HOTEL CECIL
STRAND,
LONDON, W.C.

Sept 29th 16

Dear old pal:

I am wondering where you are to-day after all that marching. Are you all together still, the battalion and machine gun Co or is it just your own little lot that have moved. How nice for you to get your mail as you went along - they do seem to be particular about that sort of thing.

Alric and Robin came along this morning and took me shopping with them. Robin seems to have a lot of leave but this is just before he joins up with the 195th Siege Battery. He thinks they will be going over within the next two months. We rushed about and looked at things and tried them on but at lunch time we hadn't bought anything. I came home then for Robin was getting to the swearing stage but he had been advised to go to different places and they seemed to be at the extreme corners of London. I can grasp where I am with a fair amount of intelligence now and don't feel so helpless. Wvery bit of London is thrilling isn't it!

Alric tells me that [?] and Nancy hear pretty definitely they are to go at the end of next week. So I am staying on here. Is it frightfully [?]travagant! If they don't go then I shall look for rooms somewhere else under their supervision. My finances are in a very happy condition. The government is about to issue Exchequer Bonds at 6% for three years and I think I'll invest. What do you think! While I think of it will you write me out a receipt, all properly worded, for Mr Ross when he sends money next time. I wasn't quite sure last time just what I should say. I got your letter to-day at the Regent Palace Hotel.

I went to see Mrs Buscombe and Eric but they had Mr Taylor's Colonel with them telling them about his death and I didn't stay. Eric apparently was married just a month ago, Mr Taylor having got special leave to come over. Mrs Buscombe and Eric had just taken a flat and intended to spend the winter here. Isn't it sad? I'm to go again to-morrow to see them. They seem homesick for anyone who knows Vancouver.

Now I think I must stop for I want to write to your father. I daresay I often repeat what you have already told them but I don't suppose they mind, do you dearie?

With heaps of love and kisses from your little pal
Alice Leighton