Postmarked YORK 10-AM 13 NOV 1939
addressed to Lieut. R. Helme, A Coy, 1/6 D.W.R., Church House, Norton, Malton, Yorks
The Yorkshire Institute of Agriculture, Askham Bryan, Nr. York
Sunday.
My dearest Ronald,
Your letter of yesterday was very sweet, and cheered me no end. I’m so glad you are missing me because I am hopelessly lost without you; and I just know I’ll never be really happy till I have you all to myself. Oh for the funny old couch in the Club – just the two of us.
I have just returned from the Church at Askham Bryan. Four of us went. It is a quaint fascinating little church; but the minister was completely hopeless. His sermon was anyway. I could have preached a better one myself – honestly (with an ‘h’) He just kept erring and eming – and there was no point about anything he said. Senile decay I suppose; but I can’t think that he was ever a good preacher.
We spoke to his wife after, and she seems a good deal younger than he is. She was asking us if we liked being here, and told us she was in the Land Army during the last war.
I certainly don’t fancy being bunked off on any old farm miles from anywhere. In fact, I simply wont do it. I want to be on a dairy far or a poultry farm as near home as poss. I refuse to dig and lift and mess myself up, as I consider myself more useful as a woman than as a working apparatus. Bisides, I am still thinking of Donald and Michael.
I am feeling very mouldy today, and longing for a sight of you. To think that last Sunday I was with you – or waiting for you, anyway.
Do you know, I am going to come to Malton for lunch next Sunday – or maybe Saturday. I’m going to the Talbot, and if you are not there, I shall just have it by myself. But I am coming anyway. So you can write with speed and tell me which is the better day for you. But I warn you, I shall come. I refuse to be within an hour’s bus ride from you – and stick here rusting into a mouldy maturity.
Elizabeth Marshall sent me a p.c. yesterday to say she couldn’t meet me yesterday, as she was on some special job, and only had an hour off. So my weekend was completely smashed, and I stayed and did my dairy duty. I also did the other half of my Sunday duty this morning before breakfast – so that leaves me all next weekend free. Then the Saturday after that I’m going home, and with a great deal of luck, you will take me. But I suppose that’s too good to be true.
My pen is running out – so I’ll pop next door for some ink.
Now where was I? Oh yes, I love you – and I realize it more and more as the days go on. Wooly Pully (your gansey) is behaving very well, and has the amazing habit of putting his arm round my waist – just as if you were inside him. This is quite true. Often I waken up to find an arm entwined about me, and it always makes me smile.
We are having a concert here some time near the end of the month, but I am not taking part in it, being of a shy and retiring nature – and having no great talent for such things. Those who possessed (or I should say thought they possessed) any talent were to tell the committee. Of course, the dear panto star is to dance, and her vile, sickening, painful friend, who has neither brain, talent, beauty, charm, or even common decency – and whom no one can stand, appart from Panto – has had the brass neck to say she can sing! And you should hear her! A completely hideous noise – and she honestly thinks she has a good voice, and sings in cowshed, dairy and bathroom. Boy, what a din. May we be preserved from such a catastrophe!
A few of us went to the road house near here last night after supper, just for a change of air. It is a lovely place. Well, it’s very nice, anyway. It’s called Buckler’s Inn and is new. We had coffee. We are going again tonight – chiefly because we want to see Joan Wenyan’s(*) boyfriend who is a pilot in the R.A.F. and is stationed at Dishforth just now.
Today is going to seem very long. I only hope next week – rather, this week, doesn’t drag.
I am going to see you next weekend, and no one can stop me – unless you’ve moved from Malton, and you wont have done. Because I just know I’m going to see you – even if it’s for half an hour.
All my love, and kisses, cuddles, and caresses, Yours, Kay