Letters to America

Sunday, January 11th, 1942

My darling Joan,

Such an exciting week we have had! At last I can tell you that we have received your lovely Christmas presents. I think everybody has been lucky this week. Mrs Kemp has had two parcels from Janet and John too. Dora had her parcel just on Monday morning and came running in to show me as soon as she had opened it! Was she excited! She was wearing the necklace today and it looked very nice. I like the picture you sent her too, and as it was my birthday, I told Dora I thought it was a lucky omen and it made me so happy. I was right because the next day Auntie Mary’s present came. I think the hankies are very pretty and Daddy put his tie on right away as it matched his suit.

Your parcel came yesterday, and as Daddy wasn’t home, we waited and opened it all together after we had finished dinner. I think the twins were very good to wait as they were so excited. Thank you very, very much, darling, for the lovely framed pictures of you. You do look sweet and so big. All the parcels looked so pretty in their gay wrappings. John and Anne love their toys and have been making pictures with the wooden pegs all the morning, and Anne has been wearing her lucky elephants. They have written “thank you” on Daddy’s letter. Dora has also written to you. Mrs Gleadhall is going to frame her picture and she will have it in her room.

Well darling, John and Anne started school last Tuesday and just love it. Little Patsy Gaze started too and they have a very nice teacher. I don’t think she was there when you were – I haven’t seen her before, but the children all like her and already they are talking about writing letters to her. Do you remember the letters you used to write to Miss Cordingley? Miss Jenkinson (your last teacher) always asks me how you are getting on when I see her, and I say “very well indeed”, so do your best at school Joan.

I am sending you two snaps of Anne taken on Christmas Day in your dress. They are not good. The hat spoils it, and in one you can see how the dining room has been boarded up(1). Well darling, thank you again and lots of love and kisses from

Mummy
xxxxxxxxx

  1. Blackout regulations were imposed on 1 September 1939, before the declaration of war. These required that all windows and doors should be covered at night with suitable material such as heavy curtains, cardboard or paint, to prevent the escape of any glimmer of light that might aid enemy aircraft. External lights such as street lights were switched off, or dimmed.