Capt. A Scott Daniell R.E. c/o H/Q 5 Port Operating Group R.E. C.M.F.

Rabbits.
Hullo. A penny letter for a change, being written at an unusual time, 9.30 in the morning. There is an unexpected lull in these busy days, everyone else is very busy & for a hour I sit in my office & seems to be a good idea.

Its been ridiculously hot these past few days. Blasts of hot air hit you & its 106º in town. Last night I took a book I’m reading, readable but stupid yet pleasant, “Love in the Sun” & went to Gioia & sat in a deck chair on their roof, then ate and drank vino outside by lamplight, slept there & drove up this morning. A little cooler there. This is phenomenal even for Italy. The civilians complain very bitterly.

The brief spell ceased, hut inspection, docks where the men were happily at work and doing very well and back for this and that. Now its afternoon.   Just compiled a rather beautiful letter, I think to Higher Levels about our release scheme not mine my arabses, and I can finish this and enjoy an oasis in the midst of a desert of Things to Do.   The blasted Sirocco has come on again and blasts of hot air and fine dust are everywhere.   My watch on my desk is hot to the touch, car doors are unbearably hot.   Poor horses and dogs. Have you read LOVE IN THE SUN?   Its a bit stupid but amusing. Try it.

I am intrigued to see the new book you are sending out. Good. I must go and swim tomorrow or the next day.   Along the waterfront where the water is not at all clean, all the civvies are bathing and numberless little boys in their birthday suits sit about and scramble in and out of the water.

I’ve been very gentle on the money-drawing side of late so the balance should be getting better and better, let it- we shall need it all.   The transformation phases will want covering.   It is a problem, but there is no reason why we shouldn’t type out quite a reasonable living if we stick to essentials and avoid the unnecessaries. Both of us are satisfied with the gentle things.

I must whistle away this as a little intermediate letter. I love you.   I wish the railway people wouldn’t strike as we hear they have.   Thousands of troops are held up here waiting to go home on Release, Python and Liap and they can’t because of the bottle neck. The Labour Government, poor dears, must cope. Hope they won’t be afraid of labour. If the election had gone the other way this would have looked like a labour protest.   Do ask the engine drivers to get cracking, it affects all our leaves.   Means a lot to us here and to opposite numbers   with you.

Bless my son Richard and your dear self, and love to Mama Anne and Mrs. Anderton.
Ever
David  X
I liked Tony’s letter.