After a miserable first day arriving in London, Jean picked herself up and set out to explore…continuing her account in her letter to her mother who had arrived in the UK several weeks earlier and headed straight to family in Scotland.
“I rang a girl I was friendly with on the ship last night. She’s staying in a different part of London. She disembarked earlier than I and she didn’t know whether she was being met or not. However, friends met here and drove her to London, and she’s booked up for several days. I rang Betty Cameron today, and am meeting her on Thursday.
I went for a bus ride and a walk along the Thames Embankment this afternoon – it’s a real thrill seeing all these things. I bought a very useful little book on board “London Handy Guide” – it’s a great help. I was quite pleased with myself that I didn’t get lost this afternoon. I came back by underground and I see what Dr Higgins meant by the miles of stairs and escalators when you change trains!
Tea is at 5 here which makes the evening very long after 8’oclock dinner on board. However, it’s not till 6 during the week. It seemed peculiar coming into these long hours of daylight so suddenly.
There should have been a few letters for you when you reached Scotland, as I’d addressed them all there from various ports. If I wrote from Suez I probably told you that I’d bough a camera in Aden. I had one film developed on board and was quite thrilled with the results, it being the first try with it. I’ll take another to the developer tomorrow.
I’m looking forward to Yvonne arriving now. I think it’s Thursday she comes. Until then I’ll do all the sightseeing I can. When I come to Scotland will depend now largely on how long Yvonne stays here. If she goes almost straight through I’d come up at the end of the week. If she wants to stay, I’ll stay longer, as it will be much more fun looking around with her than it is now.
For goodness sake don’t worry about me. They seem a nice crowd of girls at the hostel, many of them middle aged, though I haven’t talked much to any of them yet. It seems impossible to get lost here – a policeman every few hundred yards almost, and street names very clearly marked, and everything so well labelled.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to Australia House to make a few enquiries, then see what I have to do about ration cards, and start sightseeing probably with Westminster – abbey, houses of parliament, Whitehall and if it’s a fine day, a walk through the parks.
I feel much happier tonight, and quite excited about seeing everything. I probably felt so flat last night because I’d left the glorious ship, and we’d all gone in different directions.
The hostel isn’t as bad as I first imagined. It’s very clean, and I can no longer smell it – it must have been just the change from the sea air.
I was thrilled to get your letter when I arrived, and hear the news. I’m terribly excited about coming up to see you all. How’s Dad taking it? Has he quietened down yet? It must be a real thrill for him.
I’m disappointed that I don’t get much news from home. Mary’s the only one I’ve heard from and all she talks about is ladies guild and getting the washing dry, more or less! I’ll have to send her a questionnaire if I want any news!
I see there’s a piano in the lounge here. I’ll have a go at at it tomorrow morning if the rest of the hostel goes to work! We had some great sing songs on board. Nell, the friend who is also staying in London, is quite a pianist.
Well, Cheerio now. I’m looking forward to see you. If Yvonne wasn’t coming on Thursday I think I’d be with you before then. Give my love to Auntie Nan and Auntie Jessie, and all my love to you and Dad. Cheerio. Love from Jean
P.S. The trunk and food box are coming up. The Ship Transport agency are clearing them through the customs, and the key should come with the trunk. There’ll be cartage to pay. I’ll have to owe it to you till I arrive. Cheerio. Jean.”.
