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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton
England
To
Mr John Derbyshire
14, Legion Drive
Valhalla
New York 10595
U.S.A.
Aug. 31st 76
My darling Son,
What a week.!! Tom, Ginny & Heather came
last Sunday evening & stayed till Tuesday morning. It was great having them but I felt awful as I had planned to do
some typical English
meals when they came but time was so short. We went to the
"Bernie" for dinner Sunday night
& shopping on Monday. Ginny bought some
lovely China to be sent on by sea, so it was late afternoon when we got home. Judy came & took us over there as I
had promised to make 3 trifles
for her. We had fish & chips for supper & then Tom had to pick up a boat at
Braunston on the
Tuesday morning for a few days on the river. I hope you receive your
gold watch by the time you
get this, Tom had it in safe keeping. I hope you can get it in good working order. I had an idea Great-Grandfather's
name was inscribed in it, but it
was not. Tom is also bringing your case back.
The wedding[1] went off very nicely, Judy looked
very pretty. Dad didn't come, which rather spoilt things. I had Tess
till Saturday. Then took to my
bed. I seem to have picked up a bug, first I lost my voice, now I have bronchitis, but
Auntie
Cis is taking me to say the Dr this evening. I feel "clogged up" & can hardly breathe.
"Little Annie",
Mu's Mother-in-law, died on Sunday, she had cancer in her spine
& Drs have been
saying for months there was nothing wrong with her & Mu thought she was putting on an act when she kept complaining
of pain in her back. Makes
you think!
I'm just going to write to Ginny & Mary. We've actually had some rain
at last, indeed
August Monday was typical, it poured all day!! & we are now the proud possessors of a bin full of rain water.!!
Whether the garden will ever
recover I don't know, we have to wait till Spring to see what has survived. I think of you constantly my love & our
lovely time together. Now we
have the winter to face. "They've" taken us off our party line & we now have to pay another £1 a
quarter on phone rental, that is
£8.50. Dad wants the phone out, but I say NO. Still trying to get your book. Tom was very sad to leave his
mother, I gather her health is very
poor, & I would think financially worse off than us. Tom told us she doesn't always get money he sends her, but he
sends cash, so I suggested by
cheque as you do. Perhaps you'll put him wise.
Take care my darling, be happy. As ever,
Your devoted Mother
X X X
Love to Jay & everyone else.
Judy says write you bugger.!!