Guest writer! John’s mother wrote this on Hotel Sofitel stationery.
Dear family in Stony Brook,
Here we are situated in a very lovely French Hotel in Cherbourg, France. It’s about 5:30 p.m. French time which is one hour earlier than Greenwich time which is six hours earlier than Standard Time. We have just returned from a very interesting trip through Normandy countryside. What a delightful area! There are many, many old farms here, apparently occupied by several generations. They are all made of brick or stones cemented together. The farmers were out cutting down the hedgerows which break up the fields into small plots. Our main objective was Utah Beach where Dad landed on D-Day. We walked on the beach, climbed up and down the dunes and looked at the remains of the gun emplacements which were partially dug into the dunes.
It was a peaceful scene today as the tide receded. The shore was lined with shells (sea) all so different from June 6th, 1944. We saw the monument erected in commemoration of the 4th Division. There were a few landing craft there as well as a half track and a landing craft — all left over from the war.
Dad with the monument to the Fourth Division, landing at Utah Beach 6/6/1944
We stopped in a little restaurant across the street from all of this where, after much grunting and gesticulations we made our wishes known. Between the proprietor’s little knowledge of English and our equally little knowledge of French, we made out fairly well. She was so anxious to please, and we were so hungry — equally anxious to please. We had cheese or ham sandwiches on French bread.
This is a church in Normandy that we saw as we drove around
We were met at the airport by John, Anne and little John. It was so good to see them. The only one who has changed is little John. In the afternoon, after a good nap, we went with Anne to pick up the girls at school. They both have grown and look fine also. We had afternoon tea when we returned home followed by dinner later. We saw the girls’ rooms and some of their treasures. Lisa has taken some pictures which she was anxious to share with us. John C. went to the office after meeting us, so he came home a bit later for dinner. Their house is very nice — giving them plenty of room. The girls and I toured their garden, seeing the fish pond and tennis court. We also did some bird watching, which is always so much fun.
The weather is not like NY when we left on Wednesday. There were occasional snow flurries on Wednesday with cooler temps — just barely above freezing. In spite of this there are a few flowers in the garden. It’s an interesting country. There will be so much to talk about when we return home.
We hope you get this letter before we return, but at any rate you will know we have been thinking about you.
[Written on hotel stationery in Cherbourg] We get around, don’t we? At the moment we are with John’s parents on our way to see the beach where Dad landed during WWII.
A correction on Valentine’s Day — they don’t celebrate it much in England, but we were amused at the staid Times. They had several pages of tiny Valentine messages, some hilarious!
Took John $pencer to the clinic to have him checked. He weighs 23.5 pounds. They had the most marvelous scales for children — there was a railing built in it so that a child could stand and hold on while being weighed. Normally children are checked there at age 1 and 3, interspersed with home visits by the visiting health nurse. The huge waiting room of the clinic was brightly painted and filled with lots of toys. $ loved it.
Our neighbor, Doris, was telling me she had been a volunteer constable after her son grew up. She was dressed in the regular uniform so that people didn’t know which women were professional and which volunteer. To start off, she had training at Scotland Yard! Then she walked a beat with a paid cop. Think she said she did it for nine years. Now she’s a volunteer at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Anyone can go in that office to ask for help; the workers have huge files they can consult to find what agency or organization could help them. The Cooks are driving from New Orleans to Washington DC in May. John got his super-duper travel books from Loraine in NY to loan to them. Anyone in Tennessee like to meet our neighbors? If so, we’ll give them your name and address.
Speaking of the invaluable Loraine – she quit, so she will no longer be our great ally in the NY office. A thousand cheers for Loraine for all she’s done for us! Would you pray that she finds a new job that she’ll like? Thanks.
The girls have now been told we’re moving. They were excited! We haven’t talked much about the new house because we won’t know for sure we’ve gotten it until March 2 or 3. Will tell you more then.
Lisa walked in asking Kate, “You want to send love and kisses to cousin Barbara?”
Kate enthusiastically said, “Yeah!”
Lisa: “Good. I already typed it.”
The Mehrlings arrived at Gatwick Thursday morning raving – not raging – about Laker. A most pleasant flight, they said. The girls were very excited at seeing them outside school that afternoon.
The next day we were up at the crack of dawn — almost heard it breaking. We stuffed ourselves in the car and drove to Southampton. The ferry to Cherbourg is more luxurious than the one at the Dover crossing. There are cabins on board, though we just lounged around in the reclining seats. Some of us did — Grandma and John C. grappled with $.
In Cherbourg Mom and Dad ate dinner with Lisa and Kate downstairs in the attractive hotel restaurant while John and I sat with $. Then we had our turn. What a marvelous meal! Real French cooking! The service was impeccable, as it usually is on this side of the world.
$ has a canvas cot (crib) that he did well in. Early this morning he began to giggle, and I realized the funny feeling in my toes belonged at the other end of that giggle. He’d climbed onto my bed and sat on my feet.
We went to Utah Beach and walked along where Dad came ashore on D-Day.
Climbing over German concrete bunkers was interesting. We picked up shells and enjoyed the sound of the breakers. $ was a bit confused by the shifting sand under his feet.
The houses here are so different. A typical new one is of concrete, small and cute, with folding shutters and white curtains drawn back. Old stone houses are often connected to the barns with a quadrangle in the middle. Tiny villages are very picturesque, though lacking color in the winter.
A small village in Normandy
It seems that mail is delivered to homes in small boxes hung on the outside of houses — not through the door as in England. In the morning we saw housewives and children walking home from the bakery with long loaves of bread under their arms and not wrapped at all! Speaking of bread — it certainly is as delicious as its reputation. Sandwiches are made with small loaves of crusty bread, sliced through the middle. Croissants are tender and flaky, a real treat. We whipped through a grocery to buy fruit and yogurt; I spotted shelves full of Gerber baby food which you can’t get in England. Of course, $ no longer needed any after we found it.
We watched the ferry come in where we landed the day before. The front of the ship opens its mouth and spews forth cars. At the same time, stairs were rolled to the side of the ferry so that foot passengers could stream off.
John $ (1 year, 4 months old) is a sight. He loves cardboard boxes. If he sneaks past me into the larder, he snitches a box or so. He slowly and deliberately climbs in, sits a few seconds with a satisfied grin on his face, and tries to hop out. One leg makes it and one doesn’t. He then starts running to get away from it and drags it along after him until he trips or lifts the foot high enough to clear it.
Penny S invited the children and me for tea one afternoon after school. It was a proper tea. We had lovely finger sandwiches of ham, cucumber, tomato, and various breads with butter, fruit, chocolate cake, marzipan cake, and tea. A feature of the family room was a huge rocking horse that even adults can ride! Penny loves creating things and had a sampler on the wall plus a painting or so she had done herself. She likes to sew, knit, and cook besides keeping up with the medical journals. While we were there, Andy came in from a filming session. His partner directs and he produces films — this one on severe childhood allergies.
I made some buttermilk and took it to Renee. She said her mother used to get it in the country to make scones. She wanted it for an American salad dressing.
Many do pronounce “scones”with an almost short “o” in this area. I think it is more that we put the “o” further forward, and they almost swallow it. I prefer to pronounce it with the North Carolina “o”.
Lisa, speaking of fourth formers at school: “Accidents are prone for them.” Can’t you just see an accident lying down in front of each girl? Taken literally, that would mean disaster lies in wait for them.
Kate was given a Good Conduct pin to wear every day on her uniform. I think it means she went several weeks with no mark against her name. I don’t know if she has to give it up at a particular time or always has the threat hanging over her that it will be taken away after any infringement of rules. Nothing is ever absolutely clear about her!
Lisa got in the car and asked me if I thought she had almost fainted one day in school. Then she proudly showed me the Prefect pin she had on. She was called up before the whole school and had the pin put on by the headmistress. It’s quite an honor, particularly since she’s been in the school such a short time. Many of the duties she has already been given as a member of the oldest class such as serving food, helping watch out for smaller children, running errands, and presiding at a table at lunch.
Lisa’s vocabulary is still growing. She explained that something was being “interpretated”. I think that would be wrong on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eileen B came for coffee one morning. She is such a kind person — she seems to exude it. She is the fifth of eight children. All but she and a sister in Michigan live in a three-mile radius of their mother in Dublin. She was a secretary before her two girls were born; her husband, Derek, is an architect.
Thursday Lisa had her first exam in the common entrance exams, the French oral. I would think this is the one she would be least prepared for, having had it such a short time. I thought the procedure interesting. The regular French teacher gives the test with another teacher there to run the tape recorder and see that there are no irregularities. The child is given a paragraph to study for a short time, reads it aloud in French, and then answers questions on it — all in French. There is a prepared list of 20 general questions from which the teacher picks 10 for each student.
Cathie D came for lunch after work one day. I was glad she works until 1:00 because I had to pack in a lot before she came. John had stayed home so that we could view a house first thing after the girls were dropped at school. It was cancelled, but I still had to take him to the station and get the shopping done. Put $ down for a nap, let Mr. Clewes in, retrieved the groceries from the hall, collected the milk from the doorstep, and then began the quiche and Brownies for lunch. Fixed the salad and appetizers while giving Clewes his lunch and feeding $. By the time she came, I was ready to sit down! She had time to drive to school to pick up the girls with me before her son was due home. Her big news is that she is to become a grandma in June.
The girls took heart cookies to school to share with all the girls in their class. The English don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in school, and not much seems to be made of it at home, either. I could understand, since the cheapest cards cost over $1.50 each.
The bottom dropped out of $’s world at 4 a.m. I found him standing on the floor between the wall and the crib, near the corner where the hook had hopped off the frame. He must have been dumped unceremoniously with little advance warning. It didn’t upset him very much; I think he was confused and didn’t know what to do.
John and I saw a house yesterday that is lovely, but has tiny rooms. The owner has two other families seriously looking at it, and they want it for several years. Understandably, she would rather they have it, since she may be gone for six years. The choice at the moment is the handy-man’s nightmare and the manor house on a postage stamp.
Alistair and Sheila C came to see the trains and have dinner with us last night. He is the office manager at Gotaas-Larsen and is one of the men who was so kind to us when we first came here to house hunt. He loves trains, especially real ones. Sheila told of such interesting things. She came from West Yorkshire, had taught school in Spain, been in Paris six months, and was governess for two girls (children of jet-setters) where she lived mainly in Argentina and visited the family chateau in France and the flat in New York. Some of the characters she described you wouldn’t believe in a novel! Lisa’s eyes widened when we found that she is presently a headmistress. I think Lisa sat up straighter and was amused to discover “heads” without authority over you are most interesting.
Alistair’s parents were Scots, but he spent most of his growing years in Alexandria, Egypt. His father was a banker, doing verbal and written business in English, French, and Arabic. He dredged up several words in Arabic for Lisa. He and his mother spent some of the war years in Africa.
Today we had Sunday “lunch” with the Hulls across the street. She said they’d enjoyed having an American meal with us and planned an English meal. We had roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, cabbage, beans, fruit salad, and mincemeat flan. I believe the cabbage, beans, and most of the fruit had come from their freezer via their own garden. We had coffee in the sitting room near the fire, and their almost 16-year-old played with $ which certainly helped our conversation. Then we all went for a walk on the common. Not only did the fresh air do us good, it kept $ pleasantly occupied. A very delightful time would describe our feelings. They met several people they knew, and I felt right at home when we met Penny and Andy whom the Hulls didn’t know.
Just watched a programme (British) on the Confederate Air Force in Texas. John was glad he saw it because he will be teased about it tomorrow in the office.
There were no photographs to go with this letter, so I’ll give you a preview. Below are John’s parents, soon to visit us, with Lisa and Kate. I suspect this might have been taken the day they arrived, since they are well-dressed and the girls are wearing their school uniforms.
I forgot to mention something else the folks from India told me. There are different classes of beggars! Ann said that some get left-overs, and lower classes get food that has actually been on people”s plates.
Tuesday John went into the office late because we are house-hunting. We have not told the girls yet because we don’t want to upset them; we’ll wait until we have another house lined up. We got the final word a couple of weeks ago that the owners of this house are being recalled from Japan, and of course, want their house back. Our lease expires the first of April. John saw one house on his own, but the rooms were too small. The one we saw Tuesday was a handyman’s nightmare. We could live there if we have to, but prefer to look longer. The blurb on the house listed a two-car garage, but we couldn’t find it. Then we realized it is now two bedrooms and a small playroom. Yesterday we saw a dream house that is too far away and too expensive, but it was fun to look at. [We subsequently rented a house on the same street – the name of the house was Churchfield. We rented half the house, and another family owned the other half. They had owned the house next to the one I was describing here as a dream house and subsequently bought half of Churchfield.] In the dream house were five bedrooms in the main part of the house, living room, dining room, study, and playroom that had been the garage. It also has a tennis court and a staff flat!!! Off the living room is the sitting room, kitchen, bath, and bedroom for a maid or parents. Anyone want to come over to live and help us pay for all that? It is to the side and back of a church with a path from the garden into the church yard! Mr. Clewes has tentatively agreed to work for us if we have a garden that needs him.
I was being critical of Lisa and said, “Lisa, you can be so loud.” Said she helpfully, “I can be even louder.”
The Salvation Army came around last Sunday distributing envelopes for donations. They were dressed in uniform and covered the area rapidly. When a pretty young girl came to collect the envelope several days later, I had to admit that the baby had gotten it. Well, it was the truth! (Teacher Barbara might not accept that as an excuse; neither did this girl.) She immediately offered another, so I dutifully put money in it and handed it back.
Two nights in a row John was out late dining with Steve S from the NY office. John has always enjoyed him so much, and I was glad he had a chance to spend lots of time with him. The second night the girls and I cleaned house to get ready for company coming the next night. Kate tidied up while Lisa polished silver.
One of the nights John came in late, he waked me up getting ready for bed. We changed John $’s nappy, and I was waked several more times by various people bumping around. John had set the alarm an hour early to finish something that had to go back to NY via Steve, returned to bed, and set the alarm for the usual time. When it rang, I said it’s easy to get up because I’d had so much practice during the night.
Max and Renee A. came for dinner Friday night and got here before John was home from work. This is the couple who first invited us to their home for dinner when we had just come here. They have their fingers in every pie in church, so it is fun to listen to their views on what is happening. I asked them about the banns of marriage, knowing they would have that info, having married off all four children within two years not so long ago. I had written of this to one of you, but now I have more complete information and will share it with all of you. [I’ve already written some of this earlier, but this is a little different.]
It’s a very old custom going way back. It is called publishing the banns of marriage and is to be done three weeks in a row, after which the couple have three months in which to marry before the time runs out. The names of the couple and their home parishes are read, and then the congregation is asked to let the authorities know if there is just cause why they should not marry. These banns must be read in their home parish — where they were baptized — as well as the church they attend at the moment. For couples not having a church wedding, banns are posted on a board at the registry office for three weeks. The way to get around all of this is to pay a fee and get a special license.
I also asked Renee and Max about the registry book in the church. In novels, after the wedding service the bride and groom go into the registry to sign the book. In St. Mary’s this book is kept in a safe under the organ. For one of their family weddings the vicar brought the book out so that the wedding guests could see the signing (not at St. Mary’s). Once a year some higher up in the church inspects the records to make sure everyone is doing their job properly. Records are kept of all christenings and deaths there, also.
Yesterday Kate and I were walking $ when we heard a lot of hammering. I laughed when we saw the cause. The opening for letters in the front door was being opened and closed by a little hand with a little pair of eyes looking out. I waved, and it abruptly closed, only to be opened slyly for a peek. The little one inside was shy. Wonder when $ is going to discover we have one like that in our house!
We drove to London to St. Paul’s for the morning service. Were the boys glorious! That church is so big that the sound just rolls back and seems to keep going for 10 seconds. We sat in the front row in the congregation; could have sat in the choir if we were staying for communion. The front row is right where the royal family sits for special occasions, so we won’t complain about the seats.
After church we drove, trying to find Kensington Palace. All we found was the Kensington Palace Hotel, and we are thinking it’s the palace turned into a hotel. It was right where the map listed the palace. [I was wrong about that. Kensington Palace still exists in 2008. It’s still there in 2021.] On our way to Regent’s Park I navigated us on Mount Street and Curzon Street which always feature in old novels. We also went near Baker Street and saw the Sherlock Homes Hotel. Driving around the park, we saw where the zoo is, but could only see the giraffes over the hedges. There were some posh town houses overlooking the park, too. All of this was to fill time until the Tower opened; John said since everyone else had had a chance to go, he wanted me to get in. The girls and I walked to the entrance only to find that the jewels are not on display for the month of February because of maintenance to the building. This is what I particularly want to see, so we hope to go another time before the tourist season starts. $ had fallen asleep, so we drove through the St. Katherine dock area before coming home. It was a nice outing — certainly much easier than going to New York for part of a day.
Lisa will soon “sit” for the common entrance examination. At the age of 11 or 12 all children who hope to get in good schools have to take this series of exams. They are given in the lower schools, all on the same days, all over the world! The headmistress at Dunnotar assured us that they would accept Lisa if her grades were slightly lower than those of English girls since she hasn’t been here long. The last one will be the day before the Mehrlings arrive, so she will have double cause to celebrate. They’ve been preparing for this for weeks, using old exams as trials. Reminds me of all the hoop-la that New Yorkers went through for Regent’s exams.
End of paper. End of thoughts. [Also, there were no photos to go with the narrative. Soon we will have visitors, and there will be lots of pictures.]
Has anyone ever told you to go fly a kite when discussing church attendance? We heard it last Sunday. The vicar made a kite and flew it in family service! He started with the framework, which makes a cross, saying that is the basis of true life. Quoting Scripture all the way, he continued with red material for the blood that covers our sins. Here in England they use two strings for flying a kite — has it changed in America? One string stood for Bible reading, the other for prayer. The tail is love which makes such lovely patterns in the sky. Here they have humongous tails; Kate and I saw one on Redhill Common not long ago. When he’d finished, he had all the children blow as hard as they could while the curate hoisted the kite up on hidden strings to fly from the rafters. Cute.
Inside photo of St. Mary’s church in Reigate
A lady came by leaving catalogs for plastics and housewares, something like a Fuller Brush brochure; this line is named “Betterware”. In thumbing through it, I found a gadget for holding up the cord of an iron called FLEX holder. Was I glad to be educated enough to know what they meant!
Kate has come to love her school hat and only takes it off to go to bed. She sometimes shares it with $ who doesn’t properly appreciate it. He has learned how to put it on and take it off.
Snowdrops are blooming, and daffodil shoots are two inches high.
$ loves to take a stroll about the garden when we get home from school. He has his own ideas about where he wants to go.
We’re in the habit of having afternoon tea after $’s walk. Kate and I have tea; Lisa has milk. It’s a nice break and a habit I plan to continue when we return to the States. I asked Merrin if they have tea in Australia. She said they do, but it’s really dinner.
One day I saw a funeral procession coming slowly down our street. The hearse stopped; two limousines pulled in behind, and the drivers went into the house next to the Hull’s and brought out flowers to put in the boots of the cars. Then they started up the cars and pulled into the drive to pick up the family. I wonder if the person who died had lived there. Haven’t seen anyone on the street to ask.
John had told me he hadn’t gotten petrol, but I didn’t think of getting it the next day. The day after that, the girls prayed us down to the closest station. They even prayed it open, because at first we saw no one about. Whew! It cost 17 pounds to fill her up. [At that time, it would have been equal to about $40, which is nothing unusual for 2008 prices.]
I went to Ann O’Connell’s for coffee. She was one of the first people to speak to me outside the school. I rather think she felt sorry for me being a newcomer and remembering how she was not spoken to for ages. She claims there are a few to this day that would not reply to her if she spoke to them! She thinks they are waiting for a proper introduction! Ann’s parents live in the same house with her, and what a house! It looks like a church from the outside, but she said it was a Victorian school. There are odd-shaped stairs, balconies inside, odd windows and French doors. It is filled with antiques from all over the world. I’ve heard Ann mention going to auctions — the big name ones in London. I think she buys for others as well as herself, but it’s rather vague. The house is so unique and different that I could imagine it as a stage setting for a play.
Ann’s parents were there, as well as a young neighbor named Una. John $ was so rambunctious that I never talked to her. Mr. and Mrs. Harding helped run after $ and carried our conversations back and forth around the living room. I knew Ann had lived in India until she was 14, so asked her mother if she had grown up in England. She replied, “If you knew British accents, you’d know I have an Empire accent and didn’t grow up here.” She went on to tell that there were 13 servants in her house and that she had never seen a vacuum cleaner until they moved to New Zealand in the 50’s. Mr. Harding had been in aluminium (accent on “min”) but left when things got bad after England pulled out of India. He said there were threats to his life and promises that his daughter would be kidnaped. He liked New Zealand, but hated Australia. He couldn’t stand the familiarity and heartiness of the Aussies! Don’t think he’d like Americans, either, but he was nice to me.
I said to Enid, Merrin’s mother, that I don’t think I’d like having the seasons upside down at Christmas time in Australia. She said it hasn’t felt like Christmas here with the cold! What about Christmas cards, I asked. She laughed and said she’d never thought about it, but they were all snow scenes!!! Someone went to extra trouble to send them one with a kangaroo on it this Christmas. Found out they do have milk delivery there. That’s the first time I’ve heard of it outside the U.K.
I couldn’t figure out why $ had a “runny tummy” as one person said here. Met another mother at school with a girl his age, and she mentioned her girl was teething. I ran my finger around his gums and found 8 points of eruptions! No wonder he hasn’t been his normal self! I’ll be more careful the next time I put a finger in his mouth — it’s getting more dangerous!
One night John called from the railroad station in London to cancel my coming to meet him at the local station, because the trains were not running. He was so glad he did because neither of us had noticed the fog. The train he finally got was not very late, but the cars on the road between Redhill and Reigate could only go as fast as he was walking because of the thick fog. After he ate, the girls and I went for a walk to experience the soup first hand. It’s the thickest I’ve ever seen. The world seemed to end with the first row of trees in our garden, and only a glow came from the windows across the street. The next morning I looked at the trees in the back and thought someone had wrapped them with thread. It wasn’t very much, but there were strings fluttering in the wind. Lisa and I went out to touch one and found it to be frozen mist or flexible ice. You know me, I grabbed the camera and went out. [Those slides were too dark to scan, so I’ve lost the images.] Much to my chagrin, $ locked me out by slightly turning the lowest lock on the garden door.
Kate and I took $ for a walk to church in the morning and used our Christmas present hymn books. In the Anglican church they hand out tiny books with just the words of the hymns. We know so few of the tunes that it’s painful to try to sing. John remedied that by buying the music edition. John is presently going to Evensong. He likes that service because it is all sung. When we came home from church, we found he’d put the casserole in the oven and set the table! That’s a nice welcome, especially since we’d smelled other dinners cooking on the way home.
This afternoon the Hull girls went for a walk with us and showed us another new footpath. It was such a gloriously beautiful day that even John went.
This week just past I spotted a woodpecker that looks much like our Downy, but larger. I understand it is not often seen in this area.
Lisa wanted to stay after school for a road safety film badly enough to walk home! It took her only half an hour. Even she was surprised at the early hour; having worked up an appetite, she thought it must be close to dinner time. A little later she walked to Merrin’s to get an assignment. She may not realize how English she acted that day!
We watched lots of TV and kept the radio on for news of the hostages. I was surprised how much time they devoted to the story over here. Many people I’ve met shopping and at school have stopped me to say how glad our people are free at last. [Iran set American hostages free after 444 days in captivity.]
At the library the parking was even tighter than usual, and a lady squeezed her car in next to mine so that she couldn’t even get out of her door. Five more cars were lined up out into the busy street waiting to get in, so I knew I had to try to get out or walk out of the lot pretending I didn’t have a car there. As I began to maneuver, a nice man directed me with hand movements. I could have sworn I was going to crunch into the car behind, and I certainly hoped he could see better than he could hear. (He was wearing a very conspicuous hearing aid.) If I had hit that car, he might not have heard it! In very little time he had me out! I’ve heard of several people who pray to find a parking place, but I prayed to get out of that one! The Lord sent me a helper right when I needed it.
Instant replay might not have been used New Year’s Eve, but it was Tuesday. I think I saw President Reagan sworn in at least eight times. After hearing it that often, I’m persuaded he INTENDS to do a good job.
Language is a living thing, constantly changing, so much of what I write about may not apply a year from now. However, at this moment the term “OK” would translate here to “Right!”. On TV a person had a demonstration prepared, walked out to set up equipment, said “right”, and launched into the explanation. If I asked someone to do something for me, the answer would be “right”. Maybe that’s why the English have the trait of being correct, always “right”.
On a rainy day I parked close to the store, got $ in his push chair, saw a glove lying on the pavement and thought, “Some poor bloke has lost a glove. Won’t want it after it has been out in this weather.” For some reason I put my hand in my pocket and found I was the poor bloke! Glad I noticed it then and not later.
One morning I went several houses down the street for coffee with Mary H. She and her husband, Kenneth, are involved with youth work, running house parties for teenagers. He is an ordained minister and is an honorary curate of St. Mary’s. I discovered the place where they run these camps during holidays is a school we investigated for our girls. Now I can imagine what they do, since I know where they do it! Kenneth came in while I was there, recovering from a visit to a dentist. He said he steeled himself in the chair because the dentist was very young and came at him so enthusiastically!
I learned a new word from Mary. She said, “Dogs and children always head for the flex.” I had her repeat it three times, trying to understand it. Finally she walked over and picked one up to show me. She was so taken aback by my ignorance of the word that she looked it up in the dictionary! The word “flex” is short for flexible insulated electric cable. I should hope so! It continued by saying, in the US, it means “cord”. I’d say extension cord. It’s the four letter words that can get you into trouble!
Have I mentioned that the postmen deliver mail on their bicycles? I saw one the other day going down hill, standing on one pedal so that his bike was more a scooter than a bike. I’m sure it speeded delivery not to have to dismount.
Barbara C came here for coffee. She is the one who called and offered to baby sit for us before Christmas so that we could go to a dinner. This coffee business that is so standard here is the easiest thing. You invite one to any number of people, set out “bought” biscuits (cookies), give them a cup of coffee and relax. That particular morning I learned more about hospital stays for new mothers. It seems that you are required to be either in hospital or have someone at home with you for 10 days after your first baby. For the second or more they keep you in hospital 24 -48 hours and send you packing!!! Barbara is a kindred spirit in one way– she doesn’t care for gardening and does none of it!
Barbara and I compared the difficulties of cutting young boys’ hair. Her older son has two “crowns” she said. I would have called it “cow licks”, but I don’t think that is the proper name for it, either. Anybody got the correct term for the funny swirl of hair at the top of the head that refuses to go any way but the way it grows?
I cleaned house (yes, I really did!), ending in $’s room where he was acting tired. Playfully put him in the crib and stretched out on the bed across the room. Discovered why, when sitting in the room below, I think it sounds like the under side of a trampoline. He stand, runs, and dives among the blankets time after time. Comes up giggling and cutting his eyes around looking for mischief.
Last night we had the Johansens here for dinner and to play with the trains. Bjarne thought John was teasing in the office about having trains. He should know John never teases about IMPORTANT subjects!
John $pencer and his dad
Randi (the pretty wife) kept exclaiming about the SIZE of this house and how much cleaning would be involved. Their 13-year-old son, Jens, played for ages with the trains and included the girls in his playing. We thought his poise and grasp of history was amazing. Being an only child has some advantages! I loved listening to Jens talk. He’d learned English in Norway, probably with a British accent, but goes to the American school. Half his words are English, and some are SO American. I was surprised at his willingness to talk. Every once in a while he translated something for his mother.
Coping with English life is different for each family. Randi wanted special fish for Christmas dinner and didn’t know where to begin looking. Bjarne called the Norwegian Club, asked where they got their supply, and went there.
Lisa woke feeling sick this morning. She has now vomited twice and feels better. John stayed with her, and we had $ in the crib at the same time. John has now gone to evening prayer.
There is no better way to get to know a town than on foot. Today Kate, $ and I drove to town where parking lots (car parks, that is) are free on Sunday. We explored Slipshoe street, the oldest street in Reigate, I believe. It’s also the shortest and narrowest. We went down a residential street where I found my favorite house name of the day — Clutter Cottage.
End of paper. God bless you all.
On another sheet were a couple of paragraphs about wedding banns that I wrote to my brother and his wife. I’ll include them here.
Wedding banns — I must try to find out more, but I’ll tell you my idea of it. About three weeks before the wedding, the names of the engaged couple are read in church, and people are admonished to declare if there is any reason why these people can’t be married. Names are read three weeks running. I think it would be included in the service in the parish church of both the bride and groom, that is where they were baptized, as well as in the church they may have joined at the present time. It stems from the time when records were strictly local affairs and it wouldn’t be too hard for a man or woman to marry several times in distant places. I know in old novels, right after the wedding ceremony, the couple always go to the registry (part of the church) to sign their names on the book that stays in the church. It may still be done. [I think they showed Prince Charles and Lady Diana signing the book at St. Paul’s, or at least the anchors talked while it was done.]
Also in novels where the groom is in great haste to have his loved one to himself, he always has had the foresight to have a special license tucked in his pocket as he whisks his bride away, only two sentences after proposing to her. This is the only alternative to waiting the weeks for the reading of the banns, but I don’t know how you obtain a special license.
I’m so glad I started last week’s letter early — did it because we’d invited company for Sunday night supper. John and Tina J came to play with the trains. John works for Gotaas-Larsen, and we went out with them a year ago when we were here house hunting. He loves trains, and I guess Tina tolerates them as willingly as I do. Had I waited for Sunday evening to write, it wouldn’t have been done because of the upheaval here. A 24-hour virus hit me, and it was upheaval, indeed. Don’t think I’ve been sicker since the last gall bladder attack 12 years ago. Dear John even sat up in a chair all night to help me! That is true devotion! He worked for half the day Monday, and the girls did everything for $ except change him until John got home. They fed him, played with him, and put him down for a nap. We were all glad to get back to a regular schedule Tuesday when the girls returned to school.
They didn’t even complain about going to school!!! We are definitely making progress!
John $ totes his Paddington bear around all the time by the tag that admonishes one and all to “take care of this bear”. Don’t think $ is following those instructions, but the bear is greatly loved.
I saw a milk bottle commit suicide! I opened the fridge and out jumped the full bottle, hitting my hand, a shelf, and finally the floor. Milk was everywhere! I was cut slightly on the downward plunge and John while helping me clean up. I shall certainly be more careful about stuffing bottles in.
Home group from church met at our house, and we had to lead a discussion on last Sunday’s sermon on discipline. The topic really dealt with SELF-discipline. There was a good group here — all but one chair taken. They all loved the trains, and John had to cut them off to make play cease. After the meeting was over, the people stayed longer than usual to talk. We found out that Marilyn worked for Cunard before she was married. She’d started out as a secretary and worked up to be the assistant to somebody so that she was the one who arranged launching parties. She’d met some of the big-wigs that John knows of in the shipping business. Small world!
Mr. Clewes cleaned out the small garage during a rain storm, and I spotted the giraffe toy that we brought over for $. He has had more fun playing with it. For the most part, he just leads it around and chews on its horns.
Strutting in our garden inspecting crumbs was a Pied Wagtail. It is the funniest black and white bird. I also think I saw a chaffinch. The chaffinch isn’t as colourful (British spelling) as the picture in the book, but maybe he was having a dull day.
The antique market in the high street has been shut. According to Mr. Clewes all those stores had short leases because there are plans for demolition and rebuilding. I was glad to see this week a sign in the window saying they will reopen in Reigate before too long. I just loved browsing in there.
Finally went to the butcher shop near the girls’ school that so many people have said is the best in town. Except for the very modern computerized scales, it was like stepping into another age. It was so spacious, had meat displayed in sparkling windows, was lined in the rear with dark polished wood and old glass, and the men greeted several customers by name and asked how they were. I shall certainly make a habit of going there! I’ll leave here early, park near the school, and walk to the shop.
The night of the butcher shop visit, EUREKA!, we had the first decent hamburgers we’ve had at home since we hit this country half a year ago. I would never have thought I’d rave over a juicy old hamburger, but this definitely is worth writing home about. The rest of you probably won’t appreciate it fully if you’re served a burger here, but half a year of privation whets one’s appetite.
I asked Enid G (Australian) how their Christmas in Germany was. Their family had taken a coach tour. She said it took an awfully long time to get there, but they enjoyed seeing the little town where they stayed, going to the big Catholic church at midnight, and trying the good food. They were a little disappointed to be served hare on Christmas day.
You future visitors will be glad to know I’ve finally purchased a cheap iron. As most of you know, I don’t DO ironing! However, it is becoming necessary for the girls’ uniforms to be pressed. We’ve gotten by so far because the fabrics were new, but are now starting to be “pruny.”
On a rainy day the girls took $ for his first walk outdoors. You’d think we’d choose a sunny day, but this was more fun to put on his Wellingtons and see him chugging away in and out of puddles. They let him walk down the shallow steps to the tennis court and lurch about on the level surface. He loved every minute of it.
All our children had trims this week – Lisa 2″, Kate 1.5″ and $ wisps. The subject is hair, by the way.
Last night we went to Sten H-L’s for dinner. He is the one who went to the church picnic with us one time years ago. He cooked steaks over charcoal out in the rain — a habit started when they lived in Florida. The steaks, not the rain. He’d also cooked potatoes and onions outside while Gunnbjorg (not misspelled) fixed sprouts, macaroni and cheese, and fruit salad inside. In the living room they served coffee, Krumkake filled with whipped cream and a Norwegian Christmas cookie (new to me) for which I requested the recipe. They took us on a tour of their house, and it is lovely. The girls played with their girls while their boy felt left out. We offered to let him play with $. We were surprised and grateful that $ went to sleep with no protest in our playpen upstairs in a bedroom. Whew! That meant much more enjoyment for us.
Today we drove to London, found a parking place with no trouble, and went to Westminster Abbey. The girls and I sat in the choir right next to the men who were singing, while John did baby duty outside. We were impressed with the counter tenors. Marvelous! The boys weren’t there, perhaps still on holiday since Christmas. John $ walked on his two little legs up and down outside. We went to Burger King — might not be your idea of Sunday dinner, but it surely hit the right spot with us! $ fell asleep on the way home.
Sometimes questions are answered before one launches a full-scale investigation. This happened to me about the custom of left-road driving. Kate read it in her reader from school. It said, “During the Middle Ages much of the traveling was done by knights and fighting men. When a group of knights saw other horsemen coming along the highway they could not be sure whether they were friends or enemies. If they were enemies the two groups would fight. Since most men held their swords in their right hands, the travelers liked to meet sword hand to sword hand. A custom grew up of riding on the left of the road, so that the sword hand was free.”
“In America goods were carried in enormous wagons. These wagons had no seat for the driver, who walked beside his horses, guiding them with a whip and a single rein. He used his right hand, so he walked to the left of the horses. When he passed another wagon, his wagon moved to the right of the road so that the drivers stayed in the middle. In this way Americans began keeping to the right of the road instead of the left.”
So much for that. Does anyone know why other Europeans use the right hand side?
We came to the right country for shoes! How I loathe white shoes for babies! They are pristine white only once — before they leave the shop. In England, they have the right idea and don’t even have white shoes. $ was offered a choice of blue, brown or red. Saleslady: “You don’t want brown yet, do you?” We correctly chose blue. They are the cutest things with holes punched near the toes for decoration and buckles to fasten them on. I’d say they’re for girls in the US, but it’s what all the boys wear here. The saleslady exclaimed over $’s narrow foot! All the rest of us have rather wide feet.
Blue shoes for J $pencer
$’s reaction was to stare at the shoes for a while, whimper, and then to sit in the push chair swinging his legs. After we got home, he tried to take them off, then kicked hard on the floor, shrugged and got up to play.
Early this week Kate and I walked to the Meadvale post office to maille the Braille. [I transcribed Lutheran Hour sermons into Braille using a stylus and slate. Postage was free internationally.] We found two new footpaths, one of which would make the steepest hill of Whitford Road seem almost flat. Whew! What a climb!
Lisa has spent much of this week trying to do her project — something like a term paper. I say trying, because she hasn’t really gotten much accomplished. I’ve spent more time trying to push her into a room to do it than she has spent writing. It didn’t help that she insisted on working in the dining room where she could spread things out, and Kate was adamant about playing with her Smurfs in the hatch, of all places! [The hatch was a cabinet with doors opening in the kitchen and the dining room.] It was most disconcerting to reach for a plate or mug and come up with a smirking blue face!
Girls in the hatch. No Smurfs in sight here.
Harold said his feet felt flat on the bottom after miles of walking the pavements of London. Today when Kate tripped and landed heavily on one of her feet smack dab on three of my toes, I thought my foot had been permanently flattened on the top. After this, no one can tell me she’s a shrimp — felt more like a whale.
We have now played the London game which the girls got for Christmas. It’s a tactical game with lots of mischance thrown in, made for tourists and should be sold to travelers before they get here. The board is simply the London underground map! Players have to visit tourist spots, avoiding closed stations and trying to block other players, and return to their starting railway station. At times it is as frustrating as traveling the real thing might be.
We went to the H’s for coffee one evening. They are the parents of Alexander and Marianne and live two doors up the street. I knew Carol had been a stewardess with Pan Am years ago, but didn’t know what Robert did. He is a maize broker and works in London. They have been to Normandy and loaned us some brochures about the area.
Sometimes one asks the right questions of the right person. That night I asked if they would say which pub was the best in Reigate. Robert took a deep breath, seemed to keep himself from rubbing his hands in anticipation, and launched into a description of several. He said he loves going to pubs! He said the best London type is the Red Lion on the round-about on the way to Redhill. The absolute best country pub is on a bad road near Reigate Heath named the Skivington Castle. I was intrigued. Just had to drive out to try to see what it looked like. He was right about the road — it was appallingly awful with huge craters in which you could see whole bricks sticking up. There was no place to turn around. Finally found the pub at the back end of nowhere with one little settlement of houses close by. It was not impressive to look at — appeared to be more of a little club for the neighborhood. How on earth could one do a good business there?
I knew some day it was bound to happen, but not so soon. I mispronounced a French word in front of Lisa, and she simply keeled over laughing. Every time she almost sobered up, she said the word again to fresh gales of laughter. I’ve had this problem all my life of recognizing words on paper and never hearing them pronounced. The funny thing about this one is that I knew it one way on paper (mispronouncing it in my head) and understood it when hearing it and never put the two together! My pride suffered terribly, but it brought knee-slapping mirth to my daughter.
We spotted some tiny Wellingtons for $ and bought them. They are the cutest little red boots I ever saw. He is walking more than crawling right now and will soon need dry feet outside.
I realized today that the birds are singing much more than they were for the past several weeks. I’d say by the sound of them, they think Spring is here. Birds aren’t singing much in the US, are they? I’ve decided both birds and people don’t believe in winter over here. In looking for the date of re-opening of school, I found the term that starts January 13 is called the Spring term! The last one was Fall, and the one after, Summer. They conveniently omit winter!
Got the date right the first time! [January 1 was a Friday in 1981 and 2021.]
All last Monday was taken by the driving home from Rotterdam. We did get home a little earlier, though, than planned. When we drove up to the ferry terminal we found the ferry was just about to disembark for Folkestone. Took that rather than wait for the Dover one; landing point was just a few miles south. The boat shoved off just minutes after our car was stowed. That’s the way to do things!
$ and I had a quiet day when everyone else went to the Tower of London on the 30th. I don’t think there were many tourists there, so they got good views of everything. That evening we celebrated Harold’s birthday. He had been given the choice of no dessert or the dessert of his choice. He picked a pecan pie and then keeled over laughing when we brought it out. I thought the candle stuck in a pie was funny-looking and was surprised he shared my feelings. When he could talk after all the laughter, he said what got him so tickled was that he suddenly reached the age of one candle. It must have made him feel ancient. It isn’t very funny in the telling, but we did get a kick out of it.
I can tell Christmas is almost over. Just looked over at the train card holders and see the caboose has collapsed its rear wheels and is sitting down like a recalcitrant mule.
New Year’s Eve Harold went to London alone to do more sight-seeing while John diddled around here. Kate, $, and I walked to town. I was planning to get something at Knight’s, but it was closed. We went to a grocery instead and stocked up on the cheapest peanut butter in town.
We didn’t plan any festivities to see the new year in, just stayed up talking. Shortly before midnight we turned the TV on and saw the camera positioned on Big Ben. The shows of various parties and entertainments continued soon after. They had no instant replay like we do in the states! The bells of St. Mary’s [the church we go to in Reigate] were pealing away on the windy, frosty air. That was one of the nicest sounds of the day.
I don’t know where in the world the new year was coming in when it was almost 4 AM here, but $ got up to celebrate at that time. Thank heavens he went back to sleep. He would not have had good company with me that day if he had stayed up!
During New Year’s Day Kate said, “I’m going to Royal my Smurfs.” ??? We watched to see what would happen. She made a paper hat for each one and crowned them. Now we know.
We know of nothing that was open on the first, so just stayed home. Poor Harold said he was suffering withdrawal symptoms because there were no football games on TV. He used his energies to play Monopoly with Lisa.
On Friday a family from church was here for dinner at noon so their whole family could come. Normally their girls, 4 and 6, eat their last meal of the day at 5 or 5:30.
P. explained that the older girl had asked her to tell me that she never eats much at noon. Her napkin never came off her plate! However, she did the thing most grown people don’t know to do when not eating, she sat and entertained us so that no one noticed that she didn’t eat. I was slightly shocked that neither girl would drink milk but would ask for and gulp soda. The parents are both medical doctors.
I’d been dying to ask A. if he started out in his medical training intending to write, and he said no. He was planning to practice, but along the way edited and wrote for medical magazines in school. After all his training was finished, he did practice for three years. He said it was terribly frustrating because he was not given enough time to treat people as he wanted. P. echoed that saying that she was given double time when she first started practicing because she was new. They allowed her six minutes per patient in general medicine instead of only three. She said it was faster to write a prescription for a cold than to try to explain to people that they would be better off to go home, drink fluids, and rest. They both talked as if they’d love to practice in the states but wouldn’t make a move, at least a permanent one, because of all the family ties here. [The last time I asked, probably in 2007, John said there was a book or so by Dr. S. on the shelf at Borders.]
Yesterday the girls and John took Harold to the airport. They were disappointed to find long lines and to learn that the computer was out of order. The good seat Harold had reserved was no longer his. We just hope he didn’t get stuck in a middle seat.
Also yesterday Lisa went to a party at Pippi’s house. The invitation said “fancy dress”, so Lisa had asked her if that meant a party dress. Pippi made some reply that Lisa took to mean yes. Turned out to be a costume party, but they said she could just be Alice in Wonderland in her graduation dress and with long hair. Don’t think it bothered her. She had not been feeling well, but we coaxed her to go anyway. Were we glad! Many of those invited had called up to cancel because of illness. She had a great time.
John brought pizza home for the rest of us last night. He began to feel worse and worse with the cold $ so generously shared with us. He went to bed before the girls and didn’t get up until 10 this morning. He kept $ while the rest of us walked to church.
About half an hour after we got home from church, John commented on how dark it had gotten. I looked out to see a very gray day. Soon we saw rain, hail, and snow coming down all at once. Not much later the sun was shining again, the sky was blue, and there were fluffy white clouds hung in the sky. Kate and I took $ for a walk up on Redhill Common, exploring some of the paths and finding a bricked pond on the north side. There was a fantastic kite flying with the longest tail I’ve ever seen. We all came home with frozen ears.
Now John has driven the car to church for choral evensong. I’m eager to find out what that is like. The rest of us are home listening to $ try to tell us it is tea time. Must stop and feed him.
Bed time for one and tea time for others. We’re thinking of all of you at the beginning of this year and hope to see as many of you as possible during the course of it. God bless you.
Editor’s note – When I read this in 2020, I realized I must have written it by hand in the hotel room. I was afraid of forgetting details.
After Christmas 1980 We started our trip before dawn on the 27th of December and watched people’s lights come on all the way to Dover. It was lovely.
The white cliffs obediently shone for pictures – think Harold got a shot of the moon and the cliffs from the ferry. There was just enough movement of the water to make walking a matter for conscious, careful thought. We began to realize we’d left home country when the announcements were unintelligible. Harold and I had a few uncertain moments when a waiter looked at our English money and mumbled lots of French to himself.
We were thankful to have Harold in the navigator’s seat, both to read maps and to remind John to drive on the right side of the road. He only headed left once. It took six hours to drive from Calais to Rotterdam. We couldn’t believe how absolutely FLAT the land is. The roads are marvelous – wide, fast and empty. We’d be willing to trade these for a few roads in England!
The situation of the Hilton couldn’t be better – overlooking a huge round-about for cars, trams, buses and bicycles.
Tram tracks are on the inside of the circle.
Last night John got us settled in our rooms and went to the ship (the excuse for our being here). He came back around 2 a.m. The rest of us watched the drama of traffic from nine floors up. There are special lanes, slightly divided from car traffic and pedestrians, for bicycles only. The reason – they are very well-used, attesting to the statistics of bike-riding in Holland.
We watched a heated argument between a policeman and people involved in an accident. From the motions being made, we think one car nipped another in the fender and drove off. We thought the man doing most of the talking was the driver, but someone else drove off as he walked on down the street. There must have been 15 spectators on the sidelines at one time!
We ate breakfast together and then split up. I elected to keep $ close to the hotel while the others went to the ship. If everything goes as planned, they’ll be on board while the ship moves from one berth to another. I took a two-hour walk and saw where a ship is on display, saw lots of barges, ships, yachts and beautiful sailing vessels and walked in a museum that was free. I thought $ and I would benefit from that free warm air to get thawed out. One can certainly speed through a museum when the language is foreign!
After that we walked to the Euromast – a building on a needle. There is an observation place and a rotating restaurant. I might have been tempted to go in if I’d had someone to share the responsibility of $. He began looking rather red, so I hoofed it back. Saw large umbrellas set up on the sidewalk sheltering hardy fishermen. There are apartment buildings built right in the water with barges tied up alongside. Must be some way to get there because cars were parked under the buildings.
I felt I could manage a meal at McDonald’s – golly! In the hotel room, I heard a little thump, and turned to see $ crawling away from the crib where he’d been. I mistakenly thought he might sleep. Don’t know how he climbed out. Anyway– back to the hamburger story. The place was two-story, and I couldn’t manage a baby, the stairs, and the food. Luckily there were high tables on the ground floor so that I could park $ underneath and throw him morsels as I ate. He put away all the meat and cheese from a cheeseburger!! His first McDonald’s hamburger ever – in Rotterdam!
One of the buildings $ and I passed while walking
The rest of the gang came in having eaten a hearty meal aboard ship and spent time in the recreation rooms. The ship did not change berths – may do so later when John and Harold are back there.
The Dutch people decorate their homes and apartments for Christmas in a more elaborate fashion than I’ve ever seen before. Lovely. Through almost every window we saw trees, wreaths, decorative hanging things, and white frosty designs on the windows.
All of us plus one Norwegian wife rode on a tram. You pay on the honor system! No one checked tickets at all while we made the round trip on Route #5, though John said they do spot checks at random as on British rail. We were amazed at the numerous canals and waterways all over this city. Amsterdam must be something special if it is noted for canals, because Rotterdam has plenty without that fame.
A view from the tram
We ate again in the hotel restaurant. When John $ got antsy, Lisa offered to take him to the room. John left because his taxi was waiting, but Kate was still eating and I had to sign the bill. Lisa suddenly appeared without $, saying breathlessly, “John crawled out of his diaper and it’s lying in the hall. Come quickly!! THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD! I think she’d left him with a Norwegian boy, but I’m not sure. I sent her back with instructions on how to put on a disposable one. Rushed up to find a Norwegian teenage girl coming out of my room. She may have done the job. It was on backwards, but that covered the problem. Might add there are two other families from Gotaas-Larsen having a total of seven rooms in a row. The seven children (not including above streaker) are having a grand time. I think they’re playing Uno in the hall. Must check.
My name is Suki, my human is a writer, and this is about my world. The world according to Suki The Cat. My humans smell funny, look weird, and I can't understand a thing they say, but they feed me, so hey, what are you gonna do?
Mehrling Muse 