Hotels are wearisome & melancholy without you.  Particularly when like this one they are full of the wilting wealthy.  We feel like 22 poor relations & when things reached a peak by the Head Waiter saying that there was no sugar for our porridge & no marmalade for our toast because these commodities were being kept for “the guests” we took action & saw the Management, declaring that we were damned if British Officers, billited by H.M. Govt.  & paying 12/6 a day on top of the billeting fee, should go without while inflated Jews with sugar babies were pampered.  Its better now.  They’d got quite the wrong idea.

But it’s a most luxurious place, & we certainly colour it.  Elderly & fat Business Men with little fluffy ¹ resent our virility, & the poor sugar babies look wistful.  But they’re a lousy spoiled a lot.

The Recce is great fun & goes apace.  All day poking about in the various warehouses & finding engines in furniture sheds.  All excellent practice for the real thing when we do recces on the other side.

I’m going to Southgate tomorrow, to have a weekend with Auntie.  Uncle is going to Southend of course.  It seems sensible to take the opportunity.  One never knows where one will go next.  I’ll go up from here & call at the B.B.C. & see what I can pick up by way of orders. – see Lloyd Williams.  I’ll go back on Sunday evening this time.

And next Friday I arrive in Birmingham, & get through to Great Alne if I can.  I’ll see what train I arrive on & see if Eileen can wait for me.  Wouldn’t the bus query my luggage.

Peter & I have tasteful & large room – two single beds – with a balcony looking over the sea, first floor.  Very pleasant.

The this place solidifies my brain !  But soon I’ll be alive, because with you.

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