Letters to America

Saturday, February 12th, 1944

Darling Joan,

Nothing very exciting has happened this week at all. About the only good news is the lengthening days, which make us all very much happier.

On Tuesday evening I came home from work feeling very queer and after having some tea went straight off to bed. I stayed there until midday the next day and got up feeling much better. In the afternoon Mummy and I went for a walk into Stanmore and the next day, Thursday, I was quite well again and able to go back to business. That shows that it always pays to take these colds and things in time, doesn’t it?

This afternoon, Saturday, we all went into Watford, and John and I went to a football match, while Mummy and Anne went into the market. They came home by bus, not waiting for us, and after the match John and I came home by train. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon, especially John who was at his first football match. Mummy had heard that they were selling oranges at Watford market without marking the ration books(1), but of course they weren’t. There are always plenty of rumours about like that. But they did manage to get a few things that are scarce at Wealdstone and Harrow.

Watford were playing one of London’s crack teams, The Arsenal, and the visitors won by two goals to nil, but everyone voted it a thundering good match, with plenty of excitement and good football. Of course, I had to keep on explaining things to John, but I think he got the drift of it all before the end, The man on the turnstile thought he was such a titch, that he wouldn’t take any money for him, as we went in. Now John says he wants to go and see a Rugby football match, which is a little like your American football.

We look forward to seeing the snaps of you that are on the way and wonder if we shall notice much change in you from the last that we had. I don’t think you have had a copy of the enclosed snap, I hope it is new to you, although I am afraid it is rather an old one now.

Cheerio(2) and heaps of love from
Daddy
xxxxxxxxxxx

  1. Most food, clothing and fuel was rationed and even things which were not rationed were often very difficult to find in the shops. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased.
  2. People sometimes say 'cheerio' as a way of saying goodbye, especially in British English.