The Nurses’ Home
The General Hospital, Birmingham
March 12th/15
My dear old Boy
You have been sadly neglected lately and have been a nice old thing not to have complained. We have just had a most awfully interesting lecture, my head is full of “how to nurse an enteric” so if my sentences are punctuated with medical terms etc. you’ll understand the cause.
Nurse Hopcraft, who is in charge of the Gynaecological Theatre, has a brother in the 1st. 5th Staffords, and they went abroad about 2 weeks ago. Her brother was made a gunner like you a month before they went out, so perhaps you’ll be given a month to train in gunnery before you go out. She had a photo of him today and oddly enough he is very like you.
Uncle Harry sent me a photo of Cecil. He looks awfully well in his regimentals, his expression is somewhat sternly sad although he is smiling. I suppose it is owing to all he has been through.
I had a confidential letter from Barbara today. She is very unhappy. Mother is living alone, from choice, and Bar is staying with the Marquise d’Ivry whose daughter wishes to learn English and is also chummy with Bar so she has quite a good time while with them – but the point is she is dreading going home again. She says Mother gets more and more unreasonable and wishes Bar to drop her best friend Simone Bollaert – for the simple reason she is not particularly well-born. Such utter nonsense. There is nothing to object to in Simone herself, and Bar says Cecil thought her a nice girl and quite a fit companion for Bar. You know enough of Cecil to know he would be quite fastidious enough to object if he thought there was anything to object to in the friendship. Mother says that as long as Bar continues to know Simone she will refuse to live with Bar and will not help her financially. Bar is awkwardly placed for as she says in her letters Mother must have someone with her in spite of choosing to live alone, for in reality when alone she gets more and more depressed and broods on the waywardness of her children.
Barbara says she is quite willing to earn her own living but that she feels her place is at home. If only Mother would be more reasonable - it is such a pity. We would all of us lay down our lives for her if it were for a just cause but none of us can do a mean thing even if it is for Mother, and it would be mean for Bar to drop Simone for no reason at all.
Matron sent me for me to be seen by Dr Stanley Barnes this morning. He has put me on an iron tonic. He seemed to think the Plenum does not altogether agree with me. I hope later on a few days rest will be suggested – I thought it wiser not to rush things.
I heard from Aunt Jessie today. She is staying at Folkestone because she wants to recuperate. She is going to see Aunt Lottie.
It is Father’s birthday tomorrow. Cecil went to see him when he was at home on leave. He was well except for rheumatism.
Theatre Sister is most annoyed because I reported myself for a tonic without her permission!
I wouldn’t tell her I was run down for the world – she is far too cynical.
With heaps of love, Sweetheart, write soon old thing, in spite of the fact I don’t deserve long letters after my last 2 brief ones.
Ever your affectionate
Mela
