March 28. 1945

Dear Mary:

I have been meaning to write this letter for several days now but we farmer folk are too tired at the end of the day to think about letter writing. Anyway I wish you many happy returns of the day. Next year it should be possible to give these wishes in person.

It is going to be difficult to get a photograph of Valerie – she just won’t be taken. However I am going to the races at Cheltenham on Sat and may find the opportunity then.

Today Val upset the apple cart. She was throwing mangolds onto the cart by herself. Sam (the horse) never likes this particular job and someone usually holds him. Today he started to move, got one wheel in a rut, the other on a bale of straw, tipping it over. This in turn due to the two shafts tipped Sam over and he found his legs were pointing skywards. Then the dog joined in, thinking it was defending Val most likely. Quite a time it must have been but all but the cart is none the worse.

I certainly do enjoy staying down here. A fuller account of the leave will be forthcoming in due course.

With love from
Tony.

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]