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11. it was three weeks. I am beginning to wonder why I am here at all. Nothing has worked out as we expected, & it is disappointing & infuriating. At the moment I am in a company consisting of Coldstream & Scots Guards - but this is only a matter of sharing out the officers & I am not going to become a guardsman. The officers are a little shattering to begin with, but very pleasant after a time. The company commander is Johnny Drury Lowe - & then there is the Hon. John Fort Strangways, the Hon. Bernard Bruce, & one who has just left called "Sweetie" Ramer - whose batmans name was Darling - & then two other men - majors - Frankie & Grif - they all went to Eton, to the last man, & are so blah & actually - but really very nice, & they seem to like me. I play bridge with them - & I do not say "actually" again. I will tell you more about things & about myself in my next letter which I will send before Saturday. But I must finish on this sheet, or I shall not be able to get enough stamps on the envelope to send the air mail. I'm afraid I have not written to my mother or anybody else yet at all. I feel so browned off & miserable, & I tell myself that I will write as soon as I hear from you. But I must get down to it in a day or two - because when I do hear from I shall probably be writing back to you for several days. I hope you have kept in touch with her a bit for me - & I will explain when I do write. I wonder if Warren Fields is still being used by your mother. I imagine mine, when she received my cable, must either have phoned Stanmore, or else she had heard from you where you are. I very nearly forgot to tell you - I had a cable from my mother on Dec 24th. My heart leapt when I saw it, as I thought at once it was from you - & what a lovely Christmas present it would have been. My Mother said - Happy
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12. Xmas - Good luck - Barbara & all well. Best love - Mum. Dad & Kathleen Masssey. This was sent off from Altrincham on the 21st & so had come through very well. Mine had been sent off on Dec 8 - which was much slower. I had sent one to Betty at Radlett on the same date - so it is hard to understand. My Mum addressed her's exactly as I put in mine - I wonder have you done the same. It shouldn't be so, but it is very important. But I am still hoping strongly - & a few minutes ago, I have seen a very new moon. Christmas day was very sad & dull for me. I went to church with the company - tried hard all day to write to you - had Christmas dinner in the evening, with all the usual food & drink - played bridge after dinner - & went to bed at half past ten. And now to come to an end. I feel certain I shall be hearing from you during the next few days - & then I hope to be able to write you a happier letter. I hope so much that your letters will be happy & contented - & will tell me that you love me very much - & miss me very much. I love & adore you, my dearest darling - & you are in my thoughts nearly all the time. And the more I think, the more I love & adore you. You are so very sweet & lovely & interesting & amazing & fine & brave & perfect. And you must love me very much. I do want to hear that from you. All my love thoughts & kisses - always Harry
