24/6/16
My dear Kathleen
It was nice to have your long letter of last week, and get news from home also. I hear either from Father or May about every ten days. Am glad a visit to Eastbourne is being arranged for a little absence from Badsey will be a good thing, I expect, and the surroundings of Eastbourne will be more congenial to him than many other places.
It is rather curious when one thinks about it how characteristic of Father it is to harp on one string, is it his environment or temperament? I’ve no doubt the subject of Mrs Thornton's welfare gets very tiring, and I hope his efforts will soon succeed.
I’m interested to hear of your application and hope something will come of it; I always feel, like you, that I don’t want to settle in the North – with all their excellent qualities I can’t raise much enthusiasm for North country folk as neighbours: a certain familiarity and singularity tends to irritate. I think I’d manage better in Scotland, though it isn’t much good the average Englishman migrating there, they can get on quite well without us!
I often wonder now where my lot will be cast after the war. It will mean a fresh start, and I am doubtful if the work out here will count for anything directly.
I have had cheerful letters from Mary on arrival at Newport. They had a good journey and are glad to get to the sea and country.
I can’t tell in the least if I’m likely to get any leave before October – but if I do I expect I’ll spend it quietly at home as long as Mary and Baby are there. The intention is for them to make a long stay from August; I imagine it will be quite a good thing for them at home. I shall still hope to get some leave about August, and if I do I may meet you at home.
I get very little news of George. I daresay he has a daily routine which doesn’t leave a lot to write about, and the really interesting things can’t be written. It completely upsets one’s letter writing to feel that there’s a 1:20 chance of it being read en route, not that it really matters.
Perhaps you and May will decide to go to that conference – it should be interesting and useful to you both, more often I think from discussions with others after meetings than from actual papers read.
Please note the change of address here – the same rose, another name. Incidentally we have another CO to our great content.
I remain very busy with few days at all free and find myself getting a bit stale at times. I want a month or so free to digest and collate a mass of material got together in the last nine months, but see no likelihood.
Recently a consulting physician has been appointed for this area – a well-known London man, elderly and quite charming, he drops in and delights to talk over medical things – which is nice, but uses up the time on a busy day!
This war is leading to many discoveries in the medical world, and I think it shows the great possibilities in co-ordinated research: perhaps the method may be extended and perpetuated after the war.
I hope you will be able to make satisfactory arrangements for your move. Will Mrs Horsman accompany you?
It is late and I still have to write to Mary. With love to you and Jack.
Your affectionate brother
Arthur
