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Transcription of Letter
From
Mrs J. R. Derbyshire
C/o. Lister House
105 Bougton Green Rd
King's-Thorpe
Northampton NN2 7SU.
To
Mr and MrsJ.Derbyshire.
15 Chestnut Street
Huntington NY 11743-7104
U.S A.
Monday 9.9.96
My darlings, John and Rose. I got your letter and contents today. Thank you
John. The reviews are just
great, excellent I am very proud and pleased for you. It bodes well for the future, I'm sure your next book will
be looked forward to It
was lovely to hear Nellie's sweet voice on Sunday tell her, and to have a little chat with Rose. Rose you are very
forbearing with John while hes
writing and working, you don't have as much time together as you should but I'm sure the future holds better things for
you both. I think writing a
book is like waiting for a baby — not so painful!! but just as rewarding when its done!! I wish I was more
use to you and could take the
little ones off your hands now and then but I'm no use to anyone now, in a state of limbo really, just waiting. There's
nothing much here to write
about Peggy has 2 empty beds for ages She says Social
Services no longer can afford to
pay for so many people in care They now say families have got to look after them!! Impossible in many cases I
think. Another new
"rule" is if someone is terminally ill hospital won't take them. They have to stay where they are. One old
dear here two weeks ago was
put in a chair in the annex b[y] the front door, she looked ghastly. More like a corpse, awful to see her when we went
through to the dining room.
She died a few days afterwards I thought it quite cruel.
Its quite autumnal now dull & dreary very little sun or warmth. Roll on Xmas.
Marcus said hed come
to see me, but he hasn't been yet. Noel rang on Sunday. Very worried about himself Says he's had a scan but
nothing to see. He thinks he's
got asthma He's got to see his own Dr
Muriel rang Sunday, ful of the
miseries. Upset because Judy hasn't rung her — she wants me to tell her off, more than my life is worth! I
told her do her own dirty
work!! She rarely rings me. How sweet of Rose's Dad to send Nelly books & tapes, she will appreciate them when
she's older. She's only a little
girl yet. Lots of love to you all. Will call again soon.
X X X X Mother. X X X