12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham SE
July 13 1914
My dear Mother
Your letter is rather late getting written this week. There did not seem to be very much time yesterday for letter writing. Cyril went over to lunch at Blackheath by invitation and meant to take Mela out somewhere into the country for the afternoon and then back here to supper. However it rained so much in the afternoon that was impossible and they came over to tea and supper. Also Cyril did not lunch at the Japps after all but with the Kendalls. Mr Japp is suffering from a bad nervous attack and was supposed to be going out for the whole day; he did not even know Cyril was coming but at the last minute refused to go out at all and asked them to have no one in that day as he could see no one. Mrs Japp in a state of mind went to Mela and told her how things were and telephoned to the Kendalls to arrange for his going there. Mela is finding the household nerves very trying I think and will be very glad to get her holidays. She did not look as well as usual yesterday; it was partly being worried by things and partly the weather I think. Everyone is finding it most trying. It is not really so very hot, but such an oppressive kind of damp limp heat.
I wonder what the plans are now about Newport. I hope they are able to let us have the rooms earlier. I suppose I had better go down straight from here. I could go by the morning boat train Thursday 30th or if you are not going until next day would wait until then. I suppose it will be all the girls and you for the first week and then Jack will arrive on Sunday the 9th and George on Monday 17th. Mrs Williams gave me a lot of practical suggestions about arrangements, some of them Mary may have given you at home. One thing she told me was that the man who owns The Mount drives down to the town every day in a little wagonette and comes up again with it empty, and that it would be easy to arrange for you to come up in it any day you wanted to go up there; as The Mount is up a steep hill that would be a great help. I may see Mary tomorrow perhaps. I am going to Miss Phillips’ Brownie Show in the evening and may go round before that to tea at the flat if Mary is in. I shall get news of you all too. There have been no letters from home this evening. I expect you were too busy talking with all your visitors.
I have arranged to go up to Highgate on Wednesday and see Miss Lacey and take Judy out to tea somewhere afterwards. She was very well and cheerful on Friday when Boo went up to the garden party.
On Thursday is the Moorfields Open Day. I must go round if I can manage it. On Friday there is an old girls’ meeting at Chelsea. I must appear, but shall not stay very long as it will be pretty dull for me. We move into the new building in the last week of term and shall soon be busy taking stock of books etc and getting things ready for the move.
I have bought a Chesterfield as we have changed the study round a good deal. It is rather nice now I think and the settee is very comfortable. Kim smelled it all over very thoroughly and now approves I think. Now I must go to bed.
Much love to you all from
Your affectionate daughter
Kathleen
