much love always dear
I can’t find the bike keys anywhere – not behind the bed, I’ve had that out -
Miss Freeston’s
27 February [1973]
(how time flies!)
Dearest Ria,
Thankyou so much for your lovely letter this morning – I did enjoy your account of the formal dinner party. I mailed the £££ on Saturday, so hope that it has arrived by this time.
I have been in a nervous state as I made a mistake and thought that Baby Gregory was due on 27 February, but this is wrong, and it is still March. But Valpy is still insisting on putting it in a series of Sainsbury’s boxes. Tina says that she saw a nice wicker basket in a shop window at Bound’s Green, from the bus, for only £1.50, can this be possible, she v. kindly says she will get off the bus next time and see – and perhaps it could be dispatched to Cambridge by British Rail – which was the way you sent your bicycle in the end?
We had a lovely day on the Downs on Saturday – I was very upset at first and left my purse in the train, but got calmer later – it was wonderful up on the ridge walks, windy and sunny, and we came down by Rodmell and saw Virginia Woolf’s old house (very much in need of paint) and walked down to the river, the same walk which she took when she drowned herself (morbid) and then saw the 2 Norman churches, one tower like this [drawing of a roofed tower] and one like this [drawing of a castellated tower] and then got a train at Southease Halt, where there’s just a signal box with a man in it making tea and working the signals. He also gives you a ticket. I was also very worried he wouldn’t work the signals when the time for our train came, but Daddy (who had been visiting the Man’s outside loo, covered with green creepers) said it would be all right, and it was.
Distressed that my old beau Douglas Clarke has died, he was asst. editor of the Sunday Express. We are all beginning to drop off the perch I suppose. They gave him a nice obituary in the Times, but he’d hoped to live to retire and write political books and it does seem hard.
Off to the Academy to the Victorian Society Wine Party where Mary has promised to meet us. Must be there at the beginning or the Victorian maniacs will drink all the wine, which will be a great disappointment for Daddy! Hope you are keeping warm, dear.
The car went well on Sunday and we just went to Battersea and back without accident.
much love always M
185 Poynders Gardens
London, sw4
Saturday 10 March [1973]
Dearest Ria,
Just a month till your birthday – 20 years of a much improved world! I’ve got £5 put by (now worth about 5 shillings) but I expect you’d like to choose something yourself.
Daddy has painted the tail-light – with red nail-polish! – as we’re having difficulty replacing the antiquated glass. The Chiswick man suggested this, but Daddy was quite familiar with it having had to stop the men putting nail-polish on their boots instead of polishing them during the war.
On Thurs: when I went down to work Miss Freeston (who was outside in the sun, wrapped in many shawls) said she hadn’t been able to take Topsy to the lamp-post because there was a large bomb outside St James’s station – we’d had to turn out of the tube at Victoria, but I’d thought nothing of it – I rushed up to Mrs Black and told her that Miss F. was really slipping and we’d better get the doctor – but of course she was right, there was a bomb outside New Scotland Yard – a large crowd of men in blue suits who shd: have been in their offices waiting to see it taken away.
Tina’s cold much better and still energetically trying to get a cradle – I don’t like her to have to put herself out like this, it is very good of her, I myself am swamped with exams to correct – I shd: like to go out into the ‘Riley’ and do some of them but the cruel council has taken all the benches away.
We now have 1800 Embassy coupons but I can’t decide what we ought to have next. – I’ve sent for large numbers of carpet samples but none are dark green! However, they’ve provided a large number of small rugs for the dolls house – do you think they would look nice?
You’ll let us know what you want about next Saturday, won’t you? I mean how you are getting back to London and what you want us to do?
Upstairs neighbours still singing and dancing – we’ve made an official complaint, but I dare say it will be of little use. The Tenant Association and The Poynders Sport and Social, respectively communist and labour, are now at hopeless loggerheads.
We went to the Misanthrope on Wednesday, it’s fun and not too long, and we sat in the slips, as in the old days and had pie and a half bottle of wine and queer Americans sat next to us. This evening to the Elgar with Mary, I hope she doesn’t give me too much to eat as I find it hard to keep awake even during plays and music in the evening, even when I really love them, as I certainly do the Dream of Gerontius. I thought perhaps I might wear my new skirt I made, as a try-out, to see if it falls to pieces! Also a concert is a good test of whether it crumps or not.
Very touched by the dissection of the tortoise – and most sincerely glad that you like your course
much love and looking forward to seeing you – X Mum.
Haus Schmid
Hauptstrasse
Westendorf
Austria
8 April [c.1973]
Dearest Maria,
No shops open and no stamps but I have borrowed one (her last) from Eileen (the rep whom we’ve met already in Turkey: full of complaints and packing to leave on Wednesday, but nice and kind, with dozens of neat trouser suits) so as to write to you in the hope that it will bring you my best birthday wishes in time.
We had rather a bumpy flight but didn’t have to have smallpox immunisation after all, so were able to get the right plane, whereas the unfortunate passengers for Palma had to join an endless queue to get their jab in a small office with 2 harassed doctors in it. Most of the (few) passengers were going to Mayrhofen and we heard a wealthy South Kensington lady (mad: she said ‘I’ve been having a severe illness and my husband thought it would be best for me to take the two kids for a holiday’) saying that she’d heard it was such a wonderful children’s skischule at Mayrhofe and she feels quite sure the kids would be looked after all day. Clearly she intended to spend all her time in the bar.
We have been given a room in this nice gemütlich Haus Schmid, with a lovely sunny balcony overlooking the mountain Alpenrose (the Hohe Salve, which we climbed last year, is on the other side) and large duvets, and gorgeous hot water. We really should have a room mit bad but that would mean being in that unfinished (yes it really is!) Hotel Mesnerwirt where we have our meals – (nice, but lots of dumplings in the soup and chicken and chips and I feel the precious inch I’ve lost through worrying (which I notice when I do up my skirt and trousers, the surest way of measuring) is rapidly being put on again) – anyway, instead of having our bathroom, we’re allowed a daily bath in the family bathroom, which is clean and new but all the ironing is done in there and all the postman uniforms are hung up (Herr Schmid is the local postman which seems to be a position of honour and certainly it must be a job getting through the snow to some of the outlying farms). Last night I got locked into the bathroom and couldn’t open it so tonight I thought just to put a chair against the door, perhaps weighed down with the postman’s uniform, what do you think?
There is much more snow than last year, but the primroses (very tiny ones) are coming out on the south slopes and the horses are being let out of the farm opposite. This morning I worked on the balcony, Daddy snoozed inside and read The Eustace Diamonds, a very long and rather soporific novel by Trollope which I’ve brought for him: in the afternoon it is really pretty, with a church painted lemon yellow and up and down paved streets – even the bed of the stream is paved – and a lovely open view towards the Wilde Kaiser. We took a little train back, what weakness. Dinner is at 6.30! but we’re quite glad of it. – Thinking so much about you and your party and again many many happy returns dear –
love Ma X
185 Poynders Gardens, sw4
28 April [1973]
Dearest Ria,
Thankyou for the Green Shield stamps! We now after what seems years of collecting have nearly 2 books – and I suppose about 8 are needed for a coffee-grinder – but I can’t lay hands on my catalogue. They used to have them at the dairy at the crescent, but now it is all boarded up with cardboard and has nothing. There’s an agitation in the local papers to buy up all the disused dairy depots and put up low-cost housing, but nothing will be done.
John kindly came in and said you had got up safely and straight down to work. But at least this particular exam will be over by the time you get this, I do wish you the best of luck, dear.
We miss you so much and your room looks queerly tidy and empty.
I should be so grateful if you could manage to find out 2 things for me.
1. If you see Charlotte Knox at the Ruskin I do wish you’d find out where Oliver is living in Italy and what he’s doing – is he writing a book? – I believe he did once think of it.
2. If you pass No. 33 High St could you see if it is a shop or what, as it is supposed to have a room on the first floor decorated by Burne-Jones and Morris in 1856, scribbling on the walls I’d call it, I wonder if it is possible to see this?
Terrible din here – the only boy who hasn’t got a squeaker on his bike has been issued with a large dinner bell! They all climbed up into the balcony of the disused flat and the porter had to climb after them and fell and nearly killed himself. I’m glad to say he picked himself up and managed to hit a few of them. (Free creative play.)
Tina is coming to lunch, it’s good of her to come on her last free Sat: Perhaps she would like to go out somewhere this p.m. in the poor old car.
Oh dear these jobless people, Daddy and John both, we must pray that they soon get something.
I can’t decide whether to colour my pix. of Valpy and Baby Gregory, or whether to try pen and wash, or what – and I can’t think what to do about my holiday – I do like to look forward to it for a long time.
I haven’t forgotten about your £25 and will send it as soon as I can. Do write when you’ve a moment as it’s lovely hearing all about what you’re doing.
much love Ma.
Queens Gate, sw7
2 May [1973]
Dearest Ria,
Do hope the exam was not impossible: how hateful they are. John came by to pick up Hetty (I was so glad as I thought she wasn’t going up this term) and I took the opportunity to send some £££ as it would be quicker, will send the rest as soon as I can. I must pay first instalment on our fine new gas heater, which does work quite well after all.
Aunt Mary has been taken ill with a terrible pain and rang up sounding really dopey – she’d been given an injection – she had to go away from the telephone to be sick – the ambulance took her to New End Hospital – I don’t know yet if they’ll operate, but could you send a get-well card to her home address 7a, 97 Frognal as they might let her out in a week, and I’m sure she’d like a funny one? She’s so upset about her bazaar on Saturday and on the fact that she’d promised to go and look after old Mrs: Moors twice a week – I keep telling her this doesn’t matter and she must think of herself, for once.
I got a day off for Mayday but poor Tina didn’t – says she already feels exhausted but think of the money! But I shall have to make up all my lessons some other time.
I have been completely poisoned by having a rich dinner with Diana Ladas in amusing mews flat lent her by typical woman barrister who has decided to become a nun – it was the shrimp soup which poisoned me – she was very wild and said we must lock up the drinks (of which it struck me she’d already had several) because her husband’s alcoholic mistress was staying in the flat – Diana had tried to get rid of her by sending her for 3 weeks in Butlins – why do rich people always have these complications – I advised her to marry her ex-husband again. I’m sure it would be the best course.
Hoping to go to the Messaien Et Expecto at Westminster Cathedral on Thurs: if I can go up and down to the hospital in time after work. My favourite artist, Patrick Caulfield, is exhibiting some illustrations too. I should so much like to go and see them – they are illustrations to Laforgue, but when I asked about it they told me it cost £200 a copy! I would so much like to do a bit of painting and printing and messing about, but you can’t indulge yourself once the term begins. I ought to have done it during the holidays –
much love dear
Mum
Nice and sunny so imagine you on green lawns.
I’m told that the Japanese logic man at Sussex is fed up with his job and wants to leave. Couldn’t John write to him and suggest taking over? I do think one has to arrange things a little.
Queens Gate
14 May [1973]
Dearest Ria,
I put off writing this till after the baby’s ‘naming’ – by the way I must tell you that V. and A. had expected you to come although I’d thought it most unlikely, but you didn’t send a p.c. to let them know, although you did write and send a lovely p.c. to Mary, who was delighted – so now if you could send another p.c. to Cambridge – but the cost of p.c’s is heavy I know.
Tina met us at Liverpool Street – she’d got to bed at quarter to 4 after a dinner party at Islington: but she staggered on gallantly. We went to Fisher House after a cup of coffee at the station to restore us – unluckily we’d been seen at the station and they were worried we took so long coming – anyway we got to Fisher House and there was Valpy in his brown suit and Angie thinner but not thin yet, but she’s got a kilt that expands with one of those safety pins (Scotch House) and Baby Gregory had a bit of a rash (they always do) but was very good and didn’t cry – he’s got a sucker, just like you used to – and we had a rather strange service, the sermon by a breezy visiting Canadian chaplain, more suitable for a beach service really, asking us to prayer meetings later in the week, and then a trendy mass where you drink from the chalice yourself and the priest’s prayers were in a spring folder – but it was nice – the kind that makes Mme. de Baissac’s French relations say that they attend mass ‘sans plaisir – c’est comme un bistro’ – then we walked back (Tina with her long legs like a sleepwalker) and after a long wait (Valpy was very naughty and kept picking Gregory up, saying: I’m never allowed to see my son) we had some of Valpy’s soup, with which you’re familiar, and cold salmon – and raspberry slop, and then it was time to go back. Valpy says my drawing of him and baby was not like him, but like Solzhenitsyn, but I still think it wasn’t a bad likeness. They seem very happy and baby is a dear and the doctorate has been sent in.
On Wednesday Tina and I got Mary out of hospital and walked her back home – I hope it was all right to do this – carrying her suitcases, and they’re x-raying again on Tuesday and the doctor will see her again the following week: it’s all so slow, and she still has twinges, but they won’t say exactly what it is. They think perhaps they won’t operate, but still don’t say for sure. She insists on going back to work, but when Daddy and I went up on Saturday, she had tottered out to Lindy’s to get some of those dreadful cakes, oh dear –
If John is coming next week-end, we won’t come, as it is too much for you to entertain all this generation gap, I hope the Open University was reasonably satisfactory – what a business it all is. Daddy is definitely starting at Times Lithographic in June, so no more sunny holidays! But I’m truly thankful that he has got a job – that is what matters – and he’ll get a benefit from Thompsons I think and it will be something.
much love Ma
P.S. This letter is a disgrace (on scraps): I met John on the tube this morning going to work and he says he’s not sure whether he’d like the Open University job anyway! Suppose we came on May 26 – Would that be any good? You may well be occupied but could you send me a p.c.? Enc. £5 love Ma
185 Poynders Gardens
London, sw4
10 June [1973]
Dearest Ria
,
Just to say that I have had a nice picture postcard from John Christian (trendy B/J expert in Christ Church) to say could I see him next Saturday a.m. So if we came up to Oxford that day (16th) would you be free at all? I know it’s short notice and you are working hard but I hoped perhaps you could do lunch or tea, and anyway, could we come to L.M.H., where we could sit on the lawn if you were out or busy?
We went to Cambridge yesterday – Baby Gregory weighs 13 lb. now and is very long – eyes still dark blue – healthy and thriving. Valpo has taken this university appointment as Assistant Director of Overseas Studies, which is quite good, £3000 p.a. and he hopes also to get a Fellowship at some nice college, which would give him a room there and the right to eat dinner in Hall and the university are very good and give you a very easy mortgage on a house, so they are going to have a fortnight in Cordoba (Don Rafael has bought flats for everyone but the house in the sierra has still not gone up, though he’s planted a hedge round the site to keep the donkeys out) and then start house-hunting: but there seem to be plenty of houses in Cambridge, not like Oxford. Well as I say Baby Greg is Very Well but otherwise things are going to pieces a bit as there was nothing but fried eggs for lunch, I didn’t mind truly but Daddy was a little disappointed, however a baby is a great disruption and they are so happy with him. Unfortunately when I was giving him his bottle (he’s on the bottle now as it seems Angie hasn’t enough milk, strange as she’s still pretty large round the bust though she’s reduced elsewhere) he quietly sicked it all up but I had a nappy handy and was able to mop it up rapidly without being noticed. He’s a dear little creature and knows how much he needs. – Daddy has kindly offered to get the supper and is crashing about in the kitchen, but I don’t like to go and see what he’s doing. – Tina seems so happy but has not had time to go shopping for her dress yet – however the holidays are approaching. Very difficult to stop Mary suggesting turning out of the flat all together so as to make it easier for the wedding, but I keep telling her monotonously that we’d rather have her and no flat than the other way round, and she is being most good and generous and has sent Tina £30 and asked what else she’d like as a special present: I thought one of her drawings might be an idea, but that is for Tina to say of course. The flat seems to be going through well and all seems set fair.
So I Have Thought of You Page 18