Letters to America

Sunday, November 30th, 1941

Darling Joan,

Thank you for the two nice letters we received yesterday. We were all very sorry indeed to hear that Auntie Mary had had such a bad accident(1) and do hope she is quite better again. I was so glad to know that you had been such a good little helper to Auntie and hope you took great care of her. You know we shall never be able to repay her and Uncle Carl for being so good and taking care of you for us. The letters are taking much longer to reach us now and it wasn’t until yesterday that I knew you would like an apron or an Enid Blyton(2) book for Christmas. We posted your parcel two weeks ago, but I will try and get them this week, although I am afraid they will not reach you in time.

Yes dear, leap frog is very good fun, especially when there are several of you. Do you remember some people playing it on the beach at Sandown? So you skate now! Do you have roller skates or ice skates? You will have some good fun with them. I suppose Teddy and Sandy skate too. My Daddy used to ice skate, but there is never enough ice now, except of course at the special rinks.

What fun you have at school, too. Fancy using flour and salt to make igloos! It makes your lessons so much more interesting, doesn’t it? I’m sorry you didn’t get such a good report from school last month, but keep on trying hard, Joan, and perhaps you will have a better one next time and will send it to us. I wonder why you don’t like music now. Is there any special reason? Auntie Mary and I have spent a lot of money on your lessons, dear, and if only you play the pieces you were taught now and again, it would not have been all wasted. It wouldn’t be like practice either, would it?

We were ever so pleased with the snapshots – hasn’t your hair grown? It looks very nice. Do you like it? The twins do like the lovely sweets you sent them for their birthday and we gave Dora a few. Thank you, darling. I hope we get the Xmas parcel, it will be such fun opening it, and we are eager to get it. Dora is well and doing fine at her music. I think she is entering another exam soon. Anne is well, but John has a bad cold, but is more cheerful in himself today. I hope it won’t be too long before you see them.

Lots of love from all of us.

Mummy and Nannie
xxxxxxxxxx

Anne
xxxxx
John
xxxxx

  1. Mary's accident was probably a car crash.
  2. Enid Blyton was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been translated into ninety languages.