10 February 1959. Bowler hats, murder and more manure

10 February 1959

My dear Len and Margaret

Tuesday evening. I must make a start on your letter, it has to be finished tomorrow, so as to be mailed on Thursday am.

We have thought about Len today he being in London, having appointments with two Societies, that is the Municipal Unit Trust and also the Unicorn which he had in mind before, we will be anxious to know the results of these appointments; we are wondering if you will be returning home this eve. I guess you left early this morning, We hope all your colds are better and that everyone is fit again. No wonder you get colds, because you have had such terrible weather, is there some improvement to your weather? It’s time there should be.

Oh the first thing I was supposed to say on this letter was that my beautiful plate is up at last. It went up on Friday eve at 8:45 and believe me it looks swell. There’s nothing else on the chimney breast but this lovely plate, it’s dignified on its own. I feel sorry that Margaret is having so much trouble with the calorie tray we sent her, on account that you are using it to do your writing. I can’t understand the reason Len doesn’t feel like using his own that he had given him when he left Oxford. The reason he gives is that he feels if cold at the touch. Well Len, I don’t doubt that, but there is only one thing to do about it, that is to place a cloth on it and falling over the sides, I think this would answer the purpose, just try it, Len.

Is the bowler hat still going strong? Arthur told us the other day to tell you from him whatever you do keep wearing your bowler when you go on business, he says it’s part of the business to wear a bower hat and carry an umbrella. These kinds of things just suit you Lennard, don’t you think so? The pictures you sent are very good, we notice you still have your moustache, you seem to be looking very well. I notice that your staff each have their desks arranged one behind the other, that must be a new arrangement for a new office. I also notice your flowers, it seems to be a nice office with very nice furniture. I will probably send the pictures back along with this letter, all the family have seen them, they met with approval.

Yesterday was a lovely day, nice sunshine all day and much less cold. Today has been quite different, it has been damp, fog and mist and colder. We went for our usual drive. We left home after 2:30 and drove to the butcher at St Aubins. We did not go to Corbiere, we turned back from St Aubins and we had to go to Mabel Davy’s shop at Plat Douet Rd. From there we carried on the way a little to find ourselves at Green Island where we had our cup of tea and cake. On our way there on a main road, we came across some horse manure, so Father thought it was his place to get out of the car, take bucket and shovel and started scraping on the road. This was just in front of houses, just the same Kay did not want to miss it. This was all we found, at the same time it was a bigger ‘helping’ than last time. I can see that each time we go out the bucket will come too. That was the way we spent our afternoon, visibility was very poor, we could not see anything.

I will now give up, 10 o clock is just striking.

Wed eve.

I must now try to finish this letter to mail it in the morning, I am hoping no one comes in to disturb. This afternoon we had Lucy, Willie and Isabel to visit us. This kept me from having my usual afternoon rest. In fact I have not been able to have it this week so far, it does me good to have it.

It has been very foggy all day. I don’t know whether any English mail has arrived, if it has I think it was late. According to the radio and papers you are still having awful fog which has caused collisions on the roads, also train were having trouble. They had to be helped by flare signals. This is terrible that this fog should be continuing.

Princess Margaret is supposed to visit the Channel Islands in June and is to be in Jersey from the 24^th to 26^th. Some more money will have to be spent on decorations I suppose and other things.

I don’t know why I’m taking another sheet of paper because I have nothing else to tell you. We had a very nice time at Kay's on Thursday on the occasion of their wedding anniversary, they have been married for 18 years. Kay fetched Dad, Roselle and I, the others got there by bus during the eve. Kay phoned St Aubin’s garage to fetch us all with a taxi to take seven people at 10:15. It arrived on time, with a coach to take 10 people. I didn’t really know how to get into this coach, it had a very high step just like the old trains in France have. I had to be helped in and out. I must say it was quite comfortable and we got home safely.

Kay gave us quite a nice meal. We had soup, cold ham, homemade brawn, sausages, lettuce, celery and all these things – trifle, mandarin oranges, nuts and coffee. It was all very nice. Mr Gee and his niece Joan came in before supper for a drink, but my goodness this Mr Gee doesn’t stop speaking. I call him a queer sort of fellow who doesn’t know his own mind. He’s just had a bungalow built on the same plot as Arthur's, they are not far from each other, there’s only a few weeks that they moved in. Its all built up now at the back of Arthur's.

You will see on the weekly about a murder that was committed last week. A man murdered a woman, he was living with her. Afterwards this man gassed himself. Everybody says this woman only got what she looked for, she was not living with her husband, she lived with men to skin them of their money. The inquests on these 2 bodies took place on Monday at 3 o’clock, it was nearly 6o’clock when they finished. They give 5/- for an inquest but for these 2 inquests Dad only had 5/-, I thought that was very mean of them. They want people to help them on the cheap. Dad should really have had 10/- on Monday after being there all afternoon.

I’m hoping we get a few lines from you tomorrow to know all about your appointments in London. What is Margaret doing with herself these days? I guess trying to keep herself warm, I hope she will soon get some sunshine.

Thursday AM

Father will take this letter as he goes to town. I will just say that we received your letter card the AM. I see it had been a disappointing day for you and as you say a waste of time. By the letter you will see that the family thought it was on Tuesday that you were to see them at the Unicorn, but I thought it was next Tuesday and my thought was right, no use going against the family’s thinking, was it? Do you think this society you went to is worth considering or bothering about. Of course it’s up to you to do as best you think, as far as the Unicorn is concerned, we can’t help you or interfere in your good work, but I have an idea it might be better for you to remain with the Alliance for the time being where you are sure of your salary, at the same time keep your eyes open. Something reliable may come your way. But of course Len don’t go by what I say, you are the one who knows best. We are pleased you visited Barbara.

Lots of love to you all. Dad and Roselle are watching TV.

Lovingly