Letters From Home

Dear Michael - 19th June 1969

Just a few lines for your birthday. Hope you have a nice one! Your father sent the £1.0.0. I will be getting you a present for when you come home, which should not be very long, will it? perhaps you can write back and give me some idea what you want, sweater? firt? record? anyway let me know. Things are about the same here, nothing changes. Am looking forward to seeing you again, it's so long since you were last home, or so it seems! Expect you could do with the change of scenery. Hope your hair is not waist length, else they will never have you ate Ilfords. Iris is thinking of getting married again, guess who too, Nod! There's a laugh! Uncle Nod, hows that. Write and say when you will be home. Look after yourself. Love Mum xxx

Dear Michael - 5th March 1969

Sorry have been so long in writing, the others are going to make an effort tonight so you will get all your mail at once. Started a new job at Carreras this morning, not bad the money is alright. Have just sent away to have the phone enstalled at our house that will be nice won't it? Shall have to have a little box so you can put your threepence in. You can phone all your friends up then in peace! It should take about three weeeks to come. Hope you are quite well and enjoying life. Did you get those letters from Ilfords etc, that your father sent on?? It is lovely weather here today , hope you are getting the same up there. It will soon be around to the holidays again, but you are going to the Lake District for Whitsun aren't you? Your father is off this week and next on holiday handy for doing my housework! By for now, keep out of mischief, don't go squatting. Love Mum xx

Dear Michael - November 1969

Many thanks for your letter, book and P.O. recieved safely. I wasn't expecting you to send me the money for the watch repairs, the cost wasn't mentioned for that reason with a £58 gas bill you had certainly better forget me at Christmas, the 25/- will do fine. I went out and bought a bottle of Martini with it to help dilute some gin at Christmas as the usual slurping will be done I'm sure. The girls keep pestering me with regards what I am getting them for presents ( usual Leigh routine ) I haven't told them but I have bought a new record player, auto type joint present for them, you will be giving it a go too knowing you. Please don't say anything about this in any future letters home, believe it or not it's still a secret. Yes Mike my fishing is over until next June, where I go you only catch Summer fish, carp etc. It's too b**** cold now and I'm not that keen not having a car to travel further field to river fish, Chelmer or the Medway in Kent. I'm pleased with the book, it covers most things about the sport and was thoughtful of you. Mum bought a light fitting for the porch last week and I have rigged it up, it sure lights up the front of the house and is very good these dark night, you know how black it is at the end of the path. Pleased to know you have a client for your painting. It's a pity it wasn't £100 as I'm sure you'd know what to do with it. Does that old tape recorder still exist? I haven't heard you mention it at all; if it does I was wondering if it was worth doing up as John is pestering for one and I can't afford a new one at the present time. He'll have to wait until next year I'm afraid as they cost too much, if you still have it and it's not required perhaps the chap with the car could transport it on the Christmas trip home. John is still Man. Utd. nuts, is very pleased they bucked their ideas up. He went and saw West Ham last Sat and was impressed with the game, he earns a few bob now doing an early morning paper round but is usually spent out by Monday. Mum and the girsl are well and looking forward to seeing you soon. Dee is a dab hand with the paint brush now , it's mostly on the eyes though; she's leaving school next Easter now she says, I guess it's the money she wants for clothes etc. as Barbara can get spending when she requires something new. My income tax will get a jump next year now but I have got away with it for a few years; how about you? What are your plans for 1970 or haven't you any idea until you know the result of this course. Will close now Mike, I hope I haven't bored you too much. Excuse the paper, writing this at work ( Night shift ). Love from all. Dad.

Dear Michael - 13th March 1969

Thanks a lot for your very welcome letter. So sorry you have been "under the weather" do hope you are feeling a lot better. You should be having your easter holidays soon, are you coming home and if so when? The weather is pretty lousy here at the moment but we have had a few very lovely days. A sample of things to come I hope by next month. Your father has painted the ( no not the parlour ) kitchen, and I have nice colourful wallpaper up now, "tangerine" it looks very nice. Have just told Bugs you will be home for Easter, and she is sitting here with her head on one side, and Seepy is kicking on the rug showing her bellies off. Glad to here you have got rid of your unwelcome lodger. He sounded a bit unsavoury to me. Went to the Century cinema last week ( yes I did ) and saw a most unsavoury film with Frank Sinatra, that is, F. Sinatra was in the film. I went with Dee but wish I hadn't taken her, there were some awfully funny people in this film, they don't seem to make a nice decent film like they used to do. Expect you will be glad to be home for a while and have a little trip down Southend with your chums. Hope to see you soon in the meantime keep writing. Lots of love, Mum and the rest of the Leighs x