5/5/18
My dear Father
Your letter of 1st got here in good time compared with the present average.
Since my last letter I have received Juliet's, and also the rose from old Mustoe - a kindly thought, and will you please give him my thanks. I've been very busy of late, partly owing to the absence on sick leave of another laboratory officer further north. I've had a good many long journeys and today paid an interesting visit to a village near our old area, but now behind the new line and sadly battered by shell fire; they were fairly busy there this morning, mostly gas shells. One takes an unusual interest in the sufferings of townships one knew in "peace" times.
I see we are threatened now with a German "Peace Offensive". I hope the country will line up as solidly against anything specious as they have against the war offensive. The latter on the whole is less dangerous to us I think.
Spring has made a very wet entry here but crops look well and I should think prospects are good.
I heard from Cyril a few days ago - evidently at the end of February they hardly expected recent events. I had thought it quite possible that he might be returning this way, but apparently his Division is to stick to its task.
I had a very hard day yesterday, didn't get back till 10 and then had three more hours before getting to bed - however, as a rule I can get through by dinner-time.
Mary, I hope, spent the weekend in London, the flat was to be left by our tenants on the 3rd.
I hear Hubert has been advised by Lancaster, the Swansea consultant, to get away from the Port Talbot practice, as it is too exacting for him, and at present he is negotiating over a Porthcawl practice. I don't know if it will come to anything. He is certainly overworked and much worried in his present practice, and doesn't appear to me to get a reasonable return in income for his efforts.
With love to all.
Your affectionate son
Arthur
