19th December 1918: Adela is exhausted after her late night and wonders if it was all worth it – despite the fun. She decides not to indulge in a new evening dress until Edgar is due home. To make the seasonal crowds worse, Field Marshal Haig is due in London today. The Grove is gradually filling up for Christmas: “Tank [Dom Ambrose] is coming home with the [Denaro] Twins tonight, so I’m going over to see him… I saw Alfred this morning as cheery as ever. Dolly & Arthur come home on Saturday. What millions of people there will be won’t there?”
Commission Internationale De Ravitaillement
India House,
Kingsway WC2
Thursday, 19th December 1918
… I’m so tired I can hardly move & I’ve got gout!!! I think it’s the thought of Xmas!!
Do you really want a pillow darling? because I can get them quite well for you, shall I send you one? I know you’re dull dear, I am to. It’s horrible living in the hopes of coming home isn’t it? I hear they are having a great party at Broadgate this Xmas. I feel as if I’d like to run down & give them all a kiss. Do you know that feeling?
I had a sweet letter from Woo today and a sweet cloth in Irish linen. She sent her love & best wishes to “Darling” Edgar – of course if it wasn’t Woo !!!! She says they’ve had some lovely parties [?] & Winifrede & Aubrey & a lot of others. I do miss you darling. It’s terrible seeing everybody happy together & then thinking of you out there away from us all…
Tank [Tancred] is coming home with the Twins tonight, so I’m going over to see him.
I was going to buy a new evening dress, but am not going to now until you come home, then I shall enjoy getting it more. The play was awfully good last night & very funny & [we] had a great lunch at the Savoy with Daddy. He’s going to take us to a dance at Grafton Galleries. Of course if you saw him dance!!! Talk about a cat on hot bricks!!
… Oh! It is so cold today. I’m trying to get some Bovril out of one of the Messengers. There’s an awful lot of work going round. I suppose it’s because its near Xmas & they want to clear up a bit. We didn’t leave last night until seven.
I saw Alfred this morning as cheery as ever. Dolly & Arthur come home on Saturday. What millions of people there will be won’t there?
… I don’t suppose we will be able to move outside as [Field Marshal] Haig arrives at Charing Cross and you know what the crowd will be like. Last night it was terrible coming home. I thought we should never arrive or be killed in the crush. It’s hardly worth going out at night really is it? I’m so tired the next morning. You hate getting up early don’t you?
I’m going out to lunch now or try and get some! I wonder what you are doing? I’ll finish this when I come back…
