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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton
England
To
Mr John Derbyshire
126, Stevens Avenue
Valhalla
New York 10595
U.S.A.
62 Friars Avenue
Delapre
N'hants.
Nov 6th 77
My dear Son,
well, we did get a letter at last, if you only knew how happy it makes me to know you are well
& happy, though I do think 3 kids a bit of a handful!! However, you
know best, but as they say
in Yorkshire, "Think on, son!!" I'm sure Mary looked lovely, I
would dearly have loved to
have been there
We do realize how frustrating all your holdups are darling, but I never give up hope & know you
will come when you can. Dad told you the sad news about Fred Allen, I
talked on the phone to Mary &
she said he had cancer of both lungs, & had been a heavy smoker, had a massive heart attack, but she said it was a
happy release, he'd become
quite helpless. They weren't able to get Barry in time for the funeral, but he's coming in a few days time.
Have you a phone yet love, if so send us
your number. We are in the throes of strikes, electricity, mines, cars, anarchy everywhere, its frightening. We
daren't go out alone, or indeed in
the daytime. There's stabbings & muggings every day. We sat by candlelight for 3 hours last night. Thank God,
we've got a gas fire. It's quite
cold now & windy. You know darling, I have knitted you an Arran sweater & I also bought you a fine, cream knit
one. Shall I keep them till
you come or send them? it would be by surface mail, air mail is extortionate.
Allan is coming to see
Tess on Nov. 28th, I only hope it doesn't unsettle her, she's
a sad little girl, it really
grieves me. She comes most weekends.
Well, darling, it will soon be Xmas again, it doesn't bother me now except for the children. Judy wants us
to go for dinner, but whether Dad will go, I don't know. I've put a lot of weight back on, I can't get into any of my
clothes, its disgusting. Except
for "old age" aches & pains we are very well. Dad has a lot of pain in his legs, but still goes his
daily walk to town to do the
shopping. I'm busy making toys, which I sell, gives me a bit of money to buy the children's Xmas presents, & I'm
going to get a pair of winter
boots & mac. & Dad a bottle of the "hard stuff." Write soon my love, always in my thoughts. Love you
dearly. Come soon. Love to
Jay & Mary & all. Dying to see photographs
X X X X X X X X
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Sorry about your shares. Any change. Most annoying!!