Sunday, May 16th, 1943

Darling Joan,

We cannot think what is happening to your letters, It is now over seven weeks since we heard from you, and it does seem an awfully long time. Try and write regularly as we do love to get your letters.

By the time that you get this letter you may have heard from the British Broadcasting Company. Mummy and I will be recording a message to you on the 27th. of this month, and later it will be broadcast to you in the B.B.C. “Hello Children” program. They will send you a cable telling the date and time of the broadcast, and we shall stay up late that night to listen in to it with you. I hope it comes through clearly to you and that you enjoy it. It only lasts 30 seconds, though.

It is a perfectly lovely day today, and we have been working hard this morning on the allotment⁽¹⁾, and we are now taking it easy because it is rather hot. Soon the twins will be off to Sunday School⁽²⁾. Yesterday they went to Dora’s thirteenth birthday party and had a grand time, judging by the excited way in which they returned.

John enjoyed himself this morning, because we lit a bonfire, and he loves a bonfire. He is also very thrilled because he is helping me to put up a new front garden gate. All the house property is badly in need of repair, but I have managed to make a good job of our gates, and John is anxious not to miss the next part of the job, putting on the hinges and putting up the post.

I have a camera ready loaded, but will leave the picture taking of the twins until this evening, because the light is softer in the evening. They are now nearly as old as you were when you left England, so I expect you will see a difference in them to the last pictures I took of them. I will include Dora in the pictures as well.

Now I have to think out the ninety words which we will send to you over the air, as it has to be sent to the B.B.C. in advance. There isn’t time to ask you what you would like to hear about, but if there is anything special you must let us know in case we get a second chance.

Well good-bye for the present, Joan dear, and write often.

Lots of love from Daddy
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