1 3rdLondon General Hospital. Friday. Jan 8th Dearest Mamma I wonder how everybody at home is,
I hope the Christmas chills are all over.
I just got a wire from Terry as I
came on duty to night saying that he
had arrived and asking me to lunch
with him. It had been sent off in
the morning but as I was a in bed in
my billets all day, I never got it
till too late to get at him in any
way, but perhaps I may be able
to see him on his way back if I
hear in time. Unfortunately
had just had my night off the 2 day before. I went to St. Sidwell's
and had a nice visit there. The
two elder sisters were there for
Christmas with their husbands, two
greek brothers called Constandouros
who were not very attractive. One
of them had two dear little boys,
very good looking, and the other a
young baby, still in arms, with a
great thatch of brown hair. A young
doctor came to see baby while I
was there and I discovered afterwards
he was Peggy Beagley's husband and
that the Tellings had been at the
Beagley wedding and had met Hilda
Finlay. Winnie was in town when I arrived,
and had booked seats for a matinee
at the Haymarket. After lunch,
I motored up with Mrs Constandouros,
met Winnie, and saw Henry
Ainlee in "Who is the?"The plot is
based on Mrs Bellue Loundes grue-
some "Lodger", if you remember it,
but is really quite different as the
play is a comedy and really
most amusing in parts.The lodging
house keeper was simply perfect,
and Henry Ainlee most amusing as
the lodger. Marjorie wouldn't
come as she had broken her arm
out riding and was afraid of 3 getting it knocked as she can't use
it at all yet. We called at
a war work depot where Mrs
Tilling was working and I found
Peggy Beazley (as was) there, who was
most surprised to see me. I imagine
the Tillings must have made their
money pretty lately, everything in the
house is so modern and new. The
big hall is very pretty with a
huge fireplace and comfortable
sofas and chairs all round. Emma's parcel for me arrived safely
to-day, what a quaint Eastern
little bell, it is really very
pretty. I have just been looking at 4 French's despatch, it is desperate reading,
What an utter waste the whole thing
seems to have been. The men seem
to have been extraordinarily brave. Most
of the ones in this ward seem to
have come from Anzac, very often
after they arrive here, they keep
starting up and calling out in
there sleep. There is a chance I may get on day
duty again next saturday, if not
I shall have another fortnight to
do. I went to St. John's Gate the other
morning to get my shoulder tilles,
such a quaint old place in 5 in a most unrespected part, with old
towers and winding stone stairs. I
wandered about and peeped into a
good many of the rooms. It is
built over both sides of the street
with an old connecting archway.
I didn't see Mrs Oliver as she
hadn't arrived yet, but one of
the ladies helping looked up my
name. We each have a separate
file apparently with an account
kept of our doings.I saw Emma's
there too. I must order my new caps, they
are like large white handkerchiefs
tied tightly round the head with the
tails hanging down behind. Only
the pretty girls look nice in them,
as all the hair is covered up,
and the ones with ugly features look
very plain. Please thank the others for all
their nice letters. Lots of love to you
from Celia I wore my new blouse at the Tillings,
it fits beautifully and looked
awfully nice.