Philip Larkin
Page 61
And the weather has been superb – hot & sunny. It’s just the same today, though there’s no cricket. I don’t know what we shall do. Something restful I hope!
We’ve had some awful meals since arriving – very bad steaks on Wednesday, rather awful Chinese meal Thursday, too much whitebait & spaghetti (not together) Friday. Last night was better: some sort of sauced fish. But everything is so dear! A pint of beer in this hotel is 36p, whereas in Hull it’s 23p – of course, it varies, but 36p! We have bought a bottle of whisky to drink secretly in our rooms.
I hope you are surviving the heat, & that your plants are still alive. Next Saturday is my birthday! I haven’t thought what I shall do – it seems a long way off. Always thinking of you, dear old creature, & with much love in wch M. joins.
Philip
14 September 1975
Cringletie Hotel, Peebles
Sunday
Dearest old creature,
Well, this is our week here nearly over. I’m sitting in the hotel lounge after breakfast (and after fetching the papers) & the sun is shining outside, though whether it will last I don’t know. Thursday – or do I mean Friday? – was an awful day, rain all the time, in addition to wch I dropped my portable radio & broke it, wch put me in a rage. Very low spirits! Yesterday was better, though. We drove out & picnicked in a quiet spot, then went to look at Heriot Church wch we had visited two years ago. Monica found a hedgehog in the churchyard, busy rooting about, & we watched it for a while.1 It was very young, but seemed to be able to forage for itself all right. If we went too near it ‘froze’ until we went away. It looked quite silky apart from the prickles. We also saw several rabbits – they’re quite plentiful about here.
Really, the price of drinks in hotels is appalling. If M & I have a glass of sherry in the bar before dinner the cost is 56p. We can buy a bottle of sherry for £1.39 and drink in our bedrooms much cheaper! So we do. I feel very nervous going up the stairs with concealed bottles for fear I meet the manager.
Tomorrow we move to St Andrew’s where I have a library conference: the first grim notes of reality will begin to make themselves known! It will be very dull for Monica as I shall be occupied all day, but we shall see. She has been doing some clandestine washing lately. Both of us send you much love – you are always in my thoughts.
Philip
1 Larkin took photographs of Monica approaching this hedgehog. Hull History Centre, U DLV 3 248.
8 October 1975
105 Newland Park, Hull
Wednesday
Dearest old creature,
The crisis of the beginning of term has begun to die down, leaving me rather mangled, but I expect I shall recover. Luckily the weather is mild and pleasant.
There really isn’t a great deal of news. I lead a quiet life going to and from my house.
I usually telephone Monica in the evening to see what she has been doing (or vice versa). Sometimes I snatch up some shopping! I’m beginning to think I ought to buy a new raincoat to go to Buckingham Palace,1 wch is 4th November. The old ones seem covered with marks of one sort or another. The Queen might think this a bit off!
Hope you are warm & comfortable, & enjoying your food.
Much love –
Philip
1 To receive his CBE.
16 October 1975
Hull
Dearest old creature,
Rather a frustrating morning: I drove into the town intending to do a little shopping, but found one now has to put shillings in the parking meters, so I came away – I hadn’t any! Life gets more difficult daily.
I thought I might buy a new raincoat to go to the Palace in. Mine seems to have a great many inexplicable stains on it. I don’t want to spoil the Queen’s day! I shall have to try again when I have amassed some shillings.
There really isn’t much news. Monica is trying to live on rice, fish & vegetables to cure her arthritis. She says it’s a dull diet, & she comes in feeling very hungry. She isn’t even supposed to eat eggs or cheese! And no drink of course!
Hope you are well and comfortable.
Much love,
Philip
28 October 1975
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Tuesday I went today to try to buy my raincoat, but didn’t like the ones they had. They are trying to get some from Leeds! It’s a beautiful day here, & I am almost glad to be alive! Very rare for me! I hope you are seeing interesting things from your window. Has your watch turned up?
Much love Philip
1 ‘The Valley of the Stour’ by John Constable.
4 November 1975
Picture postcard1
Tuesday
Here we are at the Palace, on a lovely day! I duly had my CBE looped round my neck by the Queen, & she asked if was ‘still writing’ – I said I was still trying! Lots of people here, all very good tempered & appreciative. Thought of you very much.
Much love, Philip
1 Buckingham Palace, London.
5 November 1975
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Wednesday
I’m safely back after a gruelling day in London, & feel I need a good long rest. But the weather was serene and mild, & the new raincoat I bought wasn’t really necessary. Monica devastated the West End with her hat! It is black straw heaped with artificial roses, & very pretty. My cold hangs heavily. Do hope you are better!
Much love P.
1 Horse and foal in a field.
8 December 1975
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
These pussies look a bit startled! Perhaps tea has come sooner than they expected. I did enjoy seeing you yesterday and watching the Laurel & Hardy film! Wasn’t it funny? Much love
Philip
1 Two kittens in a wicker basket with pink roses.
14 December 1975
Hull
Sunday
Dearest old creature,
It seems a little milder today, though it’s drizzling in compensation. I have been washing some shirts before sending them to the laundry (!), and last night I mended eleven pairs of socks. It sounds as if I lead a very dull life, doesn’t it? I suppose I do, by normal standards. If the rain would only stop I wd wash the car, & perhaps cut off some roses that are still hanging about in the garden.
Poor Monica is not at all well, and is staying in bed with cough, cold, sickness and so on. I shall ring her up soon to see how she is. I rang Kitty up early this morning and she said you had been signing your Christmas cards! You’re much further ahead than I am. I doubt if I shall send any this year – too lazy.
I remain fearfully heavy, and yet I don’t eat much – just drink. Yesterday I had most of a (frozen) shepherd’s pie & beans for lunch, and half a plate of soup for supper. Yet still I’m 15¼ stone!
If only you were fatter, & I thinner! Much love,
Philip
28 December 1975
Picture postcard1
Here is a pussy to wish you all the best in the new year! Looks a bit indignant, doesn’t she? Still I’m sure she sends all good wishes, as I do – with much love
Philip
1 Grey kitten.
30 December 1975
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Here is a black pussy to wish you a happy new year! We are setting out for Haydon Bridge for a few days. Shall see you on your birthday – much love
Philip
1 Black cat.
1976
2 January 1976
Picture postcard1
This is the nearest town, where we did our ‘New Year’ shopping. M. bought a new electric toaster, wch seems to take ages. We had snow last night, and I’m wondering if my car will start. We return to Hull tomorrow: hope you are well and comfortable.
Mu
ch love Philip
1 Market Place and Hexham Abbey.
4 January 1976
105 Newland Park, Hull
Dearest old creature,
Well, I am back at Hull, a wet Sunday, half-snowing, half-raining it is, very miserable. We seem to have escaped much damage from the storms, luckily. Weren’t they awful!
I telephoned Kitty this morning and was glad to hear that she and Rosemary had been to see you yesterday, and you had been quite chirpy. I shall be coming to see you on Saturday, of course – weather permitting.
I had a nice New Year at Haydon Bridge with Monica, mostly sitting on either side of a ‘real’ fire, dozing or reading – and from time to time drinking.
We didn’t eat much, & in fact I’ve actually lost weight! I expect I shall soon get it back.
I hope you are having a nice Sunday lunch. Monica is just pottering about the kitchen, getting ours. We both send love!!
Philip
12 January 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Monday
It was so nice to see you on your birthday, & to see you blow out the candles.
Look forward to seeing you again soon!
Much love
Philip
1 Kitten with blue and red balls of wool.
9 February 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
This rabbit is wearing a mob cap like I used to draw for you! And the party cake is rather like yours. It’s a lovely day here today – I hope it is with you.
Much love, Philip
1 ‘The Party Cake’ by Willy Scherwele. Mother rabbit holding a cake, with infant rabbits, mice, squirrel and ladybird all holding spoons.
22 February 1976
Sunday
Dearest old creature,
Just a little note from All Souls, where I stayed last night – had a good dinner & plenty to drink, so much so that I feel the worse for wear this morning. However, I had a walk round Oxford and viewed several old haunts.
A great many trees have gone from the Meadow – some because of disease, some blown down in the gales.
Am lunching with the Warden, then hey ho for the open road! Hope I am not too drowsy to drive.
Much, much
love –
Philip
1 March 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Isn’t the weather beautiful? I did a lot in the garden yesterday, pruning roses (and getting scratched by thorns!) and even mowing the front lawn. How are you? I shall be coming to see you on Saturday – no doubt we shall both snooze, and watch football on TV!
Much, much love, Philip
1 ‘The Gypsies’, rabbit family boiling a pot outside a gypsy caravan.
23 March 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Do you remember Basil Brush, the fox on television? I thought you might like to see him again. He’s very cheerful, isn’t he? I do hope you are well and comfortable! It’s a grey day here, and even a little snow, but I try to keep cheerful.
Much love, Philip
1 ‘Basil Brush and the Train’.
6 April 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
I seem to have run out of pretty cards for the moment, but this may interest you. Of course it doesn’t exist yet! But one day I may drive over it to see you. I did enjoy visiting you on Sunday, and hope you are well.
Always thinking of you,
Love Philip
1 Artist’s impression of the proposed Humber Bridge.
7 April 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Do you remember Scarborough? I think we went there before the war, and I’m sure I rode on a donkey like this one. Happy days! I am still slaving away at my quinquennial estimates, oh dear.
Much, much love,
Philip
1 Scarborough (head of a donkey and two sea views).
25 April 1976
105 Newland Park, Hull
Dearest old creature,
I see this is Daddy’s birthday – he would be 92. I do wish I could have told him all about my Hamburg trip.1 He would have been pleased, wouldn’t he? Though I expect he would have found some reason for thinking it wasn’t worth having!
It’s a great relief to be back in Hull, and able to get down to ordinary jobs such as preparing the laundry and mowing the lawn – though the latter is more of a job than I care for. I expect Mr Bird is starting to fight the weeds in order to ‘show off’ the garden in the summer.2
I hope you continue well – now do watch out for your glasses! Both times I called recently you hadn’t got them on. Surely you need them. Don’t let them be mislaid. Otherwise you won’t be able to see to cut the rinds off cucumbers, and everything else!
Dear creature, I’m always thinking of you – Much love –
Philip
1 On 19 April Larkin had flown with Monica to Hamburg to receive the Shakespeare Prize of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. Foundation,which promoted European unification. They flew back on 21 April.
2 Berrystead held an ‘open garden’ day in the summer.
16 May 1976
105 Newland Park, Hull
Dearest old creature,
Now there isn’t any collection of post on Sundays I sit down to write to you a bit later. I have had quite a busy day, mostly in the garden, wch is starting to grow quite fiercely, but I’ve also changed my bed and washed the car. Of course, there’s heaps more to do! I really ought to get busy on my income tax, oh dear. Even though I employ an accountant it still means an awful lot of work for me, even though my affairs are relatively simple.
I talked to Kitty on the telephone this morning, and she said you had a book to keep your postcards in.1 How nice! I look forward to seeing it when I come, wch will be next week-end – all being well.
I really haven’t any news. I went to London last Thursday wch was tiring and expensive – in fact I haven’t felt really well since. Must remember to buy some Eno’s! Better than champagne!
I do hope you are feeling better than when I saw you last – I think you were a bit overcome by the heat then. Remember to eat up your meals and become a fat creature, like me. Looking forward to seeing you and with MUCH LOVE
Philip
1 This photograph album survives in the Hull History Centre, U DP(4) 9/47. It contains forty-seven postcards from January 1976 to March 1977, detached and in a state of disorder.
30 May 19761
105 Newland Park, Hull
Dearest old creature,
End of a dull wet Sunday, wch follows a dull wet Saturday. I hope tomorrow won’t be a dull wet Monday! I do seriously want to do a bit of weeding. The garden seems to be growing like a stage jungle.
But great news! I think I have a gardener! One of the University groundsmen! He says he will come round on Tuesday and ‘talk things over’ – but that will be a great help if he comes regularly.
I am slowly recovering from my visit to London and my recording of Desert Island Discs – I didn’t think it went at all well, principally because I was very nervous. If only I could have had a few double gins beforehand! Doing it ‘cold’ was awful. It’s to be put out on 17 and 19 July.
I talked to Kitty today on the telephone and she said you were in good form. See you soon!!
MUCH LOVE!! Philip
1 This is the last two-sided letter in the archive. From this point on Philip sent only postcards.
14 June 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
What a lot of kittens! They look as if they were watching a football match.
Another hot weekend, and hayfever is starting. I hope you are well and comfortable, and not too hot. My roses are full of gree
nfly – I try to spray them.
Much love Philip
1 Eight kittens in a row.
15 June 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
More kittens! ginger ones this time. I think I like the one on the left the best. I have been out this morning looking for a present for Betty (her birthday soon), but had no luck: everything is either so rubbishy or costs £100! Had such a nice letter from Mrs Newbold. She says she gave you some grapes.
Much love P.
1 Three ginger kittens.
13 July 1976
Picture postcard1
[105 Newland Park, Hull]
Oh dear, it is still very hot. I have stayed at home this afternoon to try to compose something to say about Betjeman for his 70th birthday, but am getting nowhere. I’m past it! Hope you are well and comfortable. I shall see you this weekend!
Much love Philip
1 Kitten in a basket.
3 August 1976
Picture postcard1
We went to Dorchester yesterday (Monday) but it is very noisy and full of people. Still, the weather was very good – hot and dry – and we drove about after lunch, eventually reaching Bere Regis, where the D’Urbervilles came from in Tess. You are always in my mind, and I hope you are well and comfortable. Have you killed many flies? There are not so many insects about down here as I’d feared. M & I send very much love.