Very busy days. Your letters have been anxious ones, you telepathetically knew it seems of our disturbances. All is quiet now. A great scare yesterday when a warning order for a move to Mid East was received, & we all started packing. But today we found the British aren’t going. So we stand easy, personally. But very busy arranging the move. A great deal of work to be done, & everyone contentedly busy. We all stay put for now. I was partly disappointed not to have the trip to the Middle East, but also relieved to be staying. I’ve had enough travelling lately. We have the move to make & then the legal side to attend to. That done will probably be split up among other companies. I’ll remain in the No 5 Dock Group anyway. However, here we are & the only real disaster is the imminent loss of my car ! However, we managed.

                        Today came the beautifully packed G.M.T‘s Social History. A lovely present. Indeed it’s “Just what I wanted”. I’ve already started in on it. It will give me many hours of pleasure. Bless you indeed. A rare surprise to. Hooray.

                        I’ve got a new “family”, this time our sort & a very blessed antidote to boredom & too much soldiers. It consists of a pleasant but over sober Railway Engineer, his wife who is one of our Opera singers & an artiste & very gay & charming, & 2 sons, one 20 at the University, & one Guigio 14, at school & very gay & bright. They have a well equipped flat, charming manners & are very friendly. I met the 2 boys at the Opera & discussed the play & they introduced me to Mama after the show & I drove them home & went in for coffee & spent the evening there. Guigio is zealously improving my Italian, Mama plays the piano, the youth stands about & guards my comfort & the papa tries out his English. There are a Florentine family & hence their niceness. I’ll call in on them in the evenings quite often. They’re very cordial & friendly. Ussish & nicely unusual & easy. Mama sings a light soprano & is singing Rosina in The Barber next week, & Lucia.

                        The Brigadier saw Derek & I again this morning & was again full of nice sayings & praise over this affair. It’s a great help. Not a good thing nevertheless. The men are very gay with us still & most friendly. Coots.

                        Glad you had Francesco in the house (yesterday’s letter). I find his people very cordial & amiable & certainly hospitable, on so little poor dears.

                        You’ll be going to Kettering maybe tomorrow ! A great occasion. I await the accounts eagerly. Richard will have a whole set of new associations & scenes to absorb, as well as a long train journey. Mother will certainly undermine all discipline & all through kindness ! I’ll expect moans on that score ! Bless you all. I like his cheek, cadging sweets from the Andertons ! Pschaw ! Tell him pschaw !

                        All goes peacefully here. We’re in a strange moving mood & all is peculiar. But it’s all under control. Your letters are the best thing about it all. So we go our ways, & still need our fortitude, which we have much practised. And you have this Richard !