Friday, August 27th, 1943

Darling Joan,

The twins are at the end of their holiday and on Monday return to school. They have had a grand time this week and are in the very best of health and spirits. On Wednesday Mummy took them over to Auntie Olive’s house at Barnet and they all went out to a picnic tea. They enjoyed the bus ride too, as it is through some very pretty country.

Then on Thursday Mummy took them to Chessington Zoo, which is a special Zoo for children, and they had a wonderful time there and are still talking about it. It was a cold, horrible morning to start with, simply pouring with rain, when I saw them off in the train to London. They met Uncle Charlie at Waterloo Station with Nanny and baby Margaret, and they all went on to Chessington together. They were well repaid for their courage in going on in such weather, because it cleared up and was a lovely day afterwards.

Today they have been to a local fun-fair where they had some swings and round-abouts, with Patsy Gaze, a little friend from over the way, in whose garden they often go to play. Patsy’s Daddy has a large piece of garden, and keeps all sorts of animals: goats, ducks, rabbits and chickens, so you can guess how they like to go over there. Then Patsy likes to come over with them because of the swing. Patsy, by the way, is a very good little dancer and soon the twins are going with Mummy to the Kodak⁽¹⁾ Hall to see her dance in a special display in aid of St. Dunstan’s for the Blind.

Tuesday, we all went up to London because Mummy wanted to buy a raincoat. We went in the afternoon and after we had bought the coat at a shop in Regents Street, we went on to Hyde Park, where we saw the bands of the Irish Guards and the Grenadier Guards playing and marching. It was very good indeed, and there was a very large crowd to watch. Then we went on and enjoyed watching the American boys playing baseball. There was quite a big crowd here as well, and they tell me that on Saturdays and Sundays they draw enormous crowds. It is a little strange to us but good fun to watch and the troops so obviously enjoy themselves.

By the time that you receive this letter you will probably have heard from Mummy that Auntie Rosie has a baby which they have called Brian. He is supposed to be a very lovely baby but of course we haven’t seen him yet, and I don’t know whether we shall be able to get over to see him now, although I know Mummy is very anxious to. Even this week Mummy didn’t think it wise for the twins to go to see a very new little baby because of their chicken pox. They are fully recovered now but you never know with a really new baby, do you?

Lots of love, Joan darling, from your
Daddy
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