1 26/7/16 My Dear Nancy, Honestly I don't know whether or not
Ive written to you since receiving a letter from you
about a week ago. In any case since coming to
this place my correspondence has gone all awry for
as Ive told you already we are only allowed two
letters weekly & when you add to this several
others sent away surreptitiously, many of which
have not been delivered — the muddle
is clearly understood. Taking all things into account
I suppose we have no reason to complain - at
any rate I dont. Of course the huts may be
overcrowded & the visiting arrangements very inadequate
& several other things but even so, in this weather
& pretty surroundings there are compensations and
we might very easily have been lying cold and
stiff or in Dartmoor etc — Just at this moment
I suppose you are about to depart for the south.
How Id like to be going! Has Hannie returned
yet? Well I hope you'll have a right good time
& if you meet anybody who takes an
interest in me you - can say how well I 2 am & for some time my I only concern was
about these proposals. Im glad to see that
this particular business has been dropped.
Surely John E & Co must be dispirited now, although
there are a lot of damn fools knocking about. At
present there is great excitement in this 'compound'
about the releases - about 40 or 50 daily. One never
knows what mistake a Gov Dep might might make; &
between you and me I dont think I'm likely to see the
shores of Erin for some time. Now how are your colleagues going
on? Have written several times to Susan, often
some of the letters those already alluded to may not have arrived, but have
not had a note from her for some time. Dolly has
not written either but she sends the Independent &
Id be obliged if youd just say a word of thanks to her
on my behalf. Your cigarets came alright & were
very good. The grub is much better than we were used
to in S — But its not possible to get such thing as as fruit
or any kind of decent cake etc. There is a Canteen
- a dry one unhappily! where we may get some things
in addition to the allowances. I suppose you know
Eugene O'Keeffe is here - very well and in good form. Much love Michael