroom – shower room & toilet- cold storage room & big room that the owner used as a work room as well as a furnace room – & all beautifully clean as it is an oil furnace thank goodness. There is a water softener as it is a hard water area, & everything is as convenient as can be. The owner, Mr. Scott, is a very nice man – he has built another bigger house within sight of this one & he & his wife seem such a nice friendly couple & ready to be so helpful. This is a “restricted” building area (all houses must cost more than a certain amount) & there are all sorts of wildly modern looking efforts within sight- one with all glass on one side- one long & low- one built in a kind of deck out one side with no supports underneath – all very odd & interesting! Just about opposite us is a queer angular wood & glass house & one of Mrs. Hughes’ daughters lives there – I haven’t met her, but Mrs. H. is coming to introduce us one day, so I shouldn’t be lonely! Inside the house is very nice – the kitchen is a dream – so many lovely cupboards & a beautiful modern stainless steel sink! The floors are all inlaid linoleum tile, which is nice & easy to keep clean & it is wonderful not to have to rush madly up & downstairs for bathrooms etc. I say bathrooms, but as you’ll see we have no bath- just a shower downstairs. Cec & I love it of course, but we are going to get a little bath for the children till they get used to it – in the plan something has gone wrong with my proportions as it (the bathroom) isn’t really nearly as big as I’ve made it look! The decoration is all nice & new- some of the colour is funny though! The sitting room walls are a very pale grey–blue with a peach ceiling & one yellow wall! The children’s room has one raspberry pink wall, 2 cream walls & one pale blue, while the spare room has a dark blue ceiling, one orange wall & 3 cream with a blue & orange floor!!! We are paying $100 a month which we don’t mind as we feel it is just what we want & we are getting our money’s worth. As you can imagine, we had a hectic time moving at such short notice. Mr. Labelle had made an agreement with us only the week before that we could leave at a moment’s notice if we allowed him to change the house. The only way he could get us out was to have his parents come in at & he’s not supposed to change it or re-let or anything within a year, but he said he thought he might make it into 2 apts. as it was too big for his parents & we didn’t care! Now he says he is going to have his parents in the sitting room; someone else in the kitchen & dining room; someone else in the 2 front upstairs rooms; & someone else in the 2 back!! Can’t you imagine the slum it will be in a short while! Cec took Thurs. & Fri. off & as Claire came on Thurs. we packed etc. & then on Fri. the movers came at 2:30 & we were all here at 6.0. Linda & Charlie went down to Phyl Douglases’ for the actual furniture moving but actually thought it was all very exciting & fun! On the Sat. Claire went & cleaned up the old house & Cec went & helped & I sorted out here, so really it was a funny birthday – I bet you didn’t in your wildest dreams imagine that!
We agreed to pretend Sunday was the day, so on Sunday I got my breakfast in bed & cards from my family & a big bouquet of tulips! My present is to be a new dress & hat which I shall choose later when there is more time! Thank you so much for my lovely dress from you Mummy – I really do like it very much & so does Cec. The material isn’t my usual type, but it is pretty, I think, & in the summer green & white always look nice & cool. It is a bit big I am afraid, but I think I can fix it without too much trouble. It needs about 1-1 1/2” taken in under each arm & the little jacket is very loose – you must be deluded about my boost thinking of me as a nursing mama or pregnant as it’s no outside in grapefruits now! I think I will take in the jacket down the front where the buttons & b’holes are as the neck is too big altogether, but then I think it will look lovely & I am longing for nice weather to wear it. I think the jacket in white was such a good idea & will look very nice – the covered buttons are natty too. Thank you very very much, Mummy. Thank you also for all your nice birthday letters – I won’t answer them at the moment as I am quite disorganized as to where everything is & also it is getting near bedtime & I am yawning my head off. For my birthday on Sunday, I made a cake & we had roast chicken for dinner so it was quite a celebration & I think we all had a lovely day.
You would laugh at your little grandson if you could see him tucking into his meals! He loves to eat (not greedy though!) but will eat anything we have & is much more adaptable than Linda. Yesterday we had Spanish rice for dinner & then pineapple pie & he loved them both whereas Linda toyed with mashed potatoes & a piece of meat & had banana for dessert. They both went for the birthday cake in a big way – Charlie saying “Mo’- mo’ ” every time he finished a little bit! He says “Oh dea’!” now & is actually walking around in a very careful slightly crablike fashion!! Since we moved we have had every kind of weather! Snow & mud as we moved- icy cold over the weekend- 2 mild days & a mad thaw & floods of rain & cold again tomorrow! However when spring comes it should be lovely & already the children like to go outside – there is a little girl of 4, Pauline, next door & she is very eager to be friendly with Linda. I must stop now & go to bed. This letter is all house & I’ll try to write of something else next time! Lots & lots of love from us all – Cyn.
This note was sent with newspaper clippings etc. by sea and mailed at the same time as the Air Mail March 26th letter.
Tues. 30th Mar.
Dearest Mummy, This was the house in the country we thought we had! It was nice & now I am mad that we ever saw ir as nothing else looks so good! We have put an advertisement in the paper tonight so wonder whether we will get any answers! Washed this morning & have just given the children their lunch & put them to bed – both runny nosed today – darn it! Which reminds me – Linda has begun to say “Oh Dan!” when anything annoys her!! Can’t think who she ever heard swearing! She makes me laugh – whenever I correct her over anything she will say “Don’t talk to me, Mummy!” & the other evenings Cec said something to her about the way she was eating a cookie & she didn’t say anything for a minute then announced “It’s better in the kitchen!” & marched off there to finish in peace!
“Do you remember Mary Moore who wrote the cooking column in the paper? I was interested in this article about her & thought you might be too.”
This isn’t a letter really – just a bunch of junk!! Must stop now & have my lunch – still on my diet, but I called Dr. K. yesterday & he said that if I felt fine & was eating well I needn’t come to see him. I am to diet till end of April & can then eat anything – but not drink! Charlie’s abscess is much smaller & Dr. W. says he needn’t have any more penicillin, so that is a relief. Just realized I’ve sealed up your A.M. letter without my measurements, so must squiggle them up & stuff them in!
“This is Mary M.’s column this week! I was so amused particularly about the 3-handed bridge!”
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.
Just a short letter on Christmas Day to tell you that Charlie & I are both doing beautifully & feeling so well that we are practically bouncing. I didn’t mind being here for Christmas at all really, & the hospital has certainly try to make everything just as nice as possible. The little student nurses all got up at 5.0 a.m. & came around & sang carols- on our floor they sang “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” “Away in a Manger” & “Holy Night” & afterwards they told us that the night nurses had fixed up a little nativity scene & got one of the real little babies & put him in the manger & he just lay & slept there quite peacefully while the girls sang. I have such a nice girl in the next bed to me (a room like A.A.- just 4 beds) & she had a radio so this morning while we were washing ourselves in bed & feeding our babes we listened to the “Round the World” broadcast from London & then the Queen. Of course I lay & wept heartily & thoroughly enjoyed myself!
We had our Christmas Dinner at noon & the trays looked so pretty. A little Christmas tree decorated with stars & candy at the bottom on each one, & our names on a fancy card & a little Menu & gay napkin. We had turkey & plum pudding & all the trimmings & this evening for supper we had ham & Christmas cake & even a tangerine & grapes & a cracker.
Cec came in this afternoon & told me all the fun of Lindy opening her presents – I had just 2 here- a pair of nylons from Cec & a lovely dark red long sleeved sweater from Lindy. We are going home tomorrow afternoon, so will open all the rest then – Cec has a tree all ready for us, so it will be another Christmas all over! Thank you for your lovely Christmassy cable – we are all thinking of you & send love & kisses
By now you will know the little old Algy snuck up on us & arrived early! And if I thought Linda was a funny looking little baby, I should have seen this one first!! He is quite the wierdest little fellow I ever saw!! He was 7 lbs. 6 oz. at birth & unlike Lindy, was like a little boiled lobster & still is very red & angry looking. He has lots of dark hair too, but it is like a bristly crew cut & his little face is all scrunched up!
Aren’t we clever having a boy? He is to be Charlie as we couldn’t think of anything better! Actually, it was in the car going to the hospital that we decided, so you can see how long the discussing lasted! If it was a girl we thought of Cynthia Clare, but we can store that one up!
On that morning I got up & felt fine, but a bit odd & a sort of pressure on the bottom of my tummy, but there was no show or anything. Cec went off to work & Lindy & I did the usual chores- I had had the cleaning woman & she was marvellous & had cleaned through the whole house, so I felt very pleased. I began to get funny pains & odd feelings during the morning, but couldn’t decide if it was anything or not. However I didn’t go shopping to Joanisse as I had planned & when I put Lindy to bed & had my lunch I began timing the feelings & found that they were coming regularly. So I dashed & had a bath & washed my hair!! Wrote notes for the milkman etc. packed my case, Lindy’s case, & Algy’s case (all ready except for last minute things really) & then phoned Cec. He was in a Seminar & of course everyone knew why he had to get up & leave! All afternoon the pains were irregular & I sat & ironed shirts & Cec & I had a nice chat & cups of tea! I called Dr. S. & the nurse said she tell him but didn’t think there was any hurry. He called about 6 & the pains were regular & he said to go in about an hour. We put Lindy to bed & Cy came over & baby sat & Cec took me to the Hospital.
He had to just leave me there- not allowed to stay- & I got going very quickly. Not as nice as last time – I know lots more about labour pains & nothing about what happened at the birth- was just flat out. They woke me & told me it was a boy & I just looked vaguely at the little bundle & went to sleep again. Cec came (the babe was born at 11.0 p.m.) about 12:30 & saw us both. I am feeling fine – stitches a bit sore, but no tail trouble this time, thank goodness. Was up this morning for a little. Cec says Lindy is having a grand time with Barrie. Lots of love from Cyn & the grandson!
Your parcels arrived yesterday- no duty to pay – all safe & sound & causing much excitement! I put away the one addressed to me, but of course as soon as Cec came home, we had to investigate the other one & make sure that it was all right & that the contents hadn’t gone bad or anything! Actually we waited until later in the evening to have a “taster”, & I had some lime juice & we mixed up a drink & ask Dan down to share it & we all thought it was wonderful & slept like tops! Cec is just delighted at the 2 great big bottles & we are so tickled at getting it all “for nothing”, as it were- thank you very, very much, Mummy – you can just imagine what fun we will have with it. Auntie Muriel’s calendar came too, but I didn’t open it – I have quite an assortment of parcels put away already & have decided to wait to open them – it is so much more fun than just opening them as they come & even if it is a little before or after Christmas, I’d rather sit around the Christmas tree & do it in style!
You will be glad to hear that we are all organized for the event- at last! Actually, we have been waiting to make final arrangements with Lee & Jim, as they had asked Linda & Cec earlier you remember, but we hadn’t seen them for a while & didn’t know if their plans had maybe changed. Lu & Pete also said they would be very pleased to have them, but Lindy is so happy with Lee & Barry that I thought it would be best if she went there, but actually if Jim’s mother comes from Toronto for Christmas (which is doubtful) Cec can go and sleep at Lu & Pete’s as it is just across the way- 100 yds or so. When I go into hospital, Cec will take Lindy over there & her cot & as it is very near the hospital it will be very convenient- much more so than here. We have broken the news to Dan that he is to be abandoned, but I will leave food in the fridge & he is agreeable to looking after himself. Cec will come in every day & fix the furnace etc. When we all come back home after the event, we had thought of having a “housekeeper” – they are women you can get through the Nursing Registry, who will come every day & look after the house, cooking, “light housework” etc. while you look after the baby. I had even phoned & made arrangements about it, then Cec & I began talking & considering that he still has a lot of leave to take- also that he will get from Wed. till Mon. on both Christmas & New Year & what a lot of other help we could get for much less than the $4.50 a day we’d have to pay this woman – & we’d only be able to have her for a week or so. So we are not having her after all. Cec is going to take time off work; we are having diaper service- $2.00 a week- beginning for Lindy when she is at Lee’s; I’ll send Cec’s shirts to the laundry; & last but not least, I think Phyl Douglas is going to let me have her cleaning woman for a day every 2 weeks ($5.00 the day). Phyl & I just talked about the latter yesterday – I hadn’t intended to have anyone regularly, but thought it would be nice to have someone for an odd day before I went to hospital & once or twice when I came back & asked Phyl if she knew of anyone, & Phyl said well she was just deciding she couldn’t afford her woman every week & how about sharing – so of course I said it would be wonderful for a while anyway, although I hadn’t intended to have anyone permanently, but Cec says we can see how we manage anyway & at least have her for a month or so. Phyl is to talk to her & let me know, so hasn’t that all arranged itself nicely for me? I feel very happy about the whole thing because I think Lindy will be more contented at Lee’s than anywhere & Cec will be there too if it is over Christmas, & when we get home I think having Cec here & no stranger in the house will be much more fun & will help Lindy to get used to the baby more quickly too. Did I tell you that she pats my tummy & says “Algee- Algee”!! One morning I went into her just in my nightie & she was patting the bulge & I said “That’s Algy” & she immediately repeated “Algee” & has remembered it ever since!
It seems ages since I told you of our activities & giddy social whirl!! It has now ceased, as I decided about a week ago that going out etc. really wasn’t worth it now, as I was uncomfy nearly all the time & felt tired out next day, so we have refused invitations from the Ramseys, June & George & Margie & Cy, & I am just sitting at home & enjoying it- with lots to do, too! What with appointments with Dr. Smith every other week (I go again tomorrow) & Dr. Flora about every week, we have been kept pretty busy anyway, but thank goodness I am through with Dr. F. for a while – I now have my falsies!! Since my bad “do” I have been to him 3 times- once to get the impression taken & I was sick all over him! He’ll be glad to get rid of me too! Actually that is a great exaggeration – I was sick into the little dish, not all over him, but you know when they are taking the impression all that gloggy stuff oozes into your mouth & down your throat & he keeps sticking his fingers down & pulling it out – well – I just neatly sicked up my lunch! However, the impression was o.k. & I felt fine (!) & the next ap’tment was just a minute while he stuck the bar affair in to see if it fit it. On Sat. Dr. F. said for Cec to bring me- taking no chances! – & he just whoopsed out the 2 front teeth & stuck the others in. The extractions were both easy- the abscess came right out on the root of one- & the other teeth just sort of clipped in. There is no palate part- only a thin metal bar across the roof of my mouth & the teeth have two little metal clips at the side to hold them in place. Of course it felt wierd to begin with – particularly all stiff lipped with injections – but it was really amazing how they fit in perfectly at once & I have worn them all the time since with no real discomfort. I know it will take a while to get used to the sensation of always having something in my mouth, but already I don’t find eating too difficult, although I have to concentrate on it! They look pretty good I think too, & Cec says he wouldn’t know the difference. I mustn’t forget- Dr. Flora asked to be remembered to you & also Mrs. Richer when I went over to get a letter the other day!
Now back to our social activities! About a month ago I think we had Pete & Lu over & I don’t believe I told you about it. We had asked them when they 1st arrived in Ottawa but at the beginning they were busy, then we were tied up with the party & so it got postponed. Well, we finally arranged this weekend & as they live so far away & have no car & didn’t have a babysitter for Leslie either, we said for them to come & spend the night. Cec brought them over about 4.0 or soon after & then when Lindy was in bed we had dinner – I had got a lovely big roasting chicken- a capon- about 7 lbs.- & stuffed it etc. & we had roast potatoes & green beans & carrots & cranberry sauce & gravy & then coconut cream pie to fall out. Everyone was ravenous, because of course my entertaining & conversations made dinner later & later & so everyone really enjoyed it & tucked in – only enough left for Cec & I to scratch one other meal, but we had nice soup! Cec & Pete washed up & then Margie & Cy came over about 8:30- 9 & we had drinks & a grand time. It was the first time the 5 of them had all been together since the old days in Saskatoon, so they all thoroughly enjoyed it & so did I – it was a really successful evening. Next morning we all got up anyhow & put the children to rest about 12, & then they left about 3 or so after we all had a coffee & sandwich lunch – very informal! It was very nice though & they were grand visitors – the kind who do all the washing up & keep telling the hostess to go & sit down! Just after they’d gone, there was a ring at the bell & this was Mr. & Mrs. Burrough – but not to come in – just to give me a little parcel! Which turned out to be a dear little blue jacket she had knitted for Algy! They really are overwhelmingly kind – in some ways she reminds me a bit of Bella, but without Bella’s deliberate way,- she chatters more & is a bit sillier too, I think!! She’s very self-depreciating & doesn’t think anything she does is any good, but everything Betty & “Father” do is wonderful! He is a nice little man – very intelligent & most interesting to talk to- has lots of hobbies like wood carving, leather work etc. & is interested in Chinese lacquer work & so on, but usually with Lindy there & Mrs. B. & I chattering, he doesn’t get much chance! The blue jacket was Algy’s first present, but Amy is sending me 3, & yours & Jeanie’s will be wonderful. I have knitted nothing, but some of Lindy’s are still fine & I have bought some Viyella & cut out 2 jackets from A. Trixie’s, so he’s not going to do too badly, poor little fella – it would really be rather a shame if he had all hand- me-downs!! By the way, I had a card from Jeanie & Al Stern in Ann Arbour & they have a son- Bradford Allen. It is a cute card – a very pleased looking stork on the front saying “I did it & I’m glad”!
The week after Pete & Lu’s visit I had a horrible cold & did nothing except slept in the afternoons & get all behind with the work. However, I blessed it in one way- on Mon. Mrs. Hughes rang up & invited me to tea next day, so I accepted & she said bring Linda & come about 3 or 3:30, so that was fine. On Tues. I was feeling lousy though so I called her & told her I’d better put it off I was so sneezy etc. but she kept protesting she didn’t mind until it turned out that it was a real pukka tea party with about 6 or 8 ladies coming! At that, I really said no firmly- imagine me – in my condition! Nothing decent to wear as I really bulge now! – a sniffly cold in my head – & trying to look after Lindy amongst all those strange women – all probably very elegant! I was so glad to get out of it!!
The following Friday Pete & Lu had asked us & the Garretts to a late (7:30) dinner, so that all the children would be in bed, so we set out in good time (Dan stayed in for us) – & about halfway there stopped for Cec & Cy to get cigarettes & MacTavish wouldn’t start again! It was a damp rainy night, & although we were right opposite a Service Station they just sold petrol & couldn’t help at all. It ended by Cec having to phone a garage & they came & towed us there & then found it was more than just a flat battery & we’d have to leave it, so we had to phone then for a taxi. Of course Pete & Lu have no phone yet, so we couldn’t let them know & we arrived at 10 to 9!! Lu had gone out & phoned our house at about 8:30 & Dan had said we’d left soon after 7, so she just about fell on our necks, she was so glad to see us! Fortunately her dinner was one that didn’t spoil & was delicious. We had cocktails first, then served ourselves buffet style to casseroled meat balls cooked in a sort of Mexican way with green peppers & beans, & hot garlic bread & tossed salad, then afterwards meringues with ice cream & then coffee – not to mention white wine with dinner & cherry brandy afterwards – I was popping! We had a taxi home & Cec got the car the next day- we were just thankful it hadn’t happened at a more awkward time- going to the hospital, for instance!!
On a Sunday we had Mr. & Mrs. Burroughs to tea- she, sure it was too much for me! Apparently, she had a son after Betty who only lived a few hours, so she is very jittery, but she had to have Caesareans in both cases & the 2nd one was at 8 months & after it they sterilized her, so she mustn’t have been made the right way!
The following Sat. I left Linda with Cec & did a little Christmas shopping- mostly little books & bibs etc. for all the children. I thought after sending the girls stockings (in McCall’s magazines) I would have no parcels but of course ended with quite a few. I sent Ruth her “dish” & a white organdie apron & my father a mixed food parcel & a tin of sweet biscuits. In the evening we went over to Angie & Paul Routly’s, & they had another couple who had had to bring their little 4 mths baby son with them. He was the funniest looking little fellow- wouldn’t settle very well, so spent most of the evening with us!
Next morning Cec got up to Linda as the Sunday usual, & then suddenly felt awful- was violently sick & had diarrhoea & felt wretched. It continued practically all day & we decided that it must be stomach flu which is going around because he had nothing to eat or drink that I hadn’t had & other people have had this sudden flu bug too. He stayed at home on Mon. & that felt very tired & washed out & looked pretty wretched, & on Tues. morning he got up at & looked after Linda & let me sleep as I felt rather worn too after a late Sat. night and no extra sleep on Sunday! However he went to work in the afternoon & although he felt very tired for a while & nothing tasted good to him, he is fine again now & fortunately Lindy & I didn’t show any signs of catching the germ.
On Wed. evening Jim & Lee came over & we had a hand of bridge- the first for ages! They brought Barry as they had no sitter & he slept quite happily in our bed. Their car broke down on the way, this time, but they were able to let us know & Cec took them home. Lee brought the machine & I am longing to get on with making the curtains, but so many things keep cropping up. Last week I atlast managed to make up & get off all the parcels to England- when they’ll get there, goodness knows! – & – don’t collapse – your old clothes parcel too! I put in gelatine; 2 dish cloths; 1 sponge which I find is grand to use instead of a dish cloth- for washing up, wiping up etc.; my old junk jewelry, & a present for you from Lindy in the toe of one shoe!! I couldn’t get the white shoe cleaner at Joanisse & was in a hurry then, so left it. On Sunday Cec helped me measure & cut all the curtains & linings, so I am all ready to tack & sew now, but tonight I just have to send Christmas cards or they’ll never get there, so the poor curtains must wait. Each weekend I feel I’ll get so much done, but most of my visits to Dr. F. have been on the Sat. a.m. & afterwards I have been finished for the day & not much up to much on Sunday either. I have been resting a lot when Linda does too in the p.m. as I felt tired & uncomfy last week, but I had a good rest on Sunday & feel fine this week. I cleaned well yesterday & washed the kitchen floor & ironed in the evening, then washed this morning, so feel I’ve really got on- it gets me down a bit when I see it piling up! Last time I went to Dr. S. my feet were swelling a bit & he told me to try & keep off salt, but they have been much better lately- less than 2 weeks now- my-my! As you can imagine, we are still wrangling about names!!
We got your letter of 1st Dec. on Friday & thank you so much- I am hoping to have a really good do answering them all in a hospital – am I optimistic?! I didn’t write properly last week, but sent a sea mail with odds & ends of material patterns and Ruth’s letter etc. that I had been meaning to send you.
I have already posted the material samples as she wrote about them, but this was in the sea mail too.
By the way Cec got official word of his promotion- due on 1st Jan. & a raise of $500.00 a year – isn’t that lovely? We have really been so hard up lately- paying off the extra furniture (all done now) & $100.00 for winter fuel & insurances coming up, as well as the fact that Dan’s room didn’t begin to pay off for a while, but now we feel we are getting ahead & should do fine. I said to Cec little while ago “Well honey, we’re getting around the corner” & he said “Yes & what did we find there? Another little baby”!!
I wonder if Peggy has had her “little” baby yet- if so I hope all is well & that she is fine – & rejoicing in a flat tummy. Dr.S. seems to think I’ll be up-to-date & says Christmas in hospital for me, so I’ve got used to the idea – & I really would hate to hang on & on & not know when I was going or if to get a Christmas dinner ready or not. I am so glad that you are all going to Jeanie’s & hope you will all have a grand time. You sound very Christmassy decorating the store windows etc. – I haven’t a vestige of the Christmas spirit yet – my mind on other things I guess!! But we have decided we must have a tree, & we are taking Lindy shopping one morning. She fell in love with a horrible stuffed doll with purple hair in Dube’s the other day & I could hardly drag her away!
I was so shattered & sorry to hear from you about Oliver’s sudden death – it is terrible & must have been such a shock as he was such a big strong looking man. Marjorie will be coming home I suppose & will live in N/C eventually, but what a tragic lot of things has happened in that family. I owe Dottie – & just about everyone – letters, so that is another thing to do.
I must stop now – it is 4:15 & I have the kitchen door shut, so haven’t heard a squeak from Lindy, but I am sure she must be awake. She sends a great big Christmas hug & a wet kiss & lick to Granny- we will all be thinking of you & let you know the news as soon as possible-
Lots & lots of love from Cec & me & a happy, happy Christmas – Cyn
A Family History in Letters 