Telegraphic Address:
COMET, LEITH
London & Edin. Shipping Co Ltd
8 & 9 COMMERCIAL STREET
Leith Aug 27 1911
10.30 a.m.
On board the “Royal Scot”
My dearest Wife,
I think we must be nearing Flamborough Head but it is not over clear at present, I hope we shall get a view of Whitby as we pass by and bye.
I suppose you had my post card this morning. We did not get away from the London Wharf till after three o’clock, there was so much cargo to get on at the last including four motor cars and no end of hampers of fruit. As soon as we started a substantial tea was served for which were quite ready having had but a light lunch, dinner was served about 7 o’clock the feeding is quite good and I think (having contracted for meals for the voyage) we look like “taking it out” to some purpose. At the present time we are sitting on deck the sea is calm and the air warm and very nice there being little sun to scorch at present.
Tell May we have bought two sixpenny editions of R. L. Stevenson’s books Jack is reading “Island Nights’ Entertainments” and I have begun “Catriona” a sequel to “Kidnapped” I have not read the latter but part of she has for I think she likes this author.
We fell in with two decent sort of men last evening and had two rubbers of whist with them as that seemed preferred to Bridge. I was invited by an “individual” to join in an impromptu concert, and he seemed sad when I said I preferred cards.
This is a very comfortable boat and not unduly crowded on this trip. There is a German on board who speaks good English he is a good specimen of his nationality and as he is alone Jack and I do the polite by having occasional conversations with him.
12.20 I knocked off for a time to have a game of deck billiards. We have had a fine view of Flamborough Head, about a mile distant, are now passed Scarborough and approaching Robin Hood’s bay which part of the coast Kathleen will remember from our last year’s trip. As it is about lunch time I will knock off and resume this narrative later on.
2.15 It is getting somewhat misty but we got a fair view of Whitby Abbey it was like meeting an old friend, now we are out of sight of land and shall be so till we reach Berwick and Farne Islands after which we hug the land again but it will be about dark then. I understand we are due in Leith about 3 A.M. we shall get up early as we want to take the 6.55 train to Edinburgh get some early breakfast and then on past Stirling for our trip through the Trossachs to Oban where we stay Monday night leaving next morning on the “Chieftain” for our Hebridean trip.
We have just come down on the covered deck for it is raining a little, I don’t think it will be much. We rather propose to stay at Oban for a day or two on our way back and I think you may venture to post to us there (poste restante) up to Friday night, must give you further directions later on. Most of the passengers are decent sort of people if not exactly distingué, some were a little upset this morning as there was a bit of motion, about 5 o’clock when we were going across the Wash but it is quite a good passage and we are much enjoying it. I daresay we may sleep more soundly to-night, still I had a fair rest last night under such new conditions, there are four in our cabin we have the top bunks and I have a port hole which it was nice to have open.
Hope you are getting on all right and that you will get this on Tuesday. Jack is writing to Ethel.
Much love to you all
Your affectionate Husband
Julius Sladden
