January 16^th 1961

Monday

Darling Alan,

I have been in such a marvellous mood all day, it hasn’t seemed like a Monday.  I got your letter this morning.  It was so nice. I think I could have cried if I hadn’t been on the train.

The weekend has been so boring yet when I look back on it, it hasn’t been any different from the weekends before I knew you.  It doesn’t seem possible that there was ever a time before I knew you.

All today I have been thinking, ‘this time last week’ and it hasn’t made me feel at all depressed.  I think I have just come out of the trance you left me in last Monday evening and I’m beginning to realise what has happened to me.  You must know what I mean and how wonderful I feel.  After the few times we have seen each other it is incredible how much alike we think.

My dad made me feel so happy this evening.  We were talking about a girl I work with who got engaged at Christmas.  Although her parents have offered to pay for a big wedding with all the trimmings, her fiancé demands a quiet wedding.  Dad just casually mentioned that he hoped Alan wanted a quiet wedding if he has got to pay for it!!  And, you know, I really believe he was serious.  I don’t know what’s happened to everyone.  They are all jumping to conclusions even though they might be the right ones.  I’m sure I don’t look or act any differently.  But my parents really like you Alan dear.  I couldn’t be more pleased.

D’you think we could change 10.30 to something in the evenings?  Because both Saturday and Sunday I was asleep and I missed your ‘visit’.  Don’t think I am lazy, it’s just that I am.

When you get home I really must take you to meet my cousin.  His name is Terry and he has now reached the grand old age of 6.  He has the cutest face you can imagine and has loads of black curly hair and his vocabulary is incredible, Lady C – nothing!  My aunt brought him over Saturday afternoon and he amused himself by eating peanuts and leaving a trail of shells all around the house.  He is just a plain nuisance at the best of times.  I found the only way to keep him quiet is to let him play records.  Saturday I was sitting with him in the front room (are you jealous) and showing him how to work the knobs and he was as good as gold.  He was even carrying on an intelligent conversation.  About trains, I admit, but he certainly knows more about them than I do.

I show everyone that comes here the housecoat you gave me.  My aunt’s eyes nearly popped out of my head when she saw it.

Tues 17^th

          I was writing this in bed last night but dad woke up and told me to turn the light off.  I don’t know why.  It was only 12.45.  It’s a nuisance cos they can see the reflection of my light in their dressing table mirror.

It is Tuesday lunch hour now and I am having an awful job trying to balance the pad on my knees and make polite conversation at the same time. Our little crowd always go to the locker room in the lunch hour as we think it gets too crowded in the coffee lounge.  In the locker room there is a wide ledge and we always sit on that.  You can guess the usual remark is – we are on the shelf now!

Something else made me happy yesterday. I’ve been started on a new branch of the Bank’s work.  After we’ve been here a certain time we all go on to this but now I’m beginning to feel my age and I can look down on the new girls.

I skipped shorthand classes again last night.  It was so cold out and I hadn’t done my homework anyway, so I just stayed in and drooled over Robert Horton on Wagon Train.

I am trying to decide whether or not to drop evening classes for good now.  It’s a waste of time finishing the year out if I’m not going next year anyway.  What do you think I should do?

I want to knit you a sweater for when you come out of the RAF.  I know it is a bit early to think about it but what colour do you want and what sort of style and what size are you?

I haven’t got time to write anymore and I’ve still got loads to tell you but I wanted to post this tonight, just to let you know I’m still here and still thinking of you.

I can’t think of an original ending. Just take it as said.

I love you,

Maureen

Letters from Maureen Week 2: 16th - 21st January 1961