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September 3rd, '65
Dear Mom and Dad,
The school situation is still not settled. I finally called the head mistress of the
Collegiate
School. She said she'd see what she could do and call me. I've heard nothing and am planning to give her only a bit more time before I do something else, although I don't quite know what. It's a shame. It's difficult, it's also ridiculous to have Julia spend a morning like this morning in three cooking classes in a row and then a 3rd year French class, which she doesn't understand so she reads a library book.
We were invited next door to the Jenkins' for a drink Wednesday night to meet "the gang." John Jenkins is an eye-ear-nose-and-throat surgeon with a most delightful sense of humor - very poker-faced except for the twinkle in his eye. Jerry is just ever- so- nice - AND I just found out that they went to an evening dancing class last winter to learn the Bossa Nova!
They had invited 5 or 6 couples, all of whom know each other very well, tease the devil out of each other, and play endless practical jokes! We walked into the room to see Sheila Morris sitting poised in an overstuffed chair wearing the damnedest Gay Nineties outfit I've ever seen! She had been rummaging through a trunk, spotted it, and decided that was the perfect thing to wear to the Jenkins'! Then we heard (toy) pistol shots in the back hallway and saw Peter Gundry-White fall to the floor (he's BIG) and Pip Morris (he's SMALL) pick Peter up and bring him into the living room over his shoulder!
Well, this nonsense went on and on. Roger was tired, so we retired at 12:15 or so, but Bob and several others stayed on, performing every trick they could think of. Barbara Gundry-White told me that when it finally came Bob Pritchard's turn, he said that the only trick he knew was to stand on his head and whistle "God Save the Queen." They started to clap, so he performed!!! THAT broke up the party at 1:30 a.m.
I've spent the better part of this week with Bob's boys, John and Simon, and have absolutely fallen in love with them. I've had no trouble handling them at all. Quite to the contrary. We have so much fun together that I shall miss them dreadfully. Fortunately, I can easily come back and see them as we'll only be 5 minutes by car.
I received a letter yesterday from Elizabeth Brodrick, International Secretary, giving me the name of the local person to contact. In the meantime I asked around and found that the troop near here is FAR preferable to the one near
Skelton Drive, so I shall call tonight before we leave
Knighton Drive.
Scott attends his first Cub Scout meeting tonight, scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 so that he can come after 5-5:30 teatime and before dinner at 8!
We're not sure how much time we'll have for travel this weekend, what with the move and all, so we're thinking of Lincoln Cathedral and coming home via
Boston. I bought a hymnal with music. There is no one standard edition but rather 3 or 4. I chose the one most commonly used. One doesn't appreciate the extent of attachment to our 1940 hymnal until one is without same.
Much love,
Mary
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September 7th, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Our trip to
Lincoln was a rousing success. We arrived with 20 minutes to just stand and absorb the magnificent facade; then we went in and were ushered into the choir for matins. The central section of this cathedral is usually locked and visited only when opened by the verger on receipt of a gratuity, so we were especially lucky in being able to worship there and have all that time (sitting down!) to absorb the fantastic woodwork. The sermon was about plainsong, what it is, why it is great and should be sung more, with several samples sung from the pulpit! Even the children enjoyed it. After the service we saw the rest of the cathedral, found a very nice spot for lunch, and then "did" the castle, which was right there. The day was sunny, so Roger got some good pictures from the castle tower.
The additional trek over to
Boston was too bad. The guild hall where the pilgrims were "gaoled" was closed. And it was raining by then, too.
This weekend we're going to "do"
Scotland! The children have a holiday Monday and Tuesday, so we'll have four days.
Tonight we'll be "crawling the pubs"!! Peter and Barbara insist that we become acquainted with the pubs soon, so they're going to take us to several, which, evidently, is phrased "crawling the pubs"! I love it!
Barbara and Peter were telling me yesterday about the time Princess Margaret came to Peter's greyhound stadium. There was much excitement beforehand as a special lavatory was built for her. I asked if she used it. They said, "Yes" and laughed. It seems that whenever the Princess stands, everyone stands, etc., so she stood, and everyone stood, she walked back to her private W.C. while they waited, then she returned and they all sat down! And Barbara has the key as a souvenir!!!
Can't remember whether I've told you about the grocer and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. North, who are so solicitous and kind. He kept telling me that he would deliver to my new address. "Just ring me up, just the same." So we moved on Saturday and drove by the store en route. Monday morning I was out on errands anyway so I stopped in instead of calling. He was SO disappointed not to have the chance to see my new house! So today I rang him up and he came. "Smashing it is. I say, smashing!" He thinks the view across the fields is beautiful, which it is. Once again we hit the jackpot. And it's not as small as it might be. We can sleep you both when and if you come, and the table seats 8 comfortably. It really is charming.
Scott rides to school on a bus now - for 1d! The girls' school situation remains unsettled - gets stickier all the time, but all our friends agree that we should change if we can.
I got a Phillies' ballgame on the wireless the other night! Golly, but it sounded good to hear familiar voices! ('Don't know who won because I fell asleep!) It was broadcast overseas for the armed forces.
Love,
Mary
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September 10th
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Welcome home after your nice, long holiday in that most delicious spot!
They say that we get your weather a few days later. Well, we had a lovely, warm and sunny day Tuesday and then woke up Wednesday to the rainstorm of rainstorms! Of course it was THE day for the car to have a hole in the muffler fixed, so the children set out with heads bent against the weather, and I stayed here, extremely grateful for grocers who deliver! At 9:30 I heard the mailman and went to the door just in time to see him stuff this soggy, blue air letter through the slot. It resembled a wet kleenex!!! But I rushed it to the stove and dried it before opening so that not a single word was lost. And that was the letter telling of your pelting rain on the Vineyard!
An hour later Unk's package arrived with those four, gorgeous Chock Full O' Nuts tins! Heaven!
As the afternoon wore on we watched the brook get higher and wider. The little footbridge at the girls' playing fields was under water, but we remained well above high water here. The girls arrived home bone-dry underneath their macs, but poor Scott was drenched to the skin in his American raincoat! So this afternoon HE gets a Mac, too.
Mr. North, my grocer, says that the real wintry weather doesn't come until after Boxing Day usually. He is also certain that it's the nuclear explosions that are doing strange things to the normal weather patterns.
Did you give me a list of family birthdays and then I go and lose it? - or did we never get to it? In any case, I would appreciate having: "M" and Ann, all nieces and nephews, and John. I guess that'll hold me! Thanks.
Roger and I were saying this morning that the children have never been in better shape. Scott is almost a different child. His eyes are bright and his cheeks pink, he's self-confident and full of ideas and conversation. His pal, Mark Gundry-White, is responsible for much of it. He's a year older and full of beans, and the two of them have a wonderful, close friendship.
The girls, too, are bright-eyed and pink-cheeked. They still haven't met any pals, but as far as school is concerned, they seem to have all well under control and are enjoying themselves thoroughly. Rooming together has brought them together; Julia feels less left-out and Ann helps perk her up and make her feel young and happy, which is marvelous for dear Julie. The segregated schools are GREAT. They go to school to work, and they ARE working, and well. Even the weekend excursions appeal to them. We do lots of history and geography as we travel, and they ALL lap it up. It is an experience to bind a family together, and I'm SO grateful for it. Deo Gratias.
Much love,
Mary
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September 15th, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Again, we had another 100% successful trip. Roger plotted out a good itinerary, going north through Carlisle (awful) and
Glasgow (worse) and up to Inverary for the night. Actually, we spent more time getting through Carlisle than we had wanted by a long shot and were beginning to despair of reaching Inverary, especially as we approached
Glasgow. That silly city hasn't bothered to post route numbers, so it would really have been wild had not Roger screwed down the window at a red light and asked an old gentleman on a motor-scooter "which way to the Great North Western Road?" The reply was simple: "Follow me!" And off we went, all eyes anxiously following this creature from heaven as he (and we) wound our way through traffic and intersections, twisting and turning as though in a maze. Then suddenly we were on the Great North Western Road. He pulled up and apologized for having to leave us but he himself was just returning from a holiday around
England and was tired, and he vanished. We've never been so grateful in our lives - and he was gone!
Loch Lomond was a perfect stopping place for supper. It was absolutely gorgeous.
And then on to Inverary. Crossing those mountain passes at night with sheep on the road and the moon casting a magic spell around the clouds - well, it was nigh fabulous! The hotel was great, too. They led us up so many stairs and around so many corners (and getting cooler with each flight!) that Rog and I feared we may never find the children as they were at the opposite end and UP, too!
We awoke to the most gorgeous sight - low clouds literally hanging in the valleys and over the
Loch, very still, truly beautiful. We just stayed and absorbed it for a couple of hours. Then onward north and west and around to
Fort
William and across the Central Highlands to Pitlochry (
Blair
Castle en route). Good food, good lodging at a Bed 'n Breakfast, more gorgeous scenery - everywhere throughout
Scotland - then on to
Edinburgh. We "did" the castle in bright sun. It was most impressive, another breath-taking view. Good food and good lodgings (another B & B); then the
Palace of
Holyrood in the morning, which was great. I think we all enjoyed that as much as any of the castles so far. By that time (11 a.m.) the kids were itching to go, so we skipped St. Giles Cathedral and hit the road, south past
Newcastle-on-Tyne and
Durham, onto the motorway, and home by 6.
No picture does justice to the scenery. As Roger said, "It's a feeling, too, and simply can't be put on film." How many thoughts and impressions we have tucked in our heads! Julia has been trying to capture Inverary that early Sunday morning with colored pencils and paper. Scott and Ann mention a place or an impression every so often. Roger and I just want to go back sometime with lots of time to just spend in being there.
Much love,
Mary
P.S. We only saw 4 kilts, and those obviously being worn for tourists' benefit
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September 16th, 1965
Dearest Mom and Dad,
I might as well explain this school situation a little. I don't think there is ever a situation where a child from one country can step into a school in another without some small botherations. That we all anticipated. But this appears to be a case of taking out a prejudice or strong feeling on us, the innocent victims.
We tried to do the whole thing properly from the very start. Before school started, Roger and I went to the Education Department of Leicester to enroll the children in the most suitable schools. The boss was on holiday (Dr. Elved Thomas, a Scotsman, I hear, who is "nice and understanding but who has a Scotch temper, so don't cross him"), so we spoke to an underling. We had been fore-warned that nobody but Thomas would know anything, but what else can one do when one presents oneself and he's simply not there? Well, the underling figured that Collegiate (the Grammar School that is excellent but does NOT tow the strictest line of discipline, has a great head-mistress, and everybody knows GREAT people who do teach or have taught there, etc.) seemed the best choice and that we should await a phone call from Miss Coulthard for a placement interview. No phone call; instead, a letter stating the girls' placement in Sir Jonathan North. We watched for a week, felt it wasn't the right school, were advised to call Miss Coulthard directly. I did, and she said she'd be happy to have the girls but would have to check downtown and would call back. Again no phone call; instead, we received a brief letter stating that she'd received word from downtown that the children were properly placed in Sir Jonathan North.
Well, by this time I was mad, and EVERYBODY else irate to think that a "distinguished visiting professor" should be treated like that!!! Roger wrote a letter to Dr. Thomas asking for an interview. A week later he gets another very brief note from another underling saying that Thomas was busy and 2:30 Friday afternoon (a week later) he would be glad to see us! To me this borders on being rude, evasive, downright unfriendly. Everyone agrees: in a school system based on the 11-plus exam, it seems grossly unjust to place two girls so resolutely without so much as an interview to determine their capabilities.
Tomorrow is Friday, and we shall go down to talk with Mr. Mander. I understand that he's "tough" so that we'd best go armed with statistics and all our determination.
It feels like a town-gown situation. Thomas will be damned if university personnel can just assume that they get into grammar schools. He is supposed to have excellent Secondary Moderns (Sir J. North is his pet) with a high number of kids that manage to get into college from them. Perhaps he's determined to prove it internationally through us. Ugh.
Well, as a last resort the Vice Chancellor will get into the fray. I'm just sorry for the girls. As time goes by, it is increasingly hard for them to switch schools. At worst Rog and I will tutor Julia at home 3 mornings a week. What would THAT do for his dear, precious reputation? And we've never met the man!
Love,
Mary
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September 16th, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
A "puffer" is going by, pulling about 60 of the cutest little boxcars you ever did see! And the caboose is just plain adorable!
Both your letters arrived this morning, Dad's dated the 7th and Mom's the 10th. I'm sorry I didn't mention that your letters have been reaching me for weeks. Ron Cooper used to bring them to the lab, so I got them pretty immediately and gratefully so. We devour every word, too. It's so good to hear news from home.
Roger went to the lab and started work immediately upon arrival, long before Bob appeared. He spent the first few days reading, but since then he has been doing experiments by the dozen. The format of research is so very different in genetics. In other disciplines one might spend only a matter of days setting up equipment to be ready to "make runs," whereas in physics it takes months (and sometimes even years) to be ready for "a run." So Rog is pecking away, having a ball. Just how much of this activity goes on before a publication, I don't know; but he figures that if he works diligently while we're in town, then he can tour without a guilty conscience on long weekends and holidays.
A description of Bob Pritchard: slighter than Roger, black hair that is long on top (to cover a balding spot) (usually not lying down neatly as it should), penetrating dark eyes but with a sparkle. He's nice, kind, gentle, very much "with it," and absolutely great with his two little boys. Since no mention has ever been made of his wife, we feel that she may be in a mental hospital. Nobody knows. But he's in no way pathetic or helpless. His chin is up and spirits good, which is remarkable when you see the housekeeper!!! Not that this one is bad; in fact, I would assume she's "a gem" as housekeepers go - BUT it's a far cry from a wife.
With regard to pictures, we have a roll being developed, but it doesn't include shots of the children in uniform yet because this school-thing is still unsettled and therefore the uniforms incomplete. And now the camera is broken! It happened in
Scotland, we know not how; but Rog went to take a photo from the
tower of
Dunkeld Cathedral, one of the loveliest of shots, and the shutter thing just wouldn't work. So, we're out to carefully select a most reliable camera shop.
No sign of the (insured) trunks as yet, so Roger wrote to the agent in
Southampton to say, "What, hey, with my keys?" I'm getting anxious to see them. I have it all figured out where we'll put them, and what's more, I'm sick and tired of this dress!!!!!
Much love,
Mary
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September 20th, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
What a weekend! It went from worst to best - fortunately.
Our conference with Mr. Mander was more than a waste of time; it was downright upsetting. He's the epitome of the worst British characteristics: stuffy, conservative to the point of being unbelievably narrow-minded and completely illogical and unreasonable. He was not one ounce willing to even hear our side, much less try to accommodate. Roger's face froze in a ghastly expression, and I was so furious and insulted that I was rendered speechless. It was pouring buckets when we left, but we both felt a desperate need to walk; my right leg has never itched to kick something or someone in the slats than it did then. Both of us were stunned at what we'd heard: that American schools are 18 months behind British schools, that if Julia were put into collegiate she'd have to be placed with 11-year-olds and would flounder at that, that he wouldn't even give us permission to take that risk ourselves.
So this afternoon we will approach Miss Moore, head-mistress of Sir Jonathan North, and ask permission to remove Julia from school completely 3 mornings a week so that we can tutor her at home. This is not what I had hoped to spend my year doing, but I am NOT willing to let my Julie spend a forth week learning to light a bunsen burner and clap rhythms like:
We may be behind in some aspects, but BY GOD, NOT 18 months, and he'd be jolly well surprised at what my girls could do if they were given a chance!
I was so upset that I went over to Barbara Gundry-White's. She is such a grand gal - always cheerful and full of fun. She offered me the distraction I needed, all right, so after High Tea I went home greatly repaired.
Saturday was the first absolutely cloudless sky we've seen. Roger and I went downtown to do some errands and then returned to unpack the trunks. Suddenly the doorbell rang, and there stood Margaret Briggs! I made no apologies for the mess, and she didn't seem to mind. We had a grand chat. She has fixed us up with a troop that sounds very internationally minded, that has even raised money and went to
Switzerland last summer! They meet Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30. I have yet to figure out when these people eat FOOD (not tea and sweets!) We shall see!
It seems that she is on the Board of Education and was very sorry about our interview with Mr. Mander. She even admitted he was an unfortunate personality, and she seemed to stiffen when I told her we were going to teach Julie ourselves several hours a week. I hope that didn't offend her, but I can't see what else we can do. There are NO private schools that are academically oriented; they're all for "making ladies." And I'm sorry if saying it out loud is wrong. We parted friends. I got a letter from her this morning confirming our company assignment and schedule. She's a grand person.
Sunday morning we upped and went to Ely! Again - a cloudless sky and toasty warm temperatures. It took almost two hours to get there (longer than we had thought), so we walked into the middle of a service, a service of ordination! It was VERY moving. The Bishop had on his fanciest attire (I know not the proper names), the service itself was beautiful, and the music exquisite. I thought of you both SO MUCH. During communion the choir sang "O Taste and See How Gracious the Lord Is" - you know which one I mean. The lantern was exceptionally beautiful with the sunlight streaming through. Perfectly gorgeous. By the time the service ended it was time for us to dash home to a birthday party Scott was to attend, so we'll have to go back to really absorb it properly.
Scott's party was very similar to an American one, evidently. They went bowling at the brand new American-like bowling alley in town, then returned for cake and coke and the opening of presents, a treasure-hunt, etc., for 3 1/2 hours! I don't know if I could do it myself! We'll see.
You must let me know how long you'll be in
London - long enough for me to drive down and spend some time with you? We've had a fabulous invitation for Guy Fawkes Day, November 5th. Peter and Barbara have made arrangements with some friends of theirs who are caretakers of Ashby (also near Peter's home) for us to have a private tour of the castle (I believe that's what it is) and beautiful gardens and then have a bonfire-picnic and our own private fireworks with a gang of friends. Can you join us?
I forgot to mention that Sunday morning's radio was filled with the 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. We just never think of the war at home, but here it comes up in the conversation time and again. Pip and Sheila Morris use the cement bomb-shelter in their back yard as a tool shed and laugh as they recall how they used to get out of the worst school subjects by an air raid! Perhaps a year of this awareness of friends having been through these experiences will soften Roger's strong anti-war-worship feelings. I agree in preferring to dwell on the living and future, but mystery, awe, and scars are connected with suffering and death, particularly in time of war.
Today is Purcell Day on the BBC. Lovely.
Must do my errands -
Much love,
Mary
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September 22, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Our interview with Miss Moore netted us permission to withdraw Julie from school two mornings a week, which is just fine. Even Miss Moore couldn't for the life of her understand why we should want to, so Roger just glanced over the reasons as vaguely as possible and obtained her reluctant permission. Then we got a grand tour of the building, which is as extensive and gorgeous as the newest most up-to-date school in ANY country and were bid farewell with the parting comment, "Now, I don't think this school will be harmful for your girls, do you?" We expressed our pleasure with the interview and departed, mumbling to ourselves, "It's not the harm we fear, Miss Moore; it's a question of the good coming of it."
Julie has, by working along at her own speed with a small amount of help from me, already done almost a good half year of French; her teacher said that by Christmas she'd be up to the third year group! By our standards, she's doing well (really well) and should complete the two years asked by Germantown Friends without any difficulty whatsoever.
I set out after some really toasty-warm flannel nighties, only to find that they are absolutely illegal in this country because of the fire-hazard! It seems that so many people back into space-heaters that a law was passed a year or two ago forbidding flannel to be used for nighties, even by the yard! There are placards with vivid illustrations posted in the yard goods departments as well as on the nightwear counters. I don't know whether to ask you to send some or not; we have only one hazardous heater, and that's in the living room. If we were certain to wear them only upstairs, I should think they'd be greatly appreciated. The substitutes on the market are brushed nylon and a treated flannel which is stiff and has little warmth. Even the salesgirl admitted it was so. I would take a 36 or so; Julia the same, or 34, and Ann a 14. They go by length here. I was 54" or so, Julia 50".
We missed the wall and the statue but have no intention of leaving the country without seeing same. Touring with children limits the number of stops and the time spent in looking, so we have to be particularly clever and organized at all times, which we aren't - always.
The camera will be in the shop for one month! Patience....
Must hop a bus and do some errands. I love the green mesh carry-all you gave me and bought another for 2/6 plus a shoulder-strap bag. You should see me returning from a shopping spree!!!
Love,
Mary
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September 25, 1965
Dearest Mom and Dad,
It's a trying-to-be-lovely Saturday morning. Scott is off to the race-track to play with Mark; Julia and Ann are taking an unusually long time getting down to breakfast because the boys are playing rugby in the field, and Roger and I are enjoying a second cup of delicious American coffee as we listen to J.S.Bach on this great BBC radio, trying not to feel the effects of another night at the Pubs.
Friday night is Scout Night pretty generally. School doesn't get out until four in the afternoon, many children travel some distance to and fro and don't get home until five or so; almost ALL Scout leaders are "Miss" so-and-so and school teachers themselves. We donned our handsome green uniforms and joined in. Miss Whatton is about my age and has a lieutenant a bit younger. They paid a visit on us Thursday evening to introduce themselves and welcome us. They make a wonderful team and certainly handle the company most admirably. The girls themselves are a cross-section of the community, all bright-eyed and enjoying themselves thoroughly. The most outstanding feature of the evening was the proficiency of the patrol system at work. It's almost too good to be true and certainly puts anything I've seen at home to shame. It doesn't appear to be difficult to achieve, demanding only organization and stick-to-it-iveness. The Patrol Leaders are so alert and responsible; their patrols respect them and work so happily with them. As I said, they ALL are having a grand time. Unfortunately, their next trip to
Switzerland is scheduled for the 1967 Easter holiday. Phooey!
We arrived home to the news that the Gundry-Whites were all dressed and ready to go out but their company hadn't showed, so Roger said, "Can't have that! Let's go somewhere." I changed my frock, and we went to another pub. It was mobbed because it was Friday night, payday, and smoke-filled, of course! But that's the way they seem to like it best! It closed at 10:30, but Peter and Barbara insisted on our coming in, so we chatted until 12:30 or so. They must be night-owls. We're not, so the next day finds us feeling blurry and them dreaming up a new kind of things to do! As a matter of fact, we talked about an ice-cream crawl! Peter insists there are several different kinds, all worthy of sampling.
Your package just arrived. Many thanks. Scott isn't here to try the sweater on, but it looks good. That wool knitted up very nicely ....
We finished the first can of coffee today in a little over two weeks.
Not a decent music store in town, nor a piano to rent. I'm trying to locate a harpsichord to tuck in the corner. We do miss our music, dreadfully.
Much love to you both,
Mary
P.S. Ann is in the school orchestra, Julia in the choir.
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September 27, 1965
Dearest Mom and Dad,
Again, our Sunday excursion was very successful. The sky was sunny (believe it or not), and Roger had plotted a good trip for us down into Bedfordshire. Barbara and Peter are from
Bedford and had recommended a tiny little church heavily decorated with wood carving in a most adorable little village called Old Warden. Thanks to the M-1, the trip was not too long. We arrived just as everyone else was arriving, were ushered into a pew, and the service began. The Church was pretty well filled, although we later found out that it was due to it being the Harvest Festival, their biggest and happiest celebration of the year. The choir consisted of 8 or 10 young girls, 2 women and a few men - all wearing robes of wildly varying lengths and looking all around as they processed! The first half of the service was almost entirely sung in canticles pitched too high and paced too slow! It's an experience we'd rather not repeat!!! I had almost lost my voice by the time it was over; but I must say, we could clearly hear the old ladies' voices squeaking along up there with the rest. The organ was an old bellows affair. Fortunately, the sermon was only seven minutes in duration - quite an unbelievable bit of illogical reasoning by a dear, old duff who's probably been there since ordination! All in all, it was, as Roger said, "An experience." Now we have done a really small church and can return to the cathedrals, which are always a thrill, even if the sermon is lousy.
Nearby was an exhibit of antique aeroplanes, two of which were actually flown in "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" - small but very interesting. They had old bicycles, a quadracycle, cars, coaches, etc., etc. But the old planes were really the highlight.
A nice lunch in Biggleswade (a nothing town) and then on to Woburn Abbey to watch the rich take bobs by the dozen from the not-so-rich! It's amazing: the price of admission is higher than to any other palace or castle, yet they still have the nerve to charge another bob or two (shillings!) to enter this room or that. Being a lovely Sunday afternoon, it was mobbed - so crowded and rushed, in fact, that one couldn't dwell on the multitude of art treasures that do abound there. The Duke has allowed the grounds in back to become a real cheap amusement center, so that the over-all impression is one of mixed feelings, much to see yet ruined by the surroundings. Too bad. The children did have a ride on a stagecoach, however, which was a great treat for them.
I've found several wonderful history books that I'm using with the children. Scott and I read about the Battle of Hastings last night; boy, was he impressed! And Julia is grasping it really well. She likes Tudors and Stuarts, especially.
Much Love,
Mary
* * * * *
September 28, '65
Dearest Mom and Dad,
There IS one thing nicer than a delicious, steaming cup of good American coffee for breakfast, and that is a letter from home to go with same! Our mailman brought us one from Unk yesterday at 6:45 a.m., and this morning he pushed yours through the slot at 7:05! Great!
Mozart is the composer of the week on the BBC. Last week it was Purcell, which was even nicer!
Roger and I went to one of the nicest dinner parties we have ever been to last night. It was given for us by friends of friends - namely, through Olive and Tony Clement who moved into a flat next door to
Mr. Way shortly after we left Lansdowne. Shirley and Mike Wilks had invited four other couples so that we totaled twelve. After cocktails in the living room, we were all seated around a huge table most attractively set (including a handsome, tall candelabra borrowed for the occasion from Michael's family!). After dinner the ladies retired upstairs while the men had brandy, cigars, and told some dirty stories and laughed heartily. Then we all came together in the living room for after-dinner coffee, by which time it was after midnight! Roger and I stayed after the others had left to chat with our host and hostess, finally tumbling into bed as the clock on the mantle bonged TWO!
Each person was most attractive and intelligent - greatly "with it." Most of the men had been in the states at one time; two of the gals were Swedish - and I must say this, Swedish women are most attractive and charming, almost without exception. Well, it was one of the most pleasant of evenings. I married a man who, like another fellow very dear to me, will fall asleep at ten if he's bored; well, last night Roger was still "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" at 2 ! - a great compliment to the Wilks!
I failed to mention Ann and her schooling only because her situation is not as critical as Julia's. Her class is beginning French here, so she's not out of stride in that respect. This school IS aptly suited to most of the girls in it; they are not interested in academics and ARE interested in Cornish pasties, so for them it's just fine. They have no drive or incentive at all. Julia got a merit the other day by merely answering a simple question because all the other girls were asleep! Julia did get a credit (6 merits) last week; her name was called and she went up onto the stage, the headmistress said a little something about these girls being good students, the others clapped, and then they sat down. Big cheese! Julia and Ann know it's silly but take it as a game. Good.
I have written to Cal. Keep planning. We'll meet you, any where, any time!
Much Love,
Mary
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