Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writes of lengthening days, good weather and local area. Mentions their activities going for a walk but still deep snow. Writes that she sent him a cable previous Saturday and awaiting reply. Writes of daffodils and snowdrops in shops again but pricey. Mentions that there are good shops in Nelson but she is not admirer of broad Lancashire accents. Catches up with news and gossip.

1942-03-16

Two page handwritten letter

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420316

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[inserted] 14-4-42 [/inserted]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs.
England.
7-30 a.m. Monday 16th March/42
My dear Douglas.
I am writing this letter in daylight 7-30 a.m. & that shows how rapidly the days are lengthening now. It has been a very beautiful morning with an opal-tinted sky (what I call a desert sky) which brings you very close to me. It was 7 a.m. when I first looked out on to a lovely world. Flaming red in the east & heavy clouds scudding across the gorgeous sunrise. Now the beauty has passed & the sky is streaked with clouds which look to hold rain. This weekend has been very different to last – just as mild as last week was severely cold. The lake still has a large sheet of ice & it is strange to watch it being moved about by the March wind. There are still great patches of snow lying on the hills & yesterday morning Dad & I set out for a walk over the hills towards Todmorden but found the road deep in snow. A party of young cyclists passed us just before we came upon this snow & when we got to the bottom of the hill they were holding a committee meeting as to mode of proceeding. Eventually they set off up the hill carrying their machines & the last we saw of them they had climbed the wall into the field & were pushing the machines over the grass which is of course so wet after the heavy snows that much of the land look like bogs.
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I sent a cable to you on Saturday & now am eagerly awaiting the reply. I always feel to have something to look [deleted] ing [/deleted] forward to while awaiting my cable & it usually takes 4 or 5 days for it to get here. It always seems so wonderful that we can exchange our short messages of hope & reassurance. Daffodils and snowdrops are in the shops again but the price is out of all reason. Daffodils 6d each, snowdrops 9d a tiny bunch, & your favorite [sic] pink carnation 2/6 each. The way of life in this small industrial town surprises me. There are some really attractive shops with most expensive goods & the dress is remarkable. But I am not an admirer of the broad Lancashire accent which, in spite of the many advanced ideas in education, is very prevalent here.
Miss Chester came in last night. She went to Manchester on Saturday to see one of Ambrose’s shows = Merry-go-round = & enjoyed it. It was her first visit to M.c.r. since what you described “as the Manchester effort.” & she was amazed & shocked. I have heard of another firm, at Blackburn, who send parcels of cigarettes to troops so I am going to get particulars in the hope of sending more to you. It seems that parcels sent via the Red Cross take six or eight months to reach their destination. That seems a very long time in these days of anxious waiting. Now love Goodbye again for a day or two. All our love & thoughts & prayers are ever with you.
Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat, Algerie
Afrique du Nord.