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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton
England
To
Mr John Derbyshire
57, North Perkins Avenue
Elmsford
New York 10523
U.S.A.
August 15th. 1975
My dear son,
It was lovely to hear you when you rang on Sunday last, I knew it was you as soon as the phone
rang. It is 5 weeks since we heard from you, I can't tell you what it means to get a letter from you, we watch the
postman every day, and when he
goes past I think never mind perhaps there'll be one tomorrow. We only want to know that you are O.K. I miss Judy and
Tessa very much, and shall be so glad to see them back tomorrow. I only
wish this old car of Judy's was
in better nick, I would go and fetch them from Gatwick, it will be such a trail for them with luguage etc; and the time
lag too. Judy has a driving
test on Aug: 20th, I do hope she gets it this time, it will make such a difference to her getting to school and round
about. I love driving the old
car about, but I can't afford the petrol as I would like to at 74p per a gallon. Prices continue to rise at an alarming
rate and we are all dreading
the Winter. I must say though son we have had a glorious summer, weeks of really scorching sunshine, so much so that we
have just lain about the
garden, and at times even that has been too much. It's been too hot to go to bed, or to do anything. However, last
night it stormed and has been
much cooler today, I only hope it doesn't mean the end of the summer. I told you that the teachers have a 22½%
rise, back dated to April, so
Dad thinks Judy should have about £3,250 so she should be able to cope very well on that as she gets some tax
concession as a one parent family.
She's got a nice little house, in a lovely spot, right opposite Billing
Aquadrome, with a good sized
garden, she's really thrilled with it. She has the phone in, and needs carpets now, then she will be well away. I only
hope this trip hasn't unsettled
Tessa. She misses her Daddy very much, and I can see trouble ahead with Judy's men friends. I suppose I'm old fashioned
son, but I do wish her moral
outlook was different she seems to get involved with such odd characters, who do more taking than giving. I don't like
to hear her using what I
consider filthy words in front of little Tess, it disgusts me, and I'm afraid I row with her over it. I can imagine you
laughing your head off John,
but try to understand my point of view darling.
Iv'e put a bit of weight back on, it's very difficult to maintain, even on my still
fairly low calorie
diet, I now go 10½ stone so I've put nearly a stone back, still
that isn't 14 stone, is it? I'm
trying to decide whether to buy myself a new winter coat or not, I just hate parting with the money! I saw
Mrs Coy today and she asked me to give you her love, and delighted to know
you were doing so well, she is
also having daughter trouble with Prissilla, I gather her boy friend is a layabout, and you know what Mr Coy is like,
she says there's rows every day.
I think Dick has two children now I forgot to ask after him. You know my darling we would dearly love to see you but as
long as you are happy in your
job and social life, you would find life very dull and frustrating here, there is a great deal of unemployment and
redundances, so much
dissatisfaction. It grieves me to see the country in such a state, and wondering what is going to be the outcome. Dad
is for blowing up Parliament and
all the opliticions and letting a crowd of good business men run the country! I suppose then there would be corruption
amongst some of them. For all
our troubles John we have much to be thankful for, so don't take all this waffling too heart love, we always seem to
muddle through.
I am going over to Judy's house in the morning to dust round and put her some plants in, I've been
over several times, and watered her lawn and plants it looks very nice, and I have been looking after the jerbil. I
never thought I would get fond of
a little rat, but he's most entertaining, I shall really miss him.
Do write and tell us how you fared with your exams knowing you I'm sure you'll get whatever you want
love. I wish you could find a nice girl to marry to give you a home, but you seem content I only hope you are. I worry
in case you are ill, I believe
it costs the earth in America to be sick, do take care love and look after yourself. Try and save, John, the years fly
by so quickly, it's nice to
think one has a little nest egg behind one. Dad regrets now not taking out some insurance for old age. Your
Grandmother used to say "Spend some,
save some, and share some," though she never had much to do any of these things. Well my love this must be all
for now, hope I haven't made too
many mistakes, loving you as always
Mother X X X X