21 November 1960 new mail boat for the Channel Islands and a new shelf for the pantry

21 November 1960

My dear Len and Margaret

Monday eve. 7:15. Here I am with your letter which I would like to finish this eve while we are on our own, because it’s not often we are alone.

I went to town this AM in the hopes to do some Christmas shopping. I did nothing, it’s more than difficult to know what to buy or what to give each one, therefore I went to town to do some business. I came back as I had gone. How we are going to get on with Christmas shopping I cannot say.  Next week we must send to Canada, therefore we must wake up.

Roselle went back to work today, I wanted her to stay at home for at least a couple of days longer, but useless, she said this eve that her throat felt dry. I hope she has not caught cold.

Tomorrow our usual weekly outing will be visiting instead of going out for a drive, though we will probably go on a little drive paying our visit. We will be going to Muriel and Bob Wood, they want us to go and see their new bungalow which is in St Lawrence parish. We will have afternoon tea there.

A new mail boat for the Channel Islands arrived in harbour on Friday, it was opened to the public until yesterday. Crowds have visited it, Father went on Saturday afternoon with Bob Wood who came to ask him if he wished to go along with him to visit the new steamer. Pa did not want many compliments. Bob came in when he brought father back. Kay and the twins were here at the time, so this meant a little party for afternoon tea on a Saturday afternoon. Roselle and Kay saw about that of course, the twins also helping while the ‘Queen Mother’ remained in state. On Wednesday Father and I will be going to tea at Margaret’s, I hope it’s not raining.

Nick is very disappointed that Roselle could not be helping him at the Exhibition, she was to be demonstrating on a Moulinex electric mincer, she had been practicing on one that Nick had brought here for her to get into the way. She was understanding it very well, then of course she was taken bad with tonsillitis at the last moment and of course let Nick down without anyone to demonstrate this machine. Anyway he put Jane Smith there but of course she didn’t know anything about it. Nick said that Rose was just the one to be there, still this could not be helped.

We had the carpenter in this afternoon to put a weatherboard at the bottom of the back door where the rain was coming in when the wind was in that direction. I hope that this will answer the purpose, he also had to see to the lock of that door while he was at home. I asked him to put up a small shelf  in the pantry, that is 18 inches long. We have put it against the wall on the right when you get in the pantry. The reason for this little shelf is because Roselle intends buying an electric mixer and also a liquidiser. This will mean two boxes, well I did not know where she would keep them, so during the night it came to me about putting this little shelf where she could keep these electric things.

 I told Mr Smith exactly how I wanted it, but as a rule Father came along to tell him his version as to the way he wanted this little shelf. I would not have it. I told Mr Smith to make it the way I wanted it and so he did. Well it’s a nice little shelf, but now I don’t think Roselle will have it for her use. I feel I want it to put my toaster on, which gives a nice appearance and Roselle will have the place where the toaster was on one of the shelves. The toaster looks much better on this shelf than two cardboard boxes. I want brightness in the pantry and colour. Mr Smith will be back in the AM to fix two sashes to the landing window.

These last evenings we have been using the standard lamp instead of the usual light. We kind of like it better while we read or write. I would not like to be without it now.

Mr Davies is back home now, he is getting on quite nicely. I will now stop to get our cup of milk ready.

Tues eve. There is nothing else to report so I will end this letter. We hope you are all well.

Love from all

Love, Mother xxx