R.E. Mess :
Longmoor :
Hants.
28/7/42

Dearest Heart :

                        A real birthday day, a clean nutty mist & sun morning, when I went out to P.T.  at 0655, & now a fine hot day.  Our first lecture is in progress, – this is an interval whilst other people look at a ship plan.  Its a very good lecture on ship construction.  I’m learning such a lot.

                        P.T. was good fun.  14 officers, & I went voluntarily, for your sake. “All officers on courses will attend P.T. at 06.55 every morning, except for those over 35 years of age.” But for your sake, & may be your son’s sake, I am going. “Mens sana in corpore sano.”

                        Tomorrow Peter & I go to the concert at Petersfield.  Yesterday evening I did Livingstone, but as it was only 1500 words I’m doing it again this evening, a final version.  Then Cromwell.

                        I’m thinking of spending Sunday at Wimbledon if I’m not on duty or orderly officer & if Rolf is at home.  Then I’ll try Romsey the week after.  I’m feeling my way for 48 hours. I believe it’s not easy on this course.  But people generally just go, we have no roll call of any sort.  But the illegality of that way seems to be rather uncomfortable.  I’ll get the proper balance of all is in due course.

                        We’re even issued with serviettes !  And rings !!!  But not pillow cases.  Have we plenty ?  2 to spare, or not ?  Be honest.

                        Tomorrow we have the Q.M.G. here for a day or two.  Guards of honour & the Band playing outside the mess at meal times.  The Band, the R.E. Band we have here, is very good. A gala day.

                        The deck chairs are littered about the lawns & the sun shines down.  There’s a zephyr breeze blowing & a blue sky. I’ve analysed the men of & I find that it’s so successful because its a man’s living designed by men for men.  Hence the thick carpeted comfort of it all, all the newspapers, Spectator as well, laid out on the large round table, the Waiters at the ends of bells.

                                                            Pause –
Contd. after dinner on the lawn.

                        Peter & are in garden chairs in this lovely summer sunshine, he reading Churchill’s Marlborough, me doing this.  Our R.E. band is playing exceedingly well in honour of our visiting Generals. The ante room of our mess is full of Lt. Colonels & demure Majors while a group of red tabbed great ones drink coffee & Brandy.  Your call is put down & I am due to take it at 8.40.  Its very lovely here, spacious lawn & warm soft air.

                        This afternoon we went on board S.S. Apple Pie !!  Now are we really sappers.  We watched steam winches at work & had a great time.  All very pleasant.  Peter & I messed about with a boat !

                        Never have I lived so well as now.  Dinner tonight was a superb soup, lamb & mint sauce, green peas & new potatoes, a very handsome & succulent red currant pie & cream, a kipper savoury, biscuits & cheese & coffee.  The only consolation is that we shall all be living very hard in due course & we can’t be accused of not knowing there’s a war on.

                        Which is the best for me to choose, Barry Island or Cardiff ?  Nice for you at Barry doubtless, in the daytime.  We would have lots of spare time & opportunities for walks, all day & night walks, & sailing maybe.  On these jobs one is one’s own master entirely.  If you get the harvest done with, the 4 weeks plus my 9 days leave would be nearly 6 weeks entirely together !  What do you think of that ?  The harvest is the only snag.

Soon I’ll be talking to you.
Dear you.
All my love.
Ever your devoted & very luxurious

Oh, I’m Battalion Orderly Officer on Sunday !  So I can’t go to Wimbledon.  Rather posh things, Battalion Orderly Officers.

Letter from you tomorrow ?