Sunday, April 1st, 1945

My darling Joan,

When you started your letter that we received Friday you were having quite a crazy day. Well! so are we today, only not so crazy – no snow thank goodness – but nice sunshine and then heavy showers. In fact a typical English April day. Little Patsy Gaze came across to play with the twins, otherwise I would have taken them for a walk. She has been over quite a bit lately – she has no brothers or sisters – and when it’s wet or very cold they play up in the back bedroom.

I am so sorry that Capt. McCaffrey is in Italy. That explains why we have not heard from him. Auntie Mary said she didn’t know where he would be, but I was hoping he was in England and that we would see him. He did sound such a nice person and it would have been lovely to speak with someone who had seen and spoken so much with you. Never mind, we must go on hoping to have you home soon.

It was so funny that you should say in your letter that you hoped to get two Scout Badges, as only last week I asked you about the Scouts as you hadn’t mentioned it for some time. I do hope you got your notebook finished in time and won the merits. Have you had any other badges before? It was very nice to take First Aid and Home Nursing – they are most useful subjects to know – you could retaliate on Auntie Mary with your bandaging.

Well, darling, I think you’re a very, very clever girl to make such a beautiful poem. Did you really do it all by yourself! It’s really very good and I’m quite proud of you. When your school paper is published do you think you could get an extra copy to send to us? I would love one.

I took the twins up to Victoria to meet Nanny last Thursday afternoon and we were only there a few minutes before we saw her getting off the train. We all went in the tea rooms and had tea and cakes, and John and Anne were delighted to see the waitress had brought 3 pieces of Swiss roll. We never see that down our way and they love it. You do too, don’t you? Then we went into a big shop and Nanna bought them each a jigsaw puzzle, but they were big pieces and very easy, so they soon made them. She also gave me some lovely daffodils and pretty primroses. It’s so cheerful to see a few bright flowers, but they are very expensive.

It was lovely to have your letter Good Friday. We were having dinner and the postman waved the envelope to me as he passed the window, so I ran to open the door before he could push it in the letter-box, because I could see it was from the States.

I do hope you are all enjoying your Easter and having nice sunshining days now. My love and best wishes to Auntie Mary and everyone.

Much love to you, darling
From Mummy
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