The Nurses’ Home,
The General Hospital, Birmingham
Jan 29th 1915
My own dear Cyril
I have just half an hour before “lecture” to write you a few lines.
Every Friday evening from 6 to 7 we attend bandaging lectures and practice on each other during the week. For our exam in March we have to prepare Matron’s lectures, bandaging and later on Theatre Sister lectures us on instruments etc.
Last night I went to bed immediately after tea and a kind being brought me some hot bread and milk about nine fifteen. I went fast asleep until she came and fast asleep after I had eaten my supper, the consequence being I feel a little more rested today. We had a heavy day yesterday, nine big operations, three theatres going at once – they were over by 2p.m. – but you can imagine I had to put my shoulder to the wheel to get cleaned up by 4.30 – but I managed it.
It means washing and boiling every bowl, about 60 between the three theatres, washing 12 masks, 12 pairs of sleeves, 3 large buckets of sponges and mops each containing about 50, 24 mackintoshes to scrub and carbolize, polish operating tables which have brass tops, sterilizers taps, clear anaesthetic rooms, and finally leave all sinks spotlessly clean, and leave one theatre prepared with everything to hand for night operations. Added to all this I answer the telephone and run messages and ever so many odd jobs. I did all this between 2 and 4.30. We have not had quite such a busy day today, for which I am thankful as it is rotten to go to lecture fagged out.
You start your parade quite late in comparison to our 6.30 a.m. rising. If the theatres are going to be busy we are sometimes up before that or we should never be ready.
All Birmingham expected Zeppelins on the Kaiser’s birthday and there are special rules for the townspeople to follow. Matron came round and gave us strict instructions about keeping blinds drawn etc. We are very near Kynock’s and other small arms factories and everyone thinks our buildings could be mistaken for them. We, nurses, who sleep on the top corridors are quite resigned to our fates!
I hope to write to you from home on Sunday – it will all depend how late I sleep on Sunday morning!
I worried awfully until I heard from you this morning because of the last sentence in my last letter to you – that is partly what has kept me from writing for a day or two. I was afraid you would think me so horrid to have written that last sentence.
Well – dear – I must away to lecture. I wish that I were going to see you on Sunday.
I shall wander round the garden and you will be with me there in imagination. I shall go into the drawing room and stand by the mantelpiece and think of the many times we have said goodnight unable to tear ourselves away. I shall also dear Love, think of our last hour together – how near into each other’s hearts we have drawn together – those times have been sweet but like you I feel them a strain – it is so hard to part afterwards.
I pray to God every night that we will be spared to each other. Some people would think us cold and practical putting off our marriage until brighter days – but only we know the cost. But I know it is the right course and do not wish it otherwise – only sometimes it is a relief to give up being strong just for once and so let you know my feelings.
God bless you and keep you ever.
All my love from
Your own
Mela
