Dunally
Christmas Day 1936
My darling Ticky - I wish this Christmas business was all over and you were back again - It has seemed so long already and only a quarter of the time is gone. I suppose it seems so much longer because everybody is enjoying himself so much - and they all ask me where you are and when we're going to be married. If they only knew how much harder it is not to miss you when they keep on reminding me!
I love my Christmas presents. The lamb is lovely - but I must keep him in my "bottom drawer" and only look at him on special occasions - in case he gets smashed - before I can use him properly in our house. The gloves fit me perfectly & I wore them today with my new coat. I'm terrified of losing one - because I'm so dreadful with gloves. The book looks lovely - and I'm going to start it tonight. It goes into my shelf quite nicely. Thank you ever so much for everything - in fact all my presents have been extra nice this year. Jill gave me 3 pairs of scissors in a case! - not very big ones - but a most expensive set & they'll be frightfully useful. Jack gave me a pair of very fine silk stockings (which I shall wear on New Year's Eve) - and is going to order a magazine for me for the year. Renny chocolates, Norah an evening bag (which fills me with remorse, having sent her nothing), Auntie Maggie a most dainty nightdress (which you shall see anon in all its glory), Patricia Olsson a fountain pen (for when I lose this) - and Father Christmas a jolly nice toothbrush, darning set and tennis socks.
I'm writing on Aunt Mildred's present at the moment, but I shall always feel it was a slight desecration to use such a lovely piece of material for a writing pad.
Today has been really quite passable - as Christmas Days go - we went to the 8 a.m. service (which lasted an hour and a quarter!) - & after breakfast set off for a car drive to call on the Goddards at Radlett, as it was such a lovely morning. We got there to find a whoopie party in swing - presents & £5 notes flying here & there (though not for us!) - we drank champagne ad:lib: & were invited to lunch. So we phoned up home & stayed on - with cocktails and port - & brandy in our mince pies! We left at 4 to go to tea with Auntie Bob where we spent the evening playing 'Monopoly'. It was a great success - so much so that we've had to leave it behind for them to play tomorrow (as long as they return it for the weekend!) I was very lucky tonight & made a profit of nearly £10,000 - I owned the Mayfair site - Strand etc. - Piccadilly etc. - Bow St. etc. - & Whitechapel etc. - all with 3 or 4 houses or hotels! - I couldn't move anywhere when I didn't land on my own property - & noone else could move without going bankrupt paying my rent!
We have just got home. The children are at the Binghams - Mummy's in bed & asleep & I'm sitting in front of my gas fire in my dressing gown.
Auntie Maggie at Radlett wants Mummy & myself to spend the day there on Monday, Jan 4th & has invited you down to dinner in the evening. If you can't the 5.37 from St Pancras, I'll meet you a the station at 6.5. Can you manage it - or are you booked?
It's the last family you've got to be shown to - and the most difficult, but we must get it over sometime - & they ought to give us a jolly good wedding present!
I've had awful things done to my hair since you've not been here to look after me (this is just to warn you). I very badly wanted to try curls that rolled back from my forehead - so I had bits cut off here and there. It doesn't look too frightful - but not as nice as I hoped it would - so now I shall have to grow the bits again. My eyebrows don't look any different - but I'm going to have them done a bit more.
I have bought my £9.15 worth of saving certificates & have had to have a new book - that's £31 all together. It seems a mighty sum. If we could manage to make our joint saving do for all furnishing - we ought to get £100 in cheques which would do for the first year instead of your rise! But I suppose it wouldn't do.
I read right through the marriage service in church this morning - and I thought my heart would go pop with excitedness the words were so thrilling.
I'm looking forward tremendously to New Year's Eve - how many times do you think you'll dance with Brenda?
The worst thing to me is to watch other people in love who've got each other when we haven't - but I do realise I'm really very lucky to have you as much as I do.
I love you so so much my darling boy - everywhere is so empty without you to call to - or ask things - or have a bath and clean nightie for. It's the little things which seem to count much more than if you'd been sent to Australia for 5 years.
Grannies tomorrow - and more kind, thoughtful people asking where you are - & "when are you getting married?"
Goodnight, my dearest dear - and thank you so much for all my presents - and the lovely time you gave me on Wednesday (it seems weeks ago!) - and for everything you've done for me by making my whole act of living a wonderful thing.
All my heart is yours for always
Mary
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