Seward House
Badsey
Evesham
28th August/09
My dear Ethel,
I was glad to get your letter from Deal just after we arrived home; we had a capital journey, beautifully fine & quite smooth.
We were about four hours on the boat from Caen to Havre, about 1½ in the river, the rest sea, one keeps tolerably near the land so we could see the coast & various towns along it. We had several hours to wait in Havre as the boat is timed to start at 12, but were able to get all our luggage on board then had dinner & walked about a bit & then sat outside a café & had coffee & listened to a band. We managed to get some sleep coming across & when we got into Southampton Water saw quite a lot of shipping, among others the Tintagel Castle just starting.
We came home by Basingstoke & Reading & the trains fitted so well, we had no waiting & got to Badsey soon after one & found Arthur waiting at the station. I have just been reading your long letter to the latter, you seem to have had a capital time & no doubt are the better for it; it really is awfully kind of Auntie Lottie to give you such a nice holiday. I understand from Kathleen that Juliet is rather anxious to get home on Saturday the 4th Sep. so perhaps it would be well for you to go to Addlestone on the Thursday & come home with her on the Saturday, unless of course there is any very special reason to make you both want to remain till the Monday. By coming home on the 4th you would just see Jack & George. Arthur goes on Tuesday & will have to be in hospital for a month & is not sure that he will be able to manage to meet you in town, if you are writing to him, address it to Bart’s.
Give my love to all in Kent, I hope you found Aunt Edith & Norah pretty well. Have you heard that Alice Johns has a son? I caught sight of Nurse Sheppard at the window as I drove by today. It seems funny not to find you & Judy at home now we are back; Kath seems to be quite pleased with Lizzie who seems most anxious to get on well.
With much love dear
I am
Your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
