Another letter this morning, a nice, very nice, exceedingly nice letter, written on Monday night – Tuesday afternoon, 5 pages & sensible, brave, true & warm letter.  Thankyou.

Peter & I have lunched here in the club & are sitting in the lounge preparatory to having baths.  After that tea & a boat ride to new Brighton & a walk, a sit, a talk & back to our temporary homes.  Tomorrow is a day of quite hard work.  Then there is quite a lot of pottering about.  Maybe several weeks when we’ll be so near & yet so far.

Yes I have full faith in you, Fitz & Dickie – Anne.  St. Anthony will be there, with tout que c’il faut pour naitre. I’ll see the child when very young alright.  A matter of months I think.  No more. What a todo !

Child & I drank a solemn pint last night while I telephoned & then back & early to bed.  I’m glad the cream & powder arrived in good order.  Lockleys a good lad indeed.  I hope the powder was the right shade.  Choice was limited & difficult.

Ships are lovely things, & take such a host of men to tend them.  But they are lovely.  The ship I know so well has been in convoy work since 1939 & has lived a charmed life.  Never a splinter, & not through absence of Jerry’s trying.  She’s been on the North Africa run too, & the old risky Mediterranean run.  Nary a thrill.  A lucky ship.

D’you remember lunching downstairs, with the portly waiter ?

Peter has just seen the wedding group.  He observes that I look very “hedged about” !  Eager to be off and away with you.  Always eager for that.

                        Now for my bath.  Farewell, sweet wife.  God be with you,