LETTER FROM HALL HOUSE, CLARE (19th April 1976)
This 5-page handwritten letter is from Patrick (signed jointly with Geoffrey) to their close friends—almost certainly Ed and Mel—in the USA. It reflects a deeply personal, domestic, and emotional correspondence written in a period of evident personal and work-related strain. Patrick writes from “Hall House, Clare,” which appears to be a shared home or vacation retreat, likely in Suffolk, England.
Key Themes and Emotional Undercurrents:
- Exhaustion and Work Pressure: Patrick is mentally and physically drained from work, struggling to find time to write or even think clearly in the evenings. This exhaustion underpins much of the letter’s tone.
- Anxiety about Hosting: He is worried about the logistics and emotional burden of hosting Ed, Mel, and particularly Stuart (a younger man travelling with them). There is a great deal of concern about catering, privacy, self-consciousness around meal preparation, and how Stuart might adapt to the older social group.
- Generational Dynamics: The presence of a younger companion (Stuart) prompts musings on age, generational gaps, and discomfort. They’ve even arranged for a younger local man (Keith) to help Stuart socialise more comfortably.
- Household Logistics: Practical concerns over accommodation, cooking duties, kitchen access, and shared routines dominate the letter, illustrating both care and fastidious worry.
- Underlying Affection: Despite the fretting, the letter is filled with warmth, deep affection, and the need for connection. Patrick clearly values the friendship immensely and is simply overwhelmed by practical concerns and the desire to make things perfect.
FULL TRANSCRIPTION
Hall House, Clare
Monday, 19th April 1976
Dearest lads,
With a heigh and a ho and a heigh nonny no! Nugent (and Pemberton) has spent the last two hours imbibing at Jean & Collie’s! Now I have to try & write a sensible letter to you both.
You have been on my conscience for so long that it was almost difficult to sit down and write at length. Quite frankly, it is quite impossible to write to anyone during the week. The pressure of work at the office—day in and day out, without any sort of break—leaves me shattered & exhausted at the end of the day. I come home, have dinner, & am fit for nothing for the rest of the evening. It is a problem without an answer, for the chances of obtaining a lucrative job round here are nil. The only good thing is that I enjoy my work, although I almost pray for a short respite. The pressure is unceasing.
Ye gods! I have before me three letters from you to answer—the first going back to the 18th February. Anyway, let’s start with the last one first, which contained the news that Stuart is joining you on your trip. You write as if we did not know him—but as I have met him on the two occasions that we were lucky enough to spend Christmas at 4824. Actually, wicked old Nugent thinks he is very attractive, but I’ll tie a knot in it, keep my hands to myself and behave in a perfectly decent English fashion—UNFORTUNATELY!
Dollie, we must remember that none of us (even Geoffrey!) are as young as we used to be and we feel that Stuart may find himself overwhelmed by the “older generation.” So, with this in mind, we have contacted a young friend of ours in Sudbury (Keith, aged 22) who is quite enthusiastic about showing Stuart the sights and places frequented by the younger generation. Keith, although gay, mixes a lot with the straight young set—so all will be well on that score. Incidentally, a useful point—he runs a car!
Sleeping arrangements will really be no great problem as we have a spare folding bed which Stuart should find quite comfortable during the time that Sophia is with us. (Obviously, he will occupy the small bedroom during the time he is at H.H. and Sophia is absent.)
Now to the one subject which is worrying me greatly over your visit—and that is the subject of catering. I think that by now we know each other well enough to speak our minds and yet not cause offence. To be honest, I am too shattered in the evening to come home & prepare a meal for four or more people and I have gone over this problem in my mind again and again during the past few weeks. The first weekend should not be too much of a problem as I shall be at home, including Monday the 31st May, which is not “Spring Holiday.” However, Sophie will be with us for the first week & I have a “gut feeling” that she will not be far from the kitchen!!! The real difficulty is the weekday evenings. Do you think we could (when you arrive) sort out some plan of action for those evenings? You will never know what a relief it was last year when I came home & found that Edwin had been concocting in the kitchen or when we went out for a meal. On the other hand, you will never know how I felt when I came home & was drinking one of your generous Martinis and was conscious of eyes upon me saying, “That’s for dinner!”
I hate having even to suggest that a certain amount of self-catering may be necessary, for it goes right against my idea of what a host should be—and going out to eat these days almost needs an expense account!! Moreover, I have a nasty feeling that it would end up with Edwin in the kitchen—and after all, it is supposed to be his holiday.
There now, I’ve said it all & feel better for having done so. I’ve worried myself sick over it. My only hope is that you will not take offence.
Methinks you are going to have a busy busy time while you are here. Geoff (and not I) is/are attempting to line up all people & things requested. We cannot yet promise the carpenter for the first week in June but every attempt is being made to pin him down. You will learn that Suffolk people cannot be hurried & there are times when this is particularly frustrating to “Cosmics” like ourselves. Only the other day one of my fellow commuters was telling me of her attempts to fix up for the builder to come in. She phones him regularly every Sunday morning. This she has been doing for weeks—but no firm date for the start of the work has been “fixed.” Re the Datsun. There is an agent in Sudbury (very useful for servicing) & we have called on him already. A visit by you both & G. is already planned.
Our other worry I have. Can we ensure that the four of us have plenty of time to get together & discuss so many, many things re your moving into & our moving out of Hall House. Unless we thrash everything out in advance I can foresee an awful lot of to-ing & fro-ing correspondence-wise—and it all takes so much longer by letter.
Now I must close. I could go on and on but much can be left until we meet. Incidentally, can you, when next writing, let us know exactly when you arrive? You write “May 27th (which is a Thursday).” Is that the day you leave Herndon, arriving on the morning of Friday the 28th? Wherever you are I shall try & meet you at Liverpool St. as last year.
Just two cheering bits of news to welcome you. Our train fares have gone up 90% since last year and—worse worse—our Budget the other week puts another 32p on a bottle of spirits. With those cheering items I will now sign off!!
All, but all, our love,
Patrick / Geoffrey
P.S. We were delighted to receive a letter from Betty. Do please thank her. ❤️