23 Aug 1945

Thursday night 23.

 

Dear René,

Hallo René, thank you very much for your welcome letter of 13^th arrived yesterday, I was very glad to hear from you, I’d just returned to billets feeling tired with study all day and listening to lectures, was very pleased to see your familiar hand, which I have come to know so well.

Oh dear! So much writing, listening to do that I haven’t had a chance to write even tho’ this isn’t a proper letter, it’s nearly ‘lights out’ and well past bed-time, I do feel tired so please forgive me if this is not up to standard, I promise to write over the weekend. It appears that you too have been working at all hours and I do thank you for writing just the same, afraid I’ve not been quite so faithful in writing.

I’m so glad you don’t object to writing often, if you knew how much I enjoy your letters it would be some consolation to you, I envy you sitting out in a deck chair despite the heat wave which no doubt is over by this time.

Please René, don’t take any notice of my unkind remarks about paragraphs, you write the most charming letters and wouldn’t have you alter them a bit. Perhaps, and I know I do, say some very idiotic things, very egotistically (phew!! English course!), so don’t pay attention to any funny things I try to say, or we shan’t be natural towards one another and spoil the charm of correspondence, it holds much charm to receive from you.

I’d love to come to Tuckton, that’s a date for you, I thought at the time, “What a beautiful spot to visit”, but didn’t like to say so much.

Sorry you are working so hard and long, you must get very tired, it’s wonderful, the way you manage to stick it for so long.

Ha ha! I’ll have a birthday if you send some snaps of B’th, I’m trying to be very patient, but you know which snap I’m really looking forward to, and I hope you find the knitting bag alright, I’m not alone in my untidiness, or forgetfulness!

I trust painting won’t stop you writing, suggest you “stagger” the time!

 

Friday midday.

                        Wasn’t able to complete this last night, am on guard tonight so must hasten and get this off as you will be thinking you are being forgotten which I assure you is incorrect. Another pleasant surprise today, your letter of 15^th, was very glad to hear from you again. On Sunday morning I’ll start early and write a long letter and answer all your queries, if not too many! Thank you for all the compliments, glad you think I can write well, mustn’t get swell-headed, I’m only a ‘learner’ yet, perhaps the course will help. We are very busy ie, fully occupied the whole time, we work from 9-1, 3.30-7.0, which allows say 3 hours for ‘off’ periods, including any spare study and personal affairs. I have to prepare a talk for next Wed, a discussion for Tuesday (4 of us) at the Fellowship up the road, an essay I believe, so don’t have much time off, I’ve been to the pictures once here only. On Sunday I’ve been asked to play for 10.00 service, there’s a tour of churches at 2.00 so don’t know whether I’m on head or heels, but it’s very interesting and I’m benefiting greatly by the change, will tell you more later about the place, you’d love it I think. Thanks for personal description Renie, there! I knew you had brown eyes! Durley looks a lovely spot, I see we shall be out sight seeing quite a lot, you must come to Bristol some time and let me repay the ‘conducting’

I had some bad meat for dinner last night and had a bad stomach this morning but struggled thro’, feel OK now.

You may not be like a film star, but I think you are just as attractive, and your letters are delightfully expressive.

Must close now as duty calls,

With every fond wish
affectionately

Eric (or “Riccy” if you wish)

Best wishes to Auntie,
Keep smiling,

“Brown eyes!”

14 Aug 1945

Dear Renie,

Many thanks for your letter of 7^th arrived yesterday with one from Auntie, and one of 8^th arrived today. Thank you for the views and cutting, there look to be some very pretty places at Bournemouth.

I could write to you tonight during my quiet time, but then I wouldn’t be so fresh and full of sparkling humour! Have only been up long enough for a shave and cup of tea. I was going to write anyway, today, and now I’ve two letters to answer instead of one. I usually begin on writing paper to you because I never know when I’m going to stop! But haven’t very much time today so am writing air-mail for a change.

You don’t need to worry about being too ‘flattered’ Renie, in your photo, it would be very hard to surpass the one I already have of you, but I’m eager to see how much you have altered after so long, whether you really look so tired as you say you feel, so don’t delay it.

Glad you don’t think I’m wasting my time or being ‘silly’ by writing so often, very nice of you, it does seem very strange doesn’t it, the way we have begun to correspond so often, I’m all for it myself, as long as you do too, but there is a word of warning I’d like to offer, probably unnecessary if you are at all sensible (pardon me). You say I may be disappointed if seeing you, well I hope not, it would be disappointing to us both I feel, but perhaps you would be about me too, very likely! Though equally I hope not. I don’t remember you well at all, you were rather taller than Joan I believe, rather quiet and I didn’t take much notice of you, so can’t say I even know what you are like now. Lots of people think they like someone because they want to, you know that don’t you? But only to discover that they don’t. Well to be quite truthful with you Renie, we don’t know how we stand, do we? I like your snap, letters and think you are a very decent sort, but I would hate to disappoint you in any way, or perhaps you will meet someone you like before I get home, so lets make a bargain, that we will be honest with one another? Don’t be afraid to say what you think at the risk of hurting me, it’s the only fair way, if you don’t meet anyone else, well I for one would like to continue writing as a close friend, if that’s alright with you. That’s at least fair, isn’t it?

You say so much that’s very interesting and I would love to answer more thoroughly, I don’t think you use a wobbly table any more and I’m sure I never meant it.

You don’t make me conceited about all Dad and Pat say, they probably exaggerate anyway. My ears weren’t burning! They think an awful lot of me really and I’m lucky to have such a good family.

Didn’t know you played the piano! Good show, but don’t neglect it altogether. I’ve a few songs, and you could play them as I can’t do both very well, would you?

Yes, do send some snaps, if not too much trouble, anything of interest.

Oh yes, I know all about minors on buses, having observed a few uncomplimentary remarks in pre-war days. I don’t envy you your job at all.

Oh, you are a cheerful soul! Saying I’ll probably get so tired that I won’t be awake to hear all the noise! Well, I didn’t reach so pitiable a state, I found an empty hospital tent where I sleep very well, but the only trouble was the ants, I had to put tins of water to stop them climbing all over my bed!

That’s a funny shift, 3 hours off midday; no chance of pictures etc is there?

Very interested in your account of the holiday, so glad you enjoyed the rest. Are you going to Bristol? I hope you will, it will be a great change for you, only wish I was able to take you about, but perhaps I will one day. Grandma, always took you around, I used to feel quite ‘out of it’ Perhaps that’s why I don’t know much about you.

No, am not working too hard on night duty but have plenty to do, the worst job is cutting chips for 200 which happens most nights, and I get so ‘browned off’ with the scroungers. Have only two more nights to do however, as I go away on Saturday. Don’t forget to write will you? I’ll need somebody to drop a cheering word. I hope you aren’t hurt by my remarks in this letter, if you are, please say so, and don’t go “all quiet” or funny like so many people do.

I think this is a rotten letter, but know you would rather have a scrappy letter than not one at all, don’t forget your photo Renie, I’ll write again before the weekend, am looking forward to your letters, write as much as you can, I love your letters too.

It’s raining now, miserable day, just like Bristol! Wish I was there, or at Bournemouth.

Cheerio for now Renie,

Keep smiling,

Lots of love

Eric, x.

Best wishes to Auntie, have written to her.

You don’t think you’re wasting your time either do you?

Excuse the above mess, I’m not wide awake. I wrote, “You don’t think you’re wasting your time either do you?”