21 April 1958. Plot for sale and summer weather is coming

21 April 1958

My dear Len and Margaret

This is Monday eve. Very early to make a start on your letter, isn’t it? But then it will only be started. We have just enjoyed two summer like days. Of course we don’t know how long this kind of weather is going to continue, it has turned out cooler this eve. For the first time this winter we have not lit a fire, Father is alone in the front room with his TV. He has the paraffin stove lit. Father has been to his Rent Tribunal outing this afternoon.

Gladys and Eddie (Syvret) were here last evening, they came after Chapel service. I think Eddie has gone much thinner. Joan was not with them, she was busy doing shorthand which she is now learning. I believe she is going to New Zealand in August, I think it’s with the intention of remaining there for some months, I think this is the reason she is learning shorthand. She finds Jersey too slow for her. She has been to New Zealand before on holiday when her Father was still on the boat, now he’s retired and at home.

We are now on Summer time from yesterday, I think it’s silly to start so early, of course it suits some people. I guess you are now busy seeing to things before moving. This must be a worrying time for you, 8 more days then you will be moving. I will be pleased when you are quite settled the other side, above all that you will all like your now home and be happy, that will be the main thing. The weather should be fine and warm when you get there.

There has been no more said or done about Father’s piece of land, those who have seen it have not come forward to say that they will buy it. I am very pleased about that, because Father is not asking enough for it, nobody seems to be able to get a building site under £500. On Friday evening Kay and Arthur were here and the topic of this piece of land came up. Arthur told Father that he must not ask less than £300. He says that two houses can be built there with ample room at £400 each. We all told Father to leave this plot rest for a while and not to speak about it to anyone for the time being. Pa has now decided to see a man of business about it and have it measured and also put boundary stones. When this is done put in the hands of house agents. In this way I think this land has a better chance of being sold. The all say there’s a marvellous view from there, you see all across St Ouens Bay and I believe L’Etacq. I have an idea that English people coming over here with the idea of building a house would be pleased of that position when they would see the view. Anyway we will leave it at that for now.[1]

All being well tomorrow Kay will take us for a drive, the first one for months, except for twice when we went to St Peter.

Now this is Tuesday eve.

It’s not really worth starting to write, it is now 8.45, anyway a few lines will advance. We have been as far as Corbiere this afternoon, of course there were no visitors around yet. The weather was fine, but not quite so fine as the two last days. Nick is here, he has just seen to Doreen’s bicycle. She thought she had a puncture, but Nick says it’s not, it’s something to do with the valve. Doreen never uses the bike, it’s had very little use. She is going to sell it, she will ask £10 for it. I think new ones are about £15 – 20.

Mrs Falle (neighbour) has just been in, she wanted to use the telephone. She and her husband as rather disappointed, they were to leave at 10.30 by air. Now Mr Falle is ill in bed, he is having one of his bouts of asthma, he has been having them rather often lately. They are still hoping they can leave on Sunday. I think he is rather run-down and needs a holiday.

I am pleased to say there is not going to be an election for Centenier. Last eve they re-elected one who was in already, that is Mr Le Breton, the other one is a new man by the name of Mr Goodman. Father does not know him. I think he is a local preacher and they say he does not drink. This man was not in the police before, so the Centeniers are settled without an election. I guess the next move will be for Vingteniers and Constables officers, Father will then be resigning. I suppose it will be sometime in May.

Wed eve

I’m sure I don’t know why I’m sitting down with paper and ink, because I have no more news than when I finished writing last eve. I really don’t know what to jot down. Doreen is out to tea and babysit at Wynne’s, I just imagine you wondering if Nick will be going there too. Oh yes, he will find himself there later in the evening.

Gladys Syvret has brought us some flowers this afternoon on her way to town. It was very nice of her, also very nice to have the flowers, they were a bunch of blue irises and a lovely bunch of anemones. When Roselle came back from work she was not backwards in noticing those flowers and wanted to know who had  brought them, she loves to see flowers in the house.

We are all going out to tea at Kays on Saturday, Miggie, Charles, father and myself will go for the meal. We will go along with Arthur on his way back from work. The others will come after tea, that is the two girls and Nick. I think the Davis’s (builder friends of K&A) will also be there. I can’t remember the last time I saw them. I do hope we don’t’ remain late, but being a Saturday it won’t be so bad. The next day we can stay in bed for a couple of hours later which is nothing new to us.

We read on the Evening Post (EP) this eve that in Glasgow they are trying to have a number of people to leave their homes and go and live somewhere else. This is on account of overcrowding, this is rather a strange affair, a good thing you are not going in the city of Glasgow, there probably would not be room for you, overcrowding does not sound good, does it?

I think this will be the last letter you will receive from us in Oxford. The next one will be in Scotland but then as you know before I can send a letter I will need to know your address, otherwise while I haven’t got it, that will be a good excuse to save me from writing. Probably while you will be arranging your house you will probably not have time to read letters.

Thursday

I was not able to finish this letter last eve. Lulu arrived about o’clock and left at 10.30. She is over here on her Easter holidays, she goes back on Wednesday. I almost made sure of a letter from Oxford today but no luck, but I gather you must be very busy these days. We all wish you the Very Best of Luck in your new home in Scotland. Len, once more don’t go to sleep at the wheel of your car. We also hope Margaret and the two children will not find the journey too tiring. You will be in our thoughts during those days.

Love from us all

Lovingly, Mother xxxx

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[1] The plot was never sold as far as we know but after Papa’s death the boundaries were never determined and so we still don’t know where it is except that it’s in St Peter.