Letters from a Jersey Mother 1956-61

22 September 1958 My dear Len and Aile [1] Margaret, This is Monday eve. The weather is getting like autumn. We are looking forward to seeing Kay and Arthur tomorrow. They are at Alençon today and I think sleep there this night, tomorrow they get to St Malo then home. I hope they have a good crossing tomorrow eve. The Brittany arrives back at about 10 o’clock PM. Kay wrote to Roselle asking her if she would see about asking the men at De Gruchy’s to fetch their car at Sandiway during the day tomorrow and take it to the pier so that Arthur can come back in their own car and call at home.  Roselle has just left, she has gone to Sandiway to see that everything is alright and put some flowers on the tables to welcome them home. The Constable of St Helier passed away in the early hours of this A.M., he has been very ill for many months. The funeral takes place on Thursday at noon at St James Church. They don’t give time to the poor man to get cold that they are already w...

18 August 1958 My dear Len + Margaret I've hardly finished your last weeks letter, then I am starting on your next one. Although it's only Monday you will not get it before Saturday, but I am making a start on it so as to try not to let you down, though I still don't guarantee that you will get it, because you know we are going to be very busy for some days with the wedding + also the cutting of the cake. We are not looking forward to the cutting of the cake, this will be a long job.  Before I go further will you please thank Mrs.Booth (my mother's mother who lived in Stockport) for the lovely P.C. she sent us, it's a very fine one for my album. I have not had the chance to work on my album for a long time. I am thinking of taking a whole day to work on it, I have quite a number of nice & pretty cards to put in. Mrs. Booth seems to be enjoying herself she mentioned that she had been to Edinburgh, I guess that was there that she bought this nice ...

Fairfield St Peter A letter from Auntie Blanche – the only letter from Auntie B Thursday My Dear Lennard I daresay you know what a terrible thing for me it is to write, I presume that was why you sent me, I should say us, rather, such a lovely parcel. I think shortcake is just gorgeous, how we are enjoying it! Well, I thank you very much indeed for the kind thought, also for the very pretty postcard. Fancy thinking about us in the North of Scotland! I hope you had a nice holiday also Margaret and the children. Yes, as you say a camping coach would suit us well and I should enjoy it very much. So far I’ve never had a holiday, so I’m very much afraid I would not know how to set about it. Well now do you all like Scotland? Rather cold I think. Just when the children get settled at school you go off somewhere else, I daresay they think it exciting. Susan must be a big girl now, I shan’t know any of them when next I see them. What do you think of Doreen’...

9 September 1958 My dear Len + Margaret This is Wed. A.M. I will just jot a few lines on this letter, if I don't I may not be able to have it ready for Friday A.M. because lately I have been very much bothered with my writing. My Canadian letters should have been mailed yesterday, but they were not ready. I am trying not to take any chances with this one. Before I go further I want to thank you very much for the box of lovely shortbread I found on an armchair when I returned from St Peters yesterday afternoon, I am very fond of shortbread and so is Doreen. It was most kind of you both to send it. I had not seen this kind before, the ones I have always had were in biscuit form, this one is in cake shape. I opened it for tea, it's very good. Dad was not there so he has not had any yet, he will have some this evening, again many thanks. I also want to thank Len for telephoning on Saturday, but Len you did make a fool of Doreen by pretending it was Uncle Fra...

1 July 1958 My dear Len and Margaret This is Tuesday eve. It has started to rain, the weather feels thundery. We are thinking of you all and wondering how you are enjoying your holiday, we hope you are having a nice time, enjoyable time and that you are comfortable in your unusual holiday quarters. We will be looking forward to know all about it. This afternoon was our usual afternoon for Kay to take us out. We changed the outing a bit. Kay and Margaret called for us, but Dad and I got down at Uncle Frank to go and tell them about Doreen’s engagement taking place on Saturday. K & M continued their journey to St Brelades, had their afternoon cup of tea at Sandiway, then they picked us up again. Give us a thought on Saturday eve having a little engagement party. But perhaps you won’t have this letter in time, we don’t know what day you are getting back home. We will be the family only, Nick’s mother arrives on Friday, she will be with us too. That means we will be 10 a...

3 June 1958 My dear Len and Margaret This is Tuesday eve and do you know I am still waiting for that letter from you started last Wednesday, at least you told Roselle when you phoned that we would be having that letter either on Friday or Saturday. These two days are now well over, and here we are to Tuesday June 3 rd and no letter. Can your account for it Len? I don’t blame Margaret because I know she has her hands full with the children and housework, though I quite believe this long awaited letter has been resting in your pocket all this time. Ah well, I guess it will arrive sometime. Today was our usual Tuesday afternoon out. Well we started the afternoon by going to Bellozanne Valley. We went there to get some compost to spread on the soil. This is very good. We had two boxes of it. Kay also got a box full for Arthur, he wanted a little to put to his fruit trees and other plants. He had a rather big quantity a little while back to put on his soil. This compost is...

27 May 1958 My dear Len and Margaret This is Tuesday eve. I must get on with this letter as far as possible, it must be finished by tomorrow eve so as to be able to mail it on Thursday. It seems to me that if we mail on Friday you may not have it until Monday. I am hoping we get a letter from you tomorrow so as to help me with this letter, because I haven’t got news for you. Dad has gone to the Temple [1] This will be his last time until September, they close for the summer months. Doreen is doing a little washing, Nick is standing by her side, he had lunch with us today, the twins were spending the day at Wynnes, they are in their school holidays. Doreen asked if he could have lunch with us instead of going home alone. We went to Les Augerez this afternoon. Uncle [2] was sitting on the garden seat in the yard enjoying the sunshine. He looks better, I think he does a little more walking in the yard, but you know he is not very steady on his legs, but sitting in the s...

20 May 1958 My dear Len and Margaret Again I am writing my letter a little early in the week. Well how are you all getting on? I guess you are now getting settled with your new surroundings, also that you have made a few friends and that Margaret is now liking it over there. As for you Len, are you finding work going to your liking? I do hope you are to build up a good business as you have done to the other places you have been, and show good results. Do you understand all this broad accent well, or do you find it difficult when you go round for business? But then as you have been in Edinburgh before this broad accent would be easier for you. How do the children manage it at school? Children pick up language very quickly, don’t they? How are they getting on with their home lessons? I quite agree they may not like it over much, at the same time a little home work is good for them, especially for Susan at her age now. She will want to get on, you see having moved so many tim...