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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J.R. Derbyshire
62, Friars Avenue
Delapre
Northampton
England NNP. 9PX
To
Mr John Derbyshire
Siping Teacher's College
Siping City
Jilin Province
People's Republic of China
Jan. 23rd
My dear Son,
I hope by now you will have received your "Sonnets" I'm sorry love, it was the
fact it had no Spinal explanation that it was overlooked.
You seem to have enjoyed Xmas, I'm so glad, I pictured you having a nice butty
for your Xmas dinner.! I've done all the things you've mentioned. I rang
H.B.S. & your Mortgage
Payment
has been adjusted to the present rate. Do you want me to take your 2 books in? Interest rate is due at the end of
January, do you want that entered
& your Mortgage Payments entered in your second book, or leave it? till you come. No news yet from the Publishing
folks, no news of your tax
rebate. Two calls & a letter from Karen (Computer Staff) have
contracts you might be
interested in, & want you to call them when you return. I said as far as I knew this would be late February or
early March. There's a Xmas card
from Taiwan. Your statement from Barclays, only other post is advertising matter.
I've had a fella to give me an estimate for the windows, bathroom
urgent, the bay & other windows later. I'll let you know before any commitment, I can manage £500 & I
think I can get Dad to part with a
bit. Thank Goodness so far, Winter hasn't been too bad, so I'm hoping Electricity won't be too high, meter read last
week so shall know soon!! John, I
was in the Grosvenor Centre with Dad last Wednesday & he had some kind of Cerebral disturbance, was completely
confused, his bottom lip sagged, he
dribbled, was stumbling about, wanted to get on a bus that wasn't ours & looked quite wild. I thought he was going
to have a stroke there &
then. Some people helped me get him home & later he remembered nothing at all. His left hand was quite flaccid but
he seemed to recover
eventually. I had a word with the quack just as I said, nothing to be done, keep warm etc. He seems better again,
& insists on his walk, though
less often now. I've begged him not to go alone, but you know Dad. He's convinced someone's trying to get in, hears
voices & singing, or you are
here, thinks you've gone to Peter's. I can't help but feel sorry & sad for him John. Anyway dear, I'm sure you
know there's nothing you can do,
if the worst or best — whichever way you look at
it — happened there's no point
in you rushing home, that doesn't mean to say I shan't be sorry when you are back in England!!
Judy has applied for a "Headship" at Little Houghton. Marcus
informed me yesterday he
might have measles soon, it seems to be rife in the schools. Judy is taking him & friends to
McDonald's for his 6th birthday party They do 1 hour parties, far less harassing than
having them all at home. Nights are
getting lighter & it will soon be Spring., the garden is waking up
slowly. Jude is going to buy me
some plants for my b'day, I want to fill the bottom part up with shrubs I had a window sill seed tray & cover
at Xmas so I'm going to try
& raise my own seeds. Dad just woke up, looked round & says "Has he gone out"? Ah! well. We have a water
strike on, rarely drink the
stuff.!!
It's Monday night, been a grey, wet day, Dad somewhat confused after a nap, but quite mobile &
chatty. All for now love. Do let me know your plans dear, I don't worry so much then
Lots of love.
X X X Mother