Sunday, February 16th, 1941

My dear Joan,

Thank you very much, darling, for your lovely letter. You have told me just what I have been wanting to know ever since you went away. Now I can say “Joan is doing her music practice” or “I wonder what sort of story the children are having tonight on the radio.”

I expect you enjoy your breakfast with fruit juice and toast and it’s no wonder you are getting a big girl.

As Daddy has told you, we are all very pleased to know you are doing so well at school and next time I see Miss Bedford I will show her your copy of your school report. I know she would like to see it. I met Elizabeth and her Mummy yesterday and they asked me to give you their love when I wrote. Everybody asks about you when I see them.

This letter you wrote was dated Jan. 28th and the last one Dec. 18th, so I have not received any letters telling me all about your Christmas parties. I wonder if you will write and tell me all you did and about Santa Claus again? And I hope I get that letter. Did you receive the handkerchiefs that Mrs Thomas sent you? I have not seen her myself, but Dora told me. Oh! Have you written to her yet? Every time we see her she asks if we have heard from you and she is patiently waiting for a long letter telling her all you do and about your new friends in America. She sent you a nice letter and card and some hankies for Christmas. Did you get them, darling? I hope so because she bought them with her own money and was so excited when she posted them.

Have you had any more new piano pieces yet? And how do you get on with the different fingering? Expect you found it a bit awkward at first.

John and Anne are in the garden now and Daddy is digging up and planting out some onions. Nanny is having her ‘forty winks’¹ by the fire, but when she wakes she will go on knitting socks for soldiers.

Give my love to Auntie Mary and be a good girl. Lots of love and kisses.

Mummy
xxxxxxxx
xxxx John
xxxx Anne
xxxx Nannie