1915 Letter 51
[1915]
My own darling Mother,
Just heard from George that he has to go back this morning. The scare was only measles -
The mails must be very much upset for I have only heard from you once. However there may be something to-day.
We have had wonderful weather. Sunshine almost every day. Yesterday it was showery in the morning but nothing to speak of. It makes it very pleasant when we want to be out so much.
I am still here and there is no word of any of us going for a day or two anyway. My cape had to go back or I should be quite ready. There has been a lot of bungling on Shoolbred's part and Matron-in-Chief McDonald and Miss Boulter might have been a good deal more on the job the first day and prevented all this latter unpleasantness with Shoolbreds - but the worst is over now and we are all about ready.
I am gazing out the window at the British Museum, and thinking I should visit the place. If it were miles away we'd all be crazy to go.
I have never for one instant regretted coming. Of course there will be lots of things we won't like but on the whole I am most contented.
This is a very comfortable quiet hotel, and we all like it. The open fireplaces are in every room and look so cozy.
I have not had a line from Eric so I went down to the Inquiry Office again and they got busy I can tell you. It really is awfully hard to locate one person. Miss Boultbee's brother is in the Mechanical Transport and she had the same trouble. However she heard Saturday he was in France and had been twice to the firing line. A Miss Cameron with us - the one who sang for us lost a brother with the Princess Pats. They have been in action again and have lost heavily.
Capt. Houston telegraphed last night to find exactly where Eric was and will let me know as soon as he finds out. I have my name also as next of kin - and would have been notified if he were sick, so we can drop that from the possibilities and believe he is just mislaid.
It is impossible to buy decent pyjamas in this benighted land - so if you could make me a pair of flannelette ones they'd come in very handy.
One lovely thing over here is the way they sell flowers in all the streets. Just outside the window is a boy with a huge basket of daffodils - such a patch of yellow- Everything is so dingy that the flowers show up so in contrast. The violets are really truly ones - and such perfume, and lily of the valley too.
I write to so many of you I can't remember what I tell you but there hasn't been very much the last couple of days. Sunday night - we went to the Abbey. It was crowded and we didn't have very good seats but it was grand. I have been four times already and hope to go as many more. George likes St-Paul's and we went there Sunday morning. It is altogether different but I like the Abbey better.
Well, Mother dearest - it is just about lunch time so I'll close and write again later. I made up my mind I'd number all my letters but have kept forgetting. This must be about the fourth to you and the same to Papa.
I am awfully well. There is a regular English influenza going but I have so far escaped - I have scratched wood. This climate seems to agree with me. Some of the girls are so tired and think they aren't going to like it - but I have never eaten such meals and enjoy them all. Miss Elliott and I acquired the "cakes and ale" habit on the ship - and though it is only ginger ale - it is great stuff. We spent the evening in our room by the fire last night - while Miss G. was at the theatre. I have only had one good cup of tea over here - so we stick to ginger ale at night instead. Miss G. doesn't believe in such riotous living so we always celebrate when she goes out which isn't often. She is rather Miss Mussen's style, but we have rather jolted her out of her English ? accent.
I was getting Miss Johnston some of those cold tablets last night - and we began talking about home etc. and she knows Jessie Spence and Gwen Sherry was at their place in Ottawa on her wedding trip - Mr. Bond is a friend of her brother's. This girl's name is Eileen and she is a very nice girl.
I have written Don quite often and Aunt Teddy but haven't done much by the rest of them. and Eric too but I wonder if he gets my letters. The censoring is apt to take time though so that may be keeping his back.
Every week end London is full of soldiers. They leave here about one in the afternoon and can be back in the trenches that night; and yet the war seems farther away to me than ever. I think after you get into it you get sort of apathetic and don't worry much about it.
Good-bye now - dearest Mother - and don't you worry either. The Canadians are not in the danger zone and won't be for some time from all accounts so Eric is all right. I haven't risked sending him any money but sent socks and handkerchiefs that will be useful to some one.
Love to Papa - and tell Mrs. West and the Daughters etc. I'll drop them cards some days.
Yours always,
Helen