8.6.18

My dear dad,

How are you? I hope you are feeling stronger & better in yourself.  I wish the dickens I could get home for a bit & drag you away somewhere where we could potter round some links a few holes a day.  When I do come home you & Edie Win & I are going away to some quiet spot like Borth for a bit, or anywhere where you and I can play a round in the morning or cool of the evening, & the girls can bathe.

I return the warrants signed. The dividend on the Exchequer Bonds has been paid into Cox & Co.

I believe mother has the dividend warrant for the £150 I brought through Selfridges. She mentioned it in one of her letters to me while the rush was on in April & I hadn’t time to think about         it then.  I have since written about it to her but had no reply as yet.

I am glad you liked the chit from the Chief Engineer. I was rather pleased about it myself but it is a silly characteristic of the Englishman to assume indifference.  The original is in the office here & when I leave the school I shall ask them for it.

Thought it was so nice because it is very rarely one gets thanks nowadays & the little that comes one’s way is quite gratifying. I expect you find it the same when grateful coal kings write & tell you they are thankful to you that things are going well & smoothly: I am not getting leave just at present but could do with a bit.  I am looking forward to many a long talk with you.

By the way dad tell them at B’pool to keep a tight hand on that letter as there are various details on it that are confidential & I shouldn’t like them to get about.

The first week of the course is over. They are an extraordinarily good lot of fellows on it.  Their spirit is wonderful.  They are cheerful & confident & a good example to anyone who may be inclined to be a doubting Thomas.

Col. Murray is home.  He is downright ill.  He was given a month’s leave but has written since he was home & says the doctors say it will be 4 months before he is well.  I am awfully sorry as it looks as though we shall lose him, & a decent fellow & a man at the top makes all the difference to a show like this.  I am not very taken with the man who I believe is coming.

I must dry up. I do hope you are better dad.  Where are you thinking of going to?

What is this farm idea?

With very best love to you both

Your loving son

Geoff.