Another week gone, most of it very wet. It is getting serious for the crops. The hay not gathered is deteriorating and peas will soon rot in the ground if it does not dry and if it comes too hot pods will burst open and a lot of peas be lost. The heavy thunder-showers have laid the corn crops too in some places. It has been a little better today again with a cool north wind.
I have washed blankets at last. I like to do them in May but with Mrs Adams coming I did not get them done then, later I was short of water and since then seem to have had so many comings and goings. Ron and Emmie, Aunt Jet, Mrs Wakelam and Sybil A again, but am pleased to have got them done at last and dry. Two had not been washed before but I soaked them first in soft water and Carbosil then in two lots of suds and they came quite free from dressing and more fluffy I think than when new. I rinsed them in warm clear water and we shook them well from time to time. Jean helped at first then Rene.
Ron came yesterday, a nice surprise, we did not expect he would get before his leave which starts on 13 August. He is going to Leeds first then Emmie is coming here with him. Roy is on leave, he and Joan C came in the afternoon to see Ron. Roy and Ron talked and talked, even Jean and Mavis could not keep pace with them. Rene took a snap of them and Roy had a spoon and scraped out the cake bowl when Rene had finished making cake. “Bill” looking on with a very grieved expression, he likes cake. Father had six days holiday but had attack of rheumatism in neck and shoulders and it was very wet so not much holiday for him.
# ARMY UNITS CHANGEOVER IN NEARBY BILLETS
# LETTERS FROM FRANK AND SYBIL ADAMS
K.S.L.I.’s gone to Well and S. Lancs come here. Told a weasel faced Sgt I wasn’t used to having my house taken possession of when he tried to land me with his wife? for the evening. I had an idea he meant to leave the luggage and then come back and say they could not get other rooms, but I outed him. Had George Cutts over from Well on Sunday, said they were nearly flooded out. Brought “Connie” his girl, very nice she is too and bonny. Dark hair and rosy cheeks and a little shy. Said Frank A was fed up with boil on neck. Had a letter from F on Thurs. Said he was a little better, we hope he comes over on Sat. Had a letter from Sybil too, a very nice one thanking us for making them so comfortable, but we really like them, they seem to settle down as if they were at home.
# FAREWELL TO RABBIT ‘BIMBO’
# NEPHEW KEITH MARRIES ON BANK HOLIDAY
# FIRST WORLD WAR DECLARATION RECALLED
Jean took Bimbo to Aunt H[arriet] on Saturday and kissed him goodbye. She is having “Percy” instead. Have parted the young ones today 3 in each cage and Mrs Grey by herself. I suggested Jean put “gone but not forgotten” over the cage Bimbo left but she said “abandon hope all ye who enter here” was more appropriate. They are all very tame and rubbed noses with “Bill” [dog] today.
I answered Frank A’s letter last night, must answer Sybil’s one day soon. Have not heard from Aunt J since she went back. Keith and Marion were married on Bank Holiday August 4. He is 19 and she 20 or 21. As I wrote the date August 4 I remembered that other 4th August 27 years ago and the sick feeling of dismay I felt when war was declared and now we are in the midst of a far worse war than that and the end not yet in sight.
Well village is near the market town of Alford. (See East Lincolnshire Map.)
Nephew Roy and his girlfriend Joan were previously mentioned on 16 Apr. 1941.
‘S. Lancs’ referred to the South Lancashire Regiment of the Army.
Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?
