32 My memory is getting bad

Elsinore

27 Spring Street

February 23 1918

My darling Norman,

2 big fat letters this mail and one photo card. So nice to get the letters dear boy and to know you are well. I think I might get 3 or 4 letters every mail if you write every week for we have to wait 3 or 4 weeks for them.

Where are all my letters gone if you have not received them? Do your letters go with the soldiers’ mail or are they different? The young girl at the Post Office told Miss Holman they were but I don’t think so. I think when there is a mail going they send all the letters by it. I know your letters always come with the soldiers’ letters but they are so long delivering them. Now the last mail arrived on the Sunday and I did not get your letter till the Tuesday evening and then another Wednesday morning and the photo Wednesday evening. Pa got tired waiting and watching for them. I think the photo is very good. I asked Mr Manning to pick you out and he thought the one sitting at the table with his back turned first. So I said look near the girls and you might find him. So he saw you at once.

Don’t you write to Mr and Mrs Norris? I know he has written 2 or 3 times to you. The first letter he gave to me to address to you. Have you got that one yet? I hope you have got the draft before this, it is time you had it. I couldn’t remember what I put in your letters. My memory is getting so bad. (Maria is 67 when writing this) I don’t remember what you say in your letters after I read them. I was telling Mrs Atkins one night you had seen her son and she said you couldn’t for he had gone from England before you arrived. Then she said she had a letter from him. So when I came in and reread your letter I found she was right. What about George Noble?  Mrs Noble was asking me if you had said anything about him in your last letter. She says he is not going back to France. I think they are going to find him something to do in England. Have you seen Meg? Lonsdale? How far are you from Salisbury Plains? Mr Manning just came in to your Pa the notices for tomorrow. He says Mr Thomas is coming in the morning and Rev Cranswick is the preacher at night. Mr and Mrs M are going off to Epping tonight.

Norman it is a glorious night tonight. Moonlight and not so cold. We might have some fine weather now, for we have had nothing yet but rain and wind lately. We have had no summer yet. There were 2 or 3 hot days a month or two ago. I suppose you have had some cold weather since you wrote last, but it will be getting a little warmer after this month. Then you will be having spring in England. That is the time they say it is lovely over there.

C Gooude is fine. He was here for tea last Sunday night and felt well; he has looked bad lately, but I getting better now and Winnie Waite? Was here. I told Pa she was married. She also stopped by for tea and she looks well. Mr McLean and Gladys were up after…I don’t have many visitors and I don’t want them. I can’t be bothered with them now. I think Auntie Kate is coming down at Easter for a while.

Have you received your photos yet and what do you think of them? If you had been in the group I would have had an enlargement of it, but I don’t think I will now. Claud’s photo is good isn’t it? He was here last night. Came in to have his teeth out at Mc Manners? So I went up with him after tea and it was a beast to draw but Claude says he never felt him. I suppose I will be having Illma up next, and the George. They seem to think such a lot of Mc Manners now. How have you been getting along with your teeth and one thing you forgot dear Norman was your glasses. Have you wanted them at all?

I told you in a former letter about Bob Adcock. We never see him at all now. He never comes to Church. I suppose he goes with his girls and Archie Beard is on the same boat yet. That is the one Jack Waite is on. He wanted to get on a transport and have a trip home but couldn’t manage it.

Well my dear I am near the end of my paper now, so must finish up. I suppose you are glad you are to stay where you are which is the best place. Of course you know where you are and it is better to stop where you are known. Pa sends you his best love. Have you got his letter yet? (He has written once and this is mum’s 32^nd letter) Then goodnight my dear darling boy. May god bless you and take care of you and bring you back safely to your loving mother.