Letter to John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Letter to John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Writes about problems with mail and hope to hear news from him soon. Mentions her latest activities and voting Liberal in election and speaking to local candidate. Continues with domestic news and gardening required.

1945-07-06

Four page handwritten letter

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Start of transcription
“FELMERSHAM,”
BOTTRELL’S LANE,
CHALFONT ST. GILES,
BUCKS.
July 6th
Darling Johnnie,
I strongly suspect that the post office is continuing to play the parcel game, & sending your letters to me back to you! There was no letter post today, only that parcel I sent on to myself, delivered thro’ the window (presumably by Miss McLeod.) Anyway I went in today to remind them I’m home, so I hope I may hear from you tomorrow. Perhaps there’ll be some news of your plans. I’m waiting to send off your parcel. I should like to send you some cherries too, there are lots in the village & I should think they’d travel quite well & be no bother your end either. We’ve got an immense amount of chocolate here
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2.
too, particularly now that my last Red X parcel to you is returned with about 3 lbs of the stuff, so do let me know if you like some, I’m not eating any of it, & Frances has plenty.
I spent yesterday afternoon, after writing to you, chiefly in unpacking & putting away. Old Mr Wallace, who lives opposite, arranged for a car to take us to vote, altho’ it’s only just down in the village. I must own I voted Liberal! Later in the evening (6.30,) Mayor Laylor, the candidate was speaking on the village green, & I went & had a word with him & his wife, - a very decent couple, I should think he’d make a good member. However it remains to be seen who gets in, the fight has been very fierce, Joan Love tells me she has been working hard for the Labour man, of course.
I had a gorgeous hot bath last night, & washed my hair, & feel a new woman. I threw away those black shoes yesterday in a fit of [indecipherable word], this morning
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3.
the dustman came & emptied the dustbin, so they’ve gone now. This morning, after the housework (or a small instalment of it) Frances & I went over to St Peter’s to the Food office & met various cronies there & in our village. Poor Gwen Milliner is being operated on again for prolapses, you remember she was done last year & it didn’t do her any good at all. Frances is very keen to go back to school again, & I think she may as well or otherwise she will miss the companionship of her cousins very sorely.
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I haven’t started on the garden yet at all. Old Mr Palmer came round to explain what he’d done. Apparently it was already very overgrown when he started on it, so he worked away at the vegetable garden & was coming to the flowers afterwards. On closer inspection I see that there has been quite a lot of bloom in the herbaceous border, mostly going to seed now, so my labours weren’t entirely wasted. I’m just longing to get to work & clear some of it up. The rambler roses are in full bloom so is the clematis. I think we’ll have to remake the rockery this autumn!
Must stop now & get on with the [two indecipherable words].
Yours always dearest
Ursula.