As usual
9th November 1944
My darling Janie,
Another air letter to let you know that I’m quite OK. The weather is beginning to get colder and I now wear overalls first thing in the morning and then in the evenings one feels that a fire might be a good thing.
I went to dinner at Harry’s place last evening and also met another mutual acquaintance there who was with us “up the way”.
When we left at about 11.30 pm it was of course pitch black and the lights on my jeep packed in and so I had to trail along behind Stewart’s Jeep. When we got off the main road we went along side by side and so I used his headlights to get home. I should have been going to his place tonight but as your letter was already one day delayed I called it off.
This chap Stewart back in 1942 had to walk 250 miles from Miptkkina to Ledo when cut off by the Japs and it took about a month. That was during my first short spell at Dinapur. Harry has, as you know, been on holiday and with his usual luck met all sorts of mutual acquaintances including a certain Katherine I may have told you about who was very sweet on him and he on her for quite a time and I was encouraging it but it, or rather Harry, cooled off. What the meeting has done I don’t know but she was asking after me. I have been detailed to write to her. I think she has a soft spot for me because I was on her side, sort of thing.
Anyway, he brought me back, as ordered, a lovely present for you but as I have used up all my “duty free” labels for this year I can’t send it just yet. But you mustn’t be greedy as there are about three on the way at the moment.
Tom Moffatt had some more photos of his wife and son and they look at me from all angles of the room and I sometimes wonder after three years of pleading and promising I am still without anything I can put in a frame and show to other people. Normally you satisfy my merest whim and yet over this one thing that I should treasure so much I remain disappointed and I must admit hurt. Still, I suppose it won’t be long before I see you again and then I won’t need one so I won’t grumble any more. But I hope that one day I shall have an explanation. I expect you don’t realise what it means to me.
I had a letter from Janet Shrives yesterday. I expect you know I sent her a card. I also sent some tea. Say, I hope you have received the four or five cartons I have sent you from various places.
Tea picking
I still think constantly of those first hours and days together when things will seem too good to be true and almost too sweet to bear, when you take me to the place of our honeymoon and we are together and alone for the first time.
All my love is yours and Anthony’s. God bless you darling and bring me back to you.
Your,
Johnnie xxxxx
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