From Patrick and Geoffrey, 7 December, 1969
Dear dear boys,
I am just about sick to death with the English postal system. Apart from the fact flat slowness in delivery lost me nearly $135 the other week (gee, that hurt!) It looks as if Geoffrey and I will be getting a reputation for rudeness. Firstly, boiler and Tony did not get our letter penned to them upon our return and now I understand from Lionel that you are wondering what has happened to my pen! You may recall that you, Mel, lent me a notice regarding your exhibition and I if there and then (in office time!) Wrote you a letter to wish you well, to give you a news as it was, and to enquire about Rae. Moreover, I also included a wee letter for Rae. In view of your remarks to Lionel I can only assume you have not received it. I am furious, particularly as I can honestly say that not a day passes without Geoffrey or me saying something about you all. We are just so homesick. It may sound silly but is the truth. You people have made us such lovers of America –and made us so unsettled over here. No one and no other country has had this effect upon me before.
I just arrived having Sophie with us and I think she enjoyed having the run of the apartment. The only brother about her being here was it made us more unsettled over being so far away from DC!! We were sorry we miss you when we called you but it was good to hear Rae’s voice again.
When you to write please let me know how she is progressing. If for recovery is a slow one I can well imagine that she must find it very very irksome. I am enclosing a letter which pleased passed over to her.
Did you manage your trip to Ted’s or has that had to be postponed? Geoffrey and I thoroughly took to him and we were only sorry that we had not known of his visiting dates in advance and we would have spent more time with him.
Talking of trips, what planners are you considering for the coming summer and can London be included? You know we are desperately anxious to have you come and stay with us –so let me know what the position is. It would be great to see you both here (and you must know that you need only your fare over) but I realise you may not be able to work out plans at the present. We have expressed the hope that Paul and Tony would come over. See if you cannot persuade them.
Christmas is getting horribly near – and all we want to do is to come to Washington!! Unfortunately, I do not think my bank manager would welcome the idea! All you people have made us so unsettled in this country. Christmas day itself we are going down to Guilford and taking Geoffrey’s mother out to lunch. A prospect which does not fill me with enthusiasm. Then on Boxing Day (26th) Lionel is coming over to our place together with maybe one or two others. It sounds like a very quiet time in comparison with the festivities Sophie tells us you have and Christmas. Please note, you have been warned –we want to spend Christmas 1970 in DC!! Even if you have not (?) to put up we shall leave our hotel for the day and join you folks. And if you think I’m joking then you don’t know Nugent!
I have met through my office a charming American woman who can be of assistance to me in various financial ways. We have obviously I cannot explain details by letter, but it is suffice to say that the dollar problem need not be such a problem!
It is getting very near bedtime and there are the usual chores to do, so I must close. To write soon, for if you do not then I shall think that this letter too has gone astray.
With all our love,
Patrick and Geoffrey
