1 D2109/10/1/A 15th Gen. Hosp. Alexandria Jan 9 —/16. My dearest Aunties I have time to in this whilst waiting for the
ambulance to take us on duty. Firstly thank you all very
much for the Xmas present which Mamma says she is sending
from you. Our last mail was less and we are anxiously
awaiting the next, it seems such an age since we got letters,
and you never quite get the news you have lost either.
One of your mails home was lost too, but as I don't know
which it is useless to try & repeat any news there was. It has been bitterly cold here with rain & storms, and
when it does rain here it does it thoroughly. The amusing
part is how injured we all feel about it, we grumble &
from as if we came from a county where there was no rain.
I have been in the sick room for 5 days but do not want any
sympathy wasted on me as after the first day I did not
really feel at all ill and rather enjoyed the rest. Jan 14. This letter is going to be a bit scrappy I am afraid.
The weather is still horrid and I have had an awful
fall like a pumkin, I suppose I caught cold in it as I had
not had , it made me fell rather bad, but and I thought
I would have to go off duty again, however it finished up by hurting
inside & now I feel quite flourishing over here. We are very
at the hospital here at present and I have not got nearly 2 2 enough to do which is very tiresome for of course they never would
dream of giving you extra time off and there we stand, or sit
if we have any luck, doing nothing when we might be out enjoying
ourselves, I must say I grudge it so I have never had a whole
day off since I came out except when I was in the sick room,
if they were busy I would not expect one. One of my patients
has got a beautiful bedouin knife that he got off a camel
they had shot down, the head is all damascene work, and
the handle made of the horn of goat, and it has a wonderful
bead scarbard, I cover it very much. One of them has
a Gurka's knife, an awful looking instrument, which if
they once draw they won't sheathe till it has tasted blood. I am going for a drive with Molly Carson this after—
noon, if it isn't raining, but the weather is still very shaky.
I had a letter from Terry who got the cigarettes I sent him
and my letter on Xmas day, which was good luck, for I
did not know how long it would take to reach him. I have no news for you. I wish I could drop in and see
you all. Please give my love to cousin Minnie and say
how glad I was to hear she was better. Best love to you all and best wishes for 1916 from your ever loving niece Emma