16 May 1960. The multi-coloured kitchen

16 May 1960

My dear Len and Margaret

Monday eve. We are now having fine and warm weather, we had two thunderstorms and quite a lot of rain a few days ago. The rain has done a lot of good, everything is now fresh looking and growing is noticed.

Last Friday evening when Kay and Arthur came for the evening they brought a few tomato plants for Roselle. I thought she would put them in pots as she did last year, but instead Arthur put them in for her and if you please he put them in my flower borders, and without asking my permission. Of course I could not say anything. I guess they will do better in the open ground, so if it’s not cabbages it’s tomatoes in my garden.

On Friday I dug a narrow trench about a foot and a half deep between my border and the house. There is a long time that there is some dampness in the dining room where the ground was touching the house. I told Father that we must make a little trench. A few years ago we had placed some stones against the house, pushing the soil aside, but this did not answer, so I set about  doing something on Friday afternoon. It was a hard job to remove those stones, some of them were deep down.

Dad did try to have them out while I was having my rest, he came in and told me he could not get the stones out. That was left for me to do, when I got there I found the poor man had tried to remove the stones without removing the ground.  Of course he could not get them out in this way, so I got the shovel and fork and started digging up the soil. The stones were hard to remove but I was determined to have them out. There were also some slates against the house, these were difficult to dislodge, anyway I removed everything and dug the trench one and a half foot deep. It was not easy to work in that corner. I broke a lovely bud from my rose tree, so now the soil is about one foot away from the house. This should be better for dampness.

We are having a busy week, Roselle has put in her mind that between her and myself we should paint all the woodwork in the kitchen. I thought it was a rather big undertaking, as you probably remember there are two large cupboards, two doors, a small cupboard where we keep the saucepans and another one where we keep brushes and dusters, etc. this means a lot of painting for people who don’t understand anything about painting. Anyway we have given the second undercoat today. The final coat will take longer, it will have to be properly put on, here are the colours we intend using, one of the cupboards will be yellow, the other one we can’t just make up our minds, it will be either eggshell blue or a nice shade of green to match the green tiles on the walls. The two doors will be bright red, then the little cupboards will probably be in yellow. What do you think of our colour scheme? I must say that Arthur is putting us to these different colour, I guess it’s the fashion at the moment.

When we are through with painting Roselle wants new lino, though the one we have now is not broken, but I must admit I don’t like it. Roselle has never liked it, it was one we had during or after the occupation when there was not much choice to choose from, so I suppose we will have to give in and have one. We also need new curtains. I’m never in a great hurry to spend so much money, this time I’m in for it. Of course all the expense will not fall on me. Roselle insists on paying her share. Father may join us too.

I’ve forgotten to say that Father has decided to help us with this painting, he has done quite a lot this afternoon. We have asked him many times to have the kitchen redecorated but poor Dad would not hear. Now that he’s seen we are going ahead on our own, he has what I should say taken pity on us and thought he would help.

Enough about painting. Thanks Len for phoning on Thursday eve after ‘Top Town’ was over. You seemed to think, Len, that I must have been in a mood for not taking much interest in it. Well as a matter of fact, I felt quite happy but I have no interest in ‘Top Town’ or for any other programme except boxing and Russ (Conway) on the piano, but not when he’s in a crowd. Yes I agree with you he doesn’t smile as he used to do. I don’t know what the reasons are. Did you notice Oswald Breton in ‘Top Town’? he was among the ‘Glee Men’ No one here noticed him, we only knew the following day that he was there. Elizabeth Patch was among the dancers. Mind TT was not of the highest standard, lots of people did not think much of it. I will now end, it’s time for bed.

Here I am again. We took our usual drive today. Corbiere – there was thick fog at Corbiere. Our painting is getting on. Tomorrow we will start on the final coat. This will take a little longer. We have decided on a light green instead of the eggshell blue. I think I will like it better.

Margaret, your new outfit sounds very nice, your coat being black and white mingled material should look very smart and with a cerise hat to with it. I think it is a lovely outfit and you should look very nice in it. You say Margaret that you had taken the children to a food exhibition. Yes, as you say Roselle would have liked to have been there and I’m sure she would have loved to buy a doughnut mixer, the same as you did. Do you use yours much? Do you all like doughnuts? Will you please thank Susan for her nice little letter. We will be pleased to hear from you again.

Wed eve.

Eddie and Gladys are coming this evening. Just to say that we have received a nice letter from Len today, but will not answer on this week’s letter because it’s finished. Will answer on next week’s. Well Len, you have reprimanded me today’s letter by saying that I failed to reply on one of your letters, that was the one where you said you might be changing your present job and go in with the Leicester. I doubt whether this is the right name, but you will understand what I mean. I still can’t believe I failed to answer that letter, as far as I know I answer all the letters I get, but you know writing every week and if it happens that I get one of your letter the day that yours has been mailed I am perhaps apt to forget. Anyway I am very sorry and should I say pleased that you have remained with your present job at least for the time being, because my word is be careful and think well before changing your work.

One thing though I have forgotten to mention is that Stanley and Doris Abbot, Raymond and Vera are on holiday in Scotland, they were not sure if they would make Glasgow. I should have mentioned this on last week’s letter for in case they called at your office, but they may not.

Doreen and Nick will soon be here, I must end this letter in the hopes that you are all well. Is L busy?

Love Ma xxx