30 Cdn Air Survey Liaison Sec, RCE

Cdn Army England.

4 Feb 45.

Dear Jean:

Your letter written last Sunday arrived yesterday noon. That is a record for winter mail. Lieut Rechard is quite jealous of us, says he never gets his wifes letters from Wyoming in less than 5 or 6 weeks. In some ways, I guess a small army is more efficient than a large one, and it looks as tho the Cdn Army post is one of our good features. This same principle is what appeals to me in working for the province of BC rather than for the Ottawa colossus.

Would have answered it last night, but no mail goes out thru army channels till tomorrow anyway, and it so happened that Bill & I suddenly got a chance to drive down to Bert Haywards, and just got back tonight. It was a very pleasant visit, we liquidated another oak tree today, one weve had our eye on for some time, a very ugly one, which threatened his power and telephone lines into the house. As usual, I climbed up to the top, and cut all the branches, first, even then it missed the power lines by an inch or two. Mrs H was very pleased, as the tree was an eye sore in her front lawn, as well as the view from their large kitchen window. I noticed she was wearing the dress of your green material today, and it becomes her very much. Gave Bert several prints of Franks sketch of the Mill Bay place, and copies of Noakes letter, and the first part of Frank's. Told him that when I get home, we will have a good look at the place, and if he hasent sold it by then, we can decide if it might be divided to suit us, or what. If Bill gets home for leave, he may be able to get a car, and is interested in going up there, Maybe he will be able to take you and Mary along, if it is a nice day.

Our cold snap has broken, and the weather has been mild again. Today was lovely, sunny and warm, after a heavy rain in the night. I even stripped to the waste sawing the tree before lunch. Was in London Tuesday, on important business, and it had snowed about 6 inches, then turned to slush, what a mess, busses showering all the pedestrians with horrible muck, at every street intersection, people crowding at the curb trying to figure how to cross without stepping into goo over their boot tops. However, warm rains since have cleaned up every spook of snow. I had a special session with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Brigadier M. and it was not too bad, at least I have taken the opportunity to make definite recommendations, and now its up to them to act. Hate taking time out from my work here to attend to the political side, but it is necessary once in a while. It will be interesting to see what happens now. Told the Brig that if I couldn't get what I want, I'd better get out of the army, and he was not offended, in fact he agreed. He said that a specialist like I should not be kept standing by waiting for a decision indefinitely, when I could be doing valuable work in my prewar job. Last time I had a session with him, about 5 weeks ago, he got me what I asked for. I have a feeling that the German war is practically finished, and I'd like to get my future straightened out before the avalanche of returning Cdn troops engulfs the administrative people here.

Thursday evening, Bill & I went over to Morris's, I took Frank a sketch of Haywards place, and let Mrs M read part of your letter, She was very amusing, and said almost vindictively that I didn't deserve to have such a wonderful girl as you for a wife. My you certainly have won a friend in Mrs M. and its is her one big hope that she will see you and Mary before she has to go. She even was talking of how she could stand the trip out there to see us after the war. When we all leave, she is going to miss us very much. If I were detained here for any considerable time after Germany collapses, I'd love to have you and Mary come over, but it would have to be certain that they wouldn't whisk me off to Burma or Honolulu just as you were on your way. I would love you and Mary to see this country, and to visit the Morris's and the Haywards etc, but I'm very fed up with it myself. If I went East, perhaps you and Mary could come along anyway, and wait here for me. You would get a great deal of pleasure out of it.

It is so hard to make any definite plans now, I guess even Jo Franklin and Winston are having the same trouble.

The tobacco seems to be coming along OK. I noticed in the last parcel containing tobac, they put only 1 ½ lbs in instead of the usual 2 lbs. I still have about 2 lbs, which is a nice reserve, especially in the event of being suddenly sent off on a long trip. Paddle to the Sea did arrive, and I think Anita has already written Mary a letter. It was a lovely book. I brought back a box of some civie clothes I had left at Haywards, including my tux. May send most of that stuff home, but better not give it to the Red Cross, as I will never buy another tux if I lose this one. Mary should get lots of singing from her Pop, when he gets home he will not be able to stop singing for joy.

LOVE to you both......................GER