Letters from a Jersey Mother 1956-61

28 February 1960 My dear Len and Margaret Sunday 4:10. Again making a start on this letter. It has been a beautiful day. Lovely sunshine, but a change seems to be working up. It’s doubtful if it will be so fine tomorrow. What a surprise that has leaked out. The engagement of Princess Margaret, no-one expected this bit of joyful news to come over the TV on Friday. We were very lucky to hear the first announcement when they interrupted the programme to give out this news. It happened that Kay and Arthur were here having supper with us and we were just listening and watching a programme about gardening in which Arthur was interested. This was just before supper, in fact we were all having a glass of sherry before the meal (except me), I had orange, then all of a sudden the programme was stopped and the good news came out. We just did not know what to say. Roselle was not in the room at the moment which was a pity, she was seeing to the supper. Kay quickly told her and Rose...

21 February 1960 My dear Len and Margaret Sunday 5 'o clock. I will not go far with this letter, it will be getting time for tea. Today has been beautiful weather, sunshine all day, but not too warm. I don't think this weather will last long, it's already getting cloudy. Well the Royal baby has arrived & a Prince at that, it's wonderful. Not such crowds holding up the railings of Buckingham Palace, though I guess some are still there trying to find out what they can see. I can't really understand the madness of these people shivering in the cold &  rain. Had they to do it to earn their money they would grumble. Most of last week people have been keeping their wireless going on all day, so as to be sure not to miss the first announcement of the birth. Kay kept on carting her portable radio from room to room all day long, yet she has missed it. This child was born on Friday afternoon. Kay was in town, she had thought it might happen the time she ...

31 January 1960 My dear Len & Margaret This is Sunday afternoon. I thought I would make a start on this letter. My Canadian letters are just about done. It's not often I'm about finished with them so early.  The weather has been lovely today. Sunshine almost all day. The air is cold but it's dry. There seem to be plenty traffic on the road. People are taking advantage of this fine weather. According to the radio you seem to be having plenty snow in some parts of Scotland, have you got much round your way? However soon the worst of the winter will be over. Tomorrow brings February, once January is out the days lengthen & the sun gets a little warmer day by day.  Day by day I am waiting to know if the Royal baby has arrived. It should not be very long now. I am wondering if the great day will happen on Len's birthday. If it's a girl this is the names I will like her to have: Victoria, Elisabeth, Caroline & if a fourth name Mary. If it's a ...

19 January 1960 Dear Len  + Margaret This is Tuesday evening. I don't know how far I will go with this letter. Doreen & Nick will be coming later in the eve. But I would like to get on because we have the Le Feuvre's tomorrow eve & this letter has to be mailed as usual on Thursday A.M.   Our weather has now improved & it's not quite so cold as if has been. No more snow at the moment. We went to Les Augerez this afternoon. Aunty is keeping fairly well, though I think she feels lonely & tired at times. Once the spring comes & the weather more pleasant so she can do some gardening it will be better for her, then she will be going out more. Last Wednesday Dad & I were having tea at Margarets. She had the Le Feuvre's in for the evening. We left there at 9.30 for our 1st Tower bus, which was the last one. The le Feuvre's did not like it too well, they asked if we had to leave so early, yes we said this was our last 1st Tower bus. Mrs. ...

19 October 1959 My dear Len and Margaret Monday Evening. We are now having more winter weather. Saturday evening was dreadful, it blew to gale force, with heavy rain, trees were blown down in the country, and telephone lines were brought down. We have not had such an evening since last winter. It blew quite hard yet yesterday, but nothing to what it was on Sat. our chrysanthemums that were in full bud are all nipped off. There are no buds left, I can just cut down the stalks now. The geraniums have suffered quite a lot. I’m not the only one to which this has happened. Although there was such a gale outside we had an enjoyable evening. Roselle treated the family to a little dinner at the Grand Hotel. The reason for this was that Roselle had received one of her insurances so on the strength of this she decided to give a little dinner. We had a very nice meal, but there was a disappointment, Charles was not there with us, he is not well at the moment. He is laid up for some ...

1 September 1959 Dear Len  + Margaret Tuesday A.M. Not that I have really the time to write this A.M. It's just to give me a few minutes rest. I have extra work to do now that is helping Dad to dress etc. Also he used to do quite a bit of little things which fall on me now. His arthritis does not seem to be improving very much, in fact this A.M. he told me he thought I would have to wash him & help him to get ready to go to town. He is going for treatment at 12 'o clock noon. He has a long way to walk there & back, this fellow is in St. Marks Rd. He's properly fagged out when he gets home at lunch time. I make him rest on the couch after dinner, with trouble of course. Still he does. I wish he would start to improve. I've told Roselle to tell Kay that we will not go for our usual drive this afternoon. Dad does not want to but knowing Kay she may insist that we can go. I want to thank you both for the nice tin of biscuits you gave Roselle to bring us....

18 August 1959 My dear Len and Margaret Tuesday AM Here I am sitting to do a bit of writing, just make a little start on this letter. First of all will you please thank Mrs Booth (Mum’s mum) for the nice picture card I received from her yesterday, this will be another addition for my album. Please tell her I will be writing to her one of these days, how long is Mrs B going to be with you? I guess the two ladies are enjoying themselves and that they can manage to have some good weather. I have an idea that your summer has not been over good, which is a pity. Roselle started on her holidays yesterday. She is starting with good warm weather. I hope for her sake it will continue to be so. She needs some fresh air before she goes back to work. Kay took her and Margaret out yesterday for the afternoon. They went to La Pulente. In the morning Rose went to the hairdressers, after that she took the twins out to coffee, then made a few errands and came home. She has gone to town ...

14 August 1957 My Dear Len and Margaret This is Wednesday evening. The Washing up is just over. Doreen is ironing, Roselle is pottering around doing different little things. We are still having very unsettled weather, the last weekend was very stormy blowing half a gale at times and rain. Today has been a rainy day. No doubt the St Aubin’s people are getting rather anxious for tomorrow, they are holding their annual fete, I must say they are not very lucky as a rule. They always have this fete the week after the Battle of Flowers,. Kay and Arthur will be helping, not that they wanted to, but they have been told now that they are living in the parish of St Brelades it’s their duty to help. I think Kay will be helping with the teas. I also think Arthur will help in the beauty competition to choose Miss Jersey. He will be all right there don’t you think? Kay told the two girls here (Roselle and Doreen) that if they were very short of helpers, she might ask them to help. I do...

10 August 1959 My dear Len & Margare t Monday 3.30 My Canadian letters are about through. I may just add a little extra news tomorrow on them.  Today is a kind of special day at home. This is our 56th "Wedding anniversary"'. Dad & I had a bit of a surprise when we came downstairs.  There had been no talk about our W. Anniversary, in fact I had not thought of it until this A.M. when I woke up. I happened to wonder what was the date of the month for today, I found out it was the 10th. Still this date had no meaning for me at all. Somehow or other I thought of it again, then I did suddenly find that it was our W.A. I told dad about it & that was all. Then before breakfast congratulations for us arrived. I asked Roselle what did all this mean. She said first just look at some of the cards & you will know, but she said just listen to this. I will tell you that we are taking you out to dinner this eve, which means all the family is taking us out. She wou...