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Transcription of Letter
From
J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton NNP. P.4.X.
England
To
Mr John Derbyshire
126, Stevens Avenue
Valhalla
New York 10595. U.S.A.
April 26th
My dear Son,
good to get your letter so soon & snaps, you look great, though I'm sorry you shaved off your
"Zapata" moustachsio, I liked it!! I sympathize with your weight problem, me too, I'm trying very hard to
diet, but the weather is so foul,
I put a lot of my flab down to lack of exercise. It's cold, grey & pouring with rain, we've only had two spring
like days since Xmas, I've just
finished making a patchwork quilt, which is made up of 4000 (approx) tiny hexagonal patches, every stitch by hand. Ask
Kathie what this means!! There is an exhibition on at Guildhall of American
Patchwork — early
settlers — & I am paying it a visit as soon as the rain stops, I remember seeing some at the
"Smithsonian" in Washington.
They are considered heirlooms & quite priceless. I had a sweet letter from
Mary, which I have just
answered, she seems to have had a bad time recently, I do hope she &
Jay will be together again
soon, it's not good to be parted, so soon too. She tells me how kind & thoughtful you are, but I think you always
have been! So there!! I see so
many things I ought to do, Spring cleaning, painting, small repairs & gardening, but I seem to have no inclination
yet, must be OLD AGE. Ugh.!!
Dad is doing the "Pools" hopefully. We only want enough to buy a
"little" bungalow,
a "little" car & help "our" family. Ah! well, we can dream.
Judy & family send their love. the baby is
delightful & very entertaining. I had him last Thursday & he "tiddled" on the kitchen floor. I mopped
it up & soon afterwards
found him lying flat on his tummy trying to lick it up. Monkey! He's a very happy baby & we love to have him. Auntie Cis was here yesterday & she says she never wants to see
Mike again. He owes her a lot of money & has upset her over their
extravagant ways. He told her off
for interfering & she resents it. I just say "Yes" & "No" I think it's all so petty,
& makes me realize how
lucky I am. Darling, I may be away from May 14th to 20th or in between, I want to have a few
days with Mary at Snettisham. If
Judy can take me I shall go on
the Sunday, 14th if not & I go by bus, it will be from 9th to 16th, that is
midweek.
We had our tax forms last week but so far, we haven't come into tax bracket.
Jean, who earns £4,340 says she pays over £100 a month
tax. Funny story coming up.
Casualty[1] Officer called to ward at 3 am. to a Severe Haemorrhage,
asks who it is. Funny chap in
bed says "Me doctor." "You look too fit to have had severe haem.," says Doc. "No, I
haven't" —
chap — it was a ruse to see you." "You mean you've got me up at 3 am for
nothing" — Doc —.
"Well," says chap "It's my bowels see." "Whats the matter with yoru bowels, aren't you
regular?" "Oh!
yes, regular as clockwork, every morning on the dot of 8 am." "What's the problem then" says
Doc.
"Well," — chap — "I don't wake up till 9." Laugh! No2
Old lady being given injection
by young student medic who tells her "Only a little prick giving you this" "I know" says
O.L. "but whats in the
syringe"
Till next time, my love. As ever
Mum.
Love to Kathie & kids.
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