#35

Sept 11. 1944.

Dear Mother:

I am kept very busy here so perhaps I will have more time to write now—didn’t some wise man say the more things you had to do the more time you could find to do other things. Yesterday was an example of industry but not thank goodness quite representative of a normal day. On parade at the usual time of 0745 and then except for time out for meals I was up until 2:00 hrs. The last hour was link and I was really ropey—got an F instead of an A and a lot of caustic remarks from the instructor. I tried hard to redeem myself this morning. Flying is coming along fine and I have a bit of first pilot time, which compares to solo in a smaller plane, at last.

I have been getting quite a bit of exercise lately with my bicycle—have been over to my old squadron a couple of times and also into a small city near here.

We are looking forward to getting the extra hour next week—particularly my navigator who has to take numerous astro shots at night and it means he won’t have to stay up so late.

Glad to hear your picnic was a success. I can remember the place where you had lunch very well but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Crescent Beach properly—though I’ve stopped there in Peter’s launch.

The news gets better and better each day. Surely it will be over soon in Europe. Next time I get into London I don’t imagine the black-out will cause me much trouble.

What a pity your guests at the dinner party didn’t recognise the v. sign. If it had been done by lights I don’t suppose I would have caught on. We had an Aldous test the other day and I didn’t even hand my paper in. I didn’t get enough to realize it was being sent in plain language.

With love from
Tony

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]