Saturday, September 21st, 1940

Darling Joan,

Once again I am writing to you, hoping that you are still well and happy, where ever you may be. It seems such a long time ago that you went away, and we hope every day to get a letter from you telling us that you are living in your new home. Then Daddy will be able to write to the people who will be looking after you.

Well, Joan, what do you think? This morning a little rabbit wandered into the front garden, and was found by the babies. We have asked a few people around here who we know are keeping rabbits but none of them have lost one, so we are keeping it until it is claimed. I have made a hutch for it, and the babies love feeding it; it seems to like carrots best. We have not given it a name yet. What do you think we should call it?

Mummy went to your old school the other day to see Miss Bedford, and she would ever so much like to hear from you. I expect, if you tell her all about you wonderful trip to America and what it is like there, she will read your letter to your old school chums. So will you try to write her a note?

Also, don’t forget to write to your old friend Dora. I see her now and again in the street and she always asks after you, and hopes that you are happy in your new home.

Now, what are the questions I want answered this week? I think for a start that you had best tell me about the Harley School. How is it different from the school at Harrow Weald? Do you do any different subjects at school now?

It is ever so queer living here now. We cannot sleep upstairs now. Mummy and the babies sleep every night in the shelter in the dining room. Daddy has a camp bed and Nanny sleeps on John’s little bed, brought down from upstairs. What do you think of that? It must be very nice for you too, to see the streets lit up at nights. I’d love to see that; the evenings here are so dark and miserable.

Mummy and I have just taken the babies down to the shops, and we had to go to three shops before we could buy them an ice cream. But we got one at last and sat in the recreation ground to eat them. Then they went on to the round-about and the swing and so home to tea. And now, just as we were having our tea, the air-raid siren has gone, but we are not troubled much during day light, only at night time. Last Saturday we all went to Watford and as there was an air-raid, we had to sit in the big church for nearly an hour.

So you see that funny things happen to us now, don’t they? Well, Joan, all our love to you and have a good time while you are in America, and learn all you can.

From your loving,
Daddy
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All our best love and kisses from Anne, John, Nanny and Mummy