The Union Hotel
Penzance
22.4.14
My dear May
There are so many letters to be written, looming before me that I had better make a start. I was very pleased to get your letter two days ago and have such a good account of the rest of that eventful day. We like the photographs both from home and Port Talbot, and some of them are really very humorous. Mary looks delightful in nearly all of them, and one can see the general atmosphere of happy feeling pervading all of us. As you say, this April must be made for us – it really is perfect, and you may be sure we are appreciating it to the full. Cornwall is a part after our own hearts and I fancy that this is an ideal time of year to visit here.
On Monday we had a drive to a fine headland, Gurnards Head, on the North Coast, right across moorland and hills covered in golden gorse flowers. We went in a wagonette plying for hire, but were the only passengers. We didn’t make any complaint however. Tuesday we went by motor wagonette all the way from here to Land’s End, a 20-mile drive in perfect sunny weather. We got there in time for an early lunch and had about four hours there, exploring the headland and basking in the sunshine. It is well named Lands End; for several miles beforehand the country shows signs of coming to an end, and the actual point is a sheer wall of rock, to the edge of which we crawled, and looked down to see the waters of the English and Bristol Channel meet! The rocks are fine there, but not so grand as at Gurnards Head. The whole coastline is finely rugged, in the calmest weather there is a fringe of white spray all along the rocky edge. We couldn’t see Scilly, but hope to make a trip there in a few days. We’ll have to stay a night there.
I have headed this letter at Penzance as we are going there tomorrow for a week. We’ve been quite comfortable at St Ives and latterly have had the place to ourselves.
Please thank Kathleen for her letter this morning. I’ll write to her before long. It was awfully nice that you three girls were bridesmaids and it was a great pleasure to me to give you all mementoes of a great day. I feel it was a great day not only for us two. I’m sure my best man thought so, he undoubtedly had a splendid time and has left most happy impressions behind at the Rectory I know. I’m so glad to hear of Hubert and Irene’s projected visit to Badsey and I know they look forward to it very much.
I had a letter from Mary of NZ yesterday; they evidently appreciate the accounts of events which have been sent and I can imagine that the joint letter to Dolly will be very popular.
Mela and Cyril must have been very sporting over the mock duel? I do hope that prospects will soon open out for them so that another wedding won’t have to be delayed very long. Although Mary and I have had such a long wait we don’t feel in the least that everyone ought to do so! Rather we want others to be able to experience happiness such as ours.
It really was a wonderfully happy family gathering, everyone so natural and ready to enjoy each other’s company. It really demands conversation rather than letters, and I hope will be able to see you before very long. I tell Mary that her chaperone of January will have to be an early visitor.
I suppose another ten days or so will see us all back at work, no regrets on our part I think, for our own home will have attractions even beyond Cornwall. I’m sure that due thanks have been given to Brailsford and to Mustoe for their telegrams and good wishes. Your story of Mustoe is very nice.
We are both having a letter-writing morning, but must not waste too much of the sunshine. We are going for a walk to a place called Clodgy, a cliff with much soft muddy turf on it at one part, hence the name! We are both much struck with the niceness of the Cornish people, also with the moderate charges for drives. For instance our comfortable motor run of 40 miles yesterday was only 6/- a head.
Someday when you want a spring holiday, you ought to try Cornwall. It is rather a long journey, but that is the only financial disadvantage I think.
Mary is writing to Father so I will not write today. We are so pleased to hear of the Leslies’ present, and I am about to write to Mrs Leslie now.
With much love to all from us both.
Your loving brother
Arthur
