p.

L.C.5 Friday - 5 Dec. Major. J.H. Massey.
6. Palestinian Coy. The Buffs.
M.E.F.

My own darling sweetheart.

I have pretty well lost faith in
these things - & so the main reason
is not to save 3d. but because it
should stand a good chance of reaching
you on or near Christmas day.

And so my beloved darling Barbara,
with my heart overflowing with love
for you. but with a very large
lump in my throat also - I wish
you - & Maxie - a Happy Christmas.
as you have said, this time
last year it was bad enough, &
we could not really envisage
another Christmas apart. But here
we are, with a whole year passed.
& in very much the same
position. It is too sad.

Your Christmas parcel arrived
on Wednesday. & obedient to your
instructions I will not open it
until December 25th - but it is
very difficult. because there will
certainly be a small letter
inside it from you. The contents

[page break]
sound frightfully useful - & I wonder
what sort of hair tonic it will
be. My [illegible] seems to be doing
very well just now. but I have
not [illegible] your recommended treatment.
In spite of this being a Christmas
letter - I cannot help thinking
ab out Dec 7~ & our wedding
anniversary. I sent you a cable
which I hope will have more
luck than many of ours. It was
a marvellous honey moon, darling.
but will be far & away excelled
by our next one. It seemed to
begin when you came up to my
room in the Langham the evening
before - that was a lovely moment.
& I can remember it so clearly &
just what you were wearing &
how you felt & smelt. the last
time to make love before being
married. And it is all far & away
more thrilling now than even
it was then.

I'm afraid, sweetheart, that I have
not sent you a Christmas