29/11/1917

Dear Mother

I am taking an advantage of the hospitality of Aunts C and E at their own residence at Worthing to write you my usual weekly letter.

I am taking things very much more quietly during this furlough. I made a beeline for Hookhams place at Muswell Hill and plumped myself down in their chair and stayed there for three days and did absolutely nothing. They fed me on the best of everything talked quietly and naturally to me and generally made me feel at home. They have three sons in the army including Billy and consequently just know what soldiers like. He has a beautiful billiard table also and although neither he nor I are great exponents of the game yet we rather enjoyed ourselves.

After three days of perfect bliss I went down to Weymouth to see Harold who is waiting for his package back home. He is fairly well and I do not ? will have any permanent defects it being probable in my opinion that he shake hands. But I know these little eccentricities so do not worry about that. They showed me to my room which was specially prepared for me down to minutest detail and gave me the impression that they had “ready to book” our young men and how to treat and humour them. On the table in a corner were about seven or eight books on outrageous subjects such as ‘Riddler of the Sands’ etc and also a prayer book and a testament at which I smiled deep and long. They then showed me the usual photograph album like we have at home and father’s family history many be places on some home service job in Australia for a farmer. Home service job and Australia for only period. I wish I were in his shoes.

I stayed with him for 1 1/2 days during which time we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the best hotel. Then I returned my? the London express to Hookhams where I stayed the night. I then came down here to Worthing to see the Aunts. They seem very pleasant to see me in their own home and I must say they also are looking after me without any fuss or nonsense like they serve up at Putney. They did not seem over elated when they saw me and did not even offer to kiss me or some length? which bored me a bit. They fed me three times in four hours which wasn’t too bad was it. However there is a total absence of swank or fuss and they are really very thoughtful and nice to me and I’m glad I came.

I am only staying 2 1/2 days and am then going back to Hookhams on Friday or Saturday. Then I am going up to Scotland for a few days on which I will tell you later.

The two aunts are very well and quite cheerful and view life from a very philosophical stand point. Their chief worry about the war is that tuckers is a bit dear and scarce. Their home is reasonably furnished spotlessly clean and tidy as becomes two old ladies of education and limited means. In front of the house which is two story and semi-detached there is a lawn and a couple of flower beds in which are some chrysanthemums. At the back is another lawn more and more flowerbeds. Worthing is a beautiful place with beautiful streets and avenues and parks. It is on the coast and has a waterfront with promenade and a pretty pier running out into the sea. The streets are made named after poets. The population is about 35,000 composed mainly of old maids invalids and doctors. The ‘locals’ say. But I’m supposed to town etc has been described to you often enough.

The love from your back son

Walter