Dear Mike - 12th December 1969

Hope you are well and I'm very sorry I haven't written to you for such a long time. It soon will be Christmas now won't it. When are you coming home. Do you watch Curry and Chips with Spike Milligan. I think it's one of the funniest programmes on at the moment. How's that little dog you've got above you, is it a bitch. I'm still courting, are you? John gave me an LP he had by Ramsey Lewis , it's piano Modern Jazz I think. We found your old cartoon book last night with teeth man and Frankystein in, we were in fits of laughter. John thinks you are very talented , how about that then! I'm going to a 21st birthday party tomorrow night, one of John's friends., who he went to school with. Mum says sorry she hasn't written but she has been working a lot lately and hasn't had much time to herself. I still haven't got your Xmas present or would you like some money? I never know what to buy you. Well Mike must go now. Soon you very soon. Take care Love Barb xxxxx

Dear Mike - 26th February 1974

Received your very amusing letter this morning, glad to hear you are well. I'm looking forward to packing up work this weekend, although we can't really afford it, but you know what the stupid social security are like. I won't get my grant otherwise. I shall be a lady of leisure for a while now. Hope your weather has improved, sounds much like ours. A bit chilly round the old knee caps again today. It's funny, but I've gone right off lentil soup, can't say why. I think it was the bit about setting into a hard lump. Ugh! I'm feeling a bit cheesed off at the moment, John is working away this week and won't be home 'til Friday. So I'm on my lonesome. Seen any castles in the distance lately? It sounds like you've more furniture than I have, with all that wood. You could build yourself a nice log cabin, ha! I'm popping over to see Dad tomorrow and Mum usually comes over Wednesdays. So will probably see your letter to her ( if she's got it ) We all swap and have extra laughs ( no I'm not being funny ) it's just that you write such funny letters. Oh dear! I'm getting in deeper. We've got general election day on Thursday. Everyone is being all secretive about who their vote is going to. Personally I think it's a load of old rhubarb, I'm not sure I will vote atall. John is against all of them, so that's two votes they won't get. No news about the house yet. I'm getting rather disheartened, they say it will be a certain time before any of them are finished, then when the time draws nearer, not a word is said. So you don't know where you are. Still never mind, we're certain of one before Christmas, that's something to look forward too! ha! Dee & Steve came round last night to keep me company, on their bikes, it was quite funny seeing Dee arrive puffed out ( you'd have thought she'd come 10 miles the fuss she made, it took her about two hours to get over it, ha!) and then Steve arrived. I bet the neighbours had a good gossip, things like "her at number 26 had some fella in last night and her husband ony went away this morning" ( typical window watchers round 'ere dear ha! ha! ) You get a good laugh anyway. Well , that's all for now. Hope to hear from you soon. Take care and keep well. Barb & John + lump xxxxx

Dear Mike - 1st February 1974

So sorry I haven't written sooner, but I've been so busy, when I get home from work, washing etc. I couldn't seem to find the time to do anything else ( poor old sole ) ha! Anyway after all that moaning, it was lovely to hear from you, do hope this letter finds you well and happy. The weather here has started to get a little better just lately even the sun came out for about three hours yesterday.Glad you liked the book. I thought it was rather hilarious myself, I like the descriptions of Bluebottle, Eccles etc. it made me laugh so much, there were tears in my eyes. You talking about Candid Camera, one of the first films was this fella knocking at a front door somewhere in the east end and asking the man who lived there if he could look after his goat he had with him, then pass it on to the next door neighbour and so on. Because the milkman wasn't going to call any more, well the man was dumbfounded, he was so really taken in by this fella. He even told the man he could have a cow, if he didn't like goats milk. I wish you could have seen it Mike, what a laugh! I'm getting quite maternal as you put it, hee. 36" round the waist , you wouldn't believe it if you saw me. I leave work in four weeks time, that's quite a relief I'm beginning to feel very tired in the mornings now. We're hoping for a house to come through soon, so by the time you come home, if you do that is, we will be in a place of our own. I'm getting quite excited. What will you do if you come back here? I mean will you go back to Brentwood. I read your letter to Mum & Dad. I had a laugh about the the postman weeing up the wall, does he do it every day? You'd better watch he doesn't hit you as the door opens ha! Does Dee or John write to you at all knowing they are both to envolved with records and clothes I don't suppose they can afford a stamp. Sorry you've not had any photos. I'm still having some done, so don't worry I've not forgotten you. That's all for now. Lots of love and take care of yourself. Your sprouting sister, Barb xxxxx

Dear Mike - 1st December 1973

Thanks for long funny letters. I hope you are well and happy. I've just popped into see Dad, as John is playing rugby at Chelmsford and it's a bit too parky for me. I hear Dad told you about our baby ( Uncle Mike ). It is due May 12th so perhaps you will be home by then. We are eagerly awaiting a house of our own, but there is such a long waiting list. I doubt if it will be much before the baby is born. I hope not though! I saw a Goons book in Smtihs that one with the scripts in of their television programme. I'm going to get it and send it to you for Christmas but wanted to find out if you had it already. Let me know next time you write. We are having a lovely crisp sunny day today, from indoors it looks like Summer, but once you get outside you soon find it's far from warm around the kneecaps. Have you made anything while you've been over there - do you have a television? It's a shame you haven't heard from the tax office. I know how you feel, I've been waiting for a rebate for over a month from Basildon, you have to keep on at them or you don't get anywhere. I hope you hear soon. I'll write again before Christmas, just in case the post is held up. Not much news to tell you this time. John says hello and hopes you are keeping well. Take care Love Barb & John xxxxx

Dear Mike - 21st December 1973

Thanks for the lovely letter. I'm a bit worried you didn't mention about the book I sent you in a large brown envelope, perhaps it crossed with your other letter, I would hate to think you had no pressy's to open Xmas morning. Dad has received a letter from the tax office, with a cheque for fity eight pounds odd pence, I am writing to ask if you want me to cash it for you and send money order or what. I don't know what the system is out there, or whether you want it left until you come home. If you let me know I will do it for you with pleasure. I'm very pleased you got such a lot back. I received one not so long ago because of my marriage so I can feel excitement for you, ha! I hope you are having a lovely Christmas over there. It seems strange not seeing you for so long. I will send photo very soon in my next letter, so don't worry. It hasn't snowed for a couple of weeks here, but has got milder, for some unknown reason, calm before the storm no doubt. Have you been hearing about all our strikes, here it's terrible trains, miners, coal men, electric , you are in the right place at the moment I can tell you. Anyway, wish you a lovely New year, take care and see you soon. Lots of love Barb xxxxx

Dear Mike - 14th February 1974

Thanks for your very funny letter and pictures of ante-natal exercises. It's a good job I've got a sense of humour. We've had a lot of rain lately as well, and yet today was really like a Summer's day. I hope your rain has stopped now, I wouldn't fancy your shutters flapping all night long, it sounds like something out of a horror film. Talking of films, I bet it was annoying watching that Sean Connery film in French. It's a good job you had seen it ha! Nothing really exciting happened here, the general election is well under way. Everyone's moaning about the three day week, yet they still go out the same and spend all their money on drink. John and I still haven't heard anything about a house, still we've got nearly three months before the baby's born. ( By the way I'm half the size of a house!) It was Valentines Day here Thursday, needless to say I didn't get any ho ho! Do you still hear from Linda who was on that boat, or is she still floating up and down the North Sea? I've got this craving for kippers at the moment, most perculier. John and I had to get up the other night at 2 o'clock in morning, we had this yearning for a toasted bacon sandwich and it nearly drove us both mad till we jumped out of bed and started frying ha! It was something like a fast movie. Anyway, hope to hear from you soon. Take care. Lots of love. Barb xxxxx

Dear Mike - 28th July 1969

Dear Mike - 27th October 1969

Sorry I haven't written for so long. Still I'll make up for it by a long letter. I hope you've been keeping well, have you got your wow! of a parcel from the well-wisher yet ( Mum I mean ). The living room looks nice now, I told you about it. I'm still courting, he's a footall fanatic so I have to go and watch him Sunday morning, I have a good laugh, there's quite a few comedians in his team.What have you done lately, anything exciting? It will soon be bonfire night, are you having a party or anything? I bought Jose Feliciano's new record on Sat called "And The Sun Will Shine" it's a Bee Gees old song have you heard it? Only about 8 weeks till Xmas isn't it. I bet you can't wait to have a holiday, it must be boring at times up there, even thought it is quite a large place. I'm just watching Johnnie Cash "My Name Is Sue" fame on "Andy Williams Show". What would you like for Christmas this year or would you like the money? I never know what to buy you. Iris has got a nice bungalow now over between Hadleigh and Leigh. I think it is. The phone gets quite a bashing , it's a pity your not on the phone up there, we could phone you up sometimes, never mind well I think that's about all the news I have for you. take care of yourself. Love Barb xxxxx

Dear Mike - 12th March 1968

Haven't heard from you for a long time hope you are well. It'll soon be Easter, I bet you can't wait. I keep looking up because I'm watching Spike Milligan's show "The Beachcomber" do you watch it, he's showing how to make pancakes, I'm in fits of laughter. Work is rather boring. I'm having my hair done Saturday afternoon because I'm going to a dance on Sunday night, St. Patrick's night ( up the Irish ). How's your work getting on? by the way did the police ever find your burgalar? I love the record "Rosy" by Don Partridge. I hope you have taped it. I think it's my favourite song of the year, he's what you call a musician, have you heard the Beatles new record "Lady Madonna" ? I had to hear it about five times before I liked it even a little bit. Mandy just said hello. Did I tell you I bought "Darlin' " by the Beach Boys? I can't remember . Not much to tell really, thing's very dreary down here, it poured with rain last night and snowed last weekend, so the weather hasn't been much help. How did you like my tennis dress, you did get my last letter didn't you? Mum's just told me to tell you that Dad's wrote to Ilford's and he wrote a stamped addressed envelope so we should get a reply tomorrow. Here's a little bit of news for you. Mum sends her love. Well that's all for now. Love, Barb.