Seward House
Badsey
30th May 1914
My dearest wife
There is not much to relate but I will get his letter posted this evening or you will have to wait until Tuesday for home news. Ethel asked Mr & Mrs Amos in to tea this afternoon and we have just had that meal in the summer house. Now they are going to have a little tennis and Miss Holmes has come across to make up four. It was rather damp this morning but now the lawn is fairly dry. We have just found there is a small burst in the water pipe in the back yard. Cooper’s man will see to it on Tuesday, it will necessitate the pulling up of one or two flagstones. He will do that cistern at the same time. The bedroom is to be cleared out on Tuesday ready for the workpeople next day. Ethel has done the pulpit with pink horse chestnut and white Scotch roses, Miss Holmes says Mrs Ashwin has been in to see and thinks it very pretty although Ethel says she simply threw the flowers together in less than an hour. Miss Holmes had done the font I believe. I hope Aunt Lizzie will soon pick up her strength. I can imagine after such as attack she would only be looking fairly well, tell her I hope to come on Thursday week and stop a couple of nights if she will put up with you for a day or two beyond the fortnight! The roses are coming out quite well. I hear Mrs Ashwin walked up the road to see them yesterday. I began painting the rose labels yesterday, finished off 150 in the schoolroom and hope to do about another 100 this evening. They really ought to have been done before. I am starting with those beds that have the newer varieties. If we get a wet evening or two, the work will go all the quicker. We shall rather expect May on Monday by the 4.55 from Paddington. I hope she is enjoying the sea air and you also.
Our love to you both and to Aunt Lizzie.
Your affectionate husband
Julius Sladden
