12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham SE
July 27 1914
My dear Mother
Yesterday was too full to get in any letter-writing but I must write a few lines today before bedtime. Cyril tells me you are still waiting to hear about the rooms. I suppose it is not very likely now that we shall get them before Bank Holiday. I have come to the conclusion that in that case I will stay here over the weekend and go straight to Newport from London on Tuesday by the morning boat express meeting you I suppose at Landore. There are a good many things I shall be rather glad to get done in those few days; also Jack would be alone over Sunday. I think I may as well stay and keep him company as I shall be seeing you all in any case a few days later. If for any reason you specially want me home, of course let me know and I will come on Thursday.
Yesterday Jack and I went to see the Endurance, Shackleton’s boat, lying in the West India Dock and now nearly ready to set off. We had a permit to view her given him by someone at Somerset House. It was most interesting. She is a very small boat, very much smaller than the Discovery, which was close by. We went on to the flat afterwards, George having gone up too and stayed on to supper. Arthur has a new toy, a blood pressure measurer, so we were all measured! It will be an institution like being weighed at home I think.
We have begun moving books and apparatus into the new school, a dirty heavy job with only this for satisfaction that one does have a very thorough turn-out and tidy. We shall be busy tomorrow with it too and finish up on Wednesday.
I am glad you had pretty good weather for the Flower Show. I expect you are glad to have Betty back. She overlaps at both ends with my holidays as we have to begin again on Sep 15. It is serious news, isn’t it, from Austria and from Ireland? The latter news seems difficult to make much of at present, though.
I really must go to bed now.
Much love from
Kathleen
