So I Have Thought of You: The Letters of Penelope Fitzgerald. Penelope Fitzgerald

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СКАЧАТЬ all a great crisis as to whether Cliff is top or not. I’m surprised he’s celebrating with champagne – I thought he was a non-drinker and non-smoker?

      Poor Daddy aghast at the budget.

      much love from us all Mum XXX

      

       185 Poynders Gardens, sw4

      [10 April 1965]

      Dearest Tina,

      So glad to get your letter even though it was rather a sad one and while I think of it the Lighthills were very pleased that you had written to thank them, it was a good idea.

      I think you are facing up very bravely to the horrors of staying in a large French family – so much more efficiently than I did for instance – I was always in tears and then I got hungry in the middle of the night and went and got some cold potatoes out of the kitchen and the Italian cook was accused of stealing them. José sounds nice, though.

      I do hope all will be well at the skiing, perhaps the brother will be nice, though I don’t feel inclined to bet on this. I think it rather odd of Madame to be away when you came – a relief in a way though, I suppose. You seem to be managing well with the French language though.

      You say it’s not like what you thought, but it does sound rather like a French family, all the same. I agree it’s a pity they live in quite such style, but you’ll do quite different things with her – sightseeing and packed lunches – and I’ll try and cook something really nice in the evening and it’ll be something quite different for her – also we’ll give her something to do all the time, even if it’s only getting birdseed from Woolies.

      I do rather envy you going up into the mountains, I always feel so well there, and am longing to hear about the skiing – I’m amazed that Madame is skiing too, no dull domestic duties.

      Maria and Daddy and I miss you very much. Maria recalls with nostalgia the time when I was away (so much preferable) and you cooked such nice things and had Cornflakes every day. She’s bought a cuckoo clock with her gift voucher, which hiccups at the quarters as poor Daddy dropped it while trying to put it up, and there were many tears, but now all is well and she’s gone to Titia’s party in her new dress. What does Milène wear by the way?

      We went to see Mme. Aubrey in hospital – grim ward with dying patients grasping for fumigation bottles – but Ria rather liked it.

      much love

      Mum

      X

      

       185 Poynders Gardens, sw4

      15 April [1965]

      Dearest Tina,

      Thankyou so much for your lovely letters and the p.c.^* I could hardly believe there’d be another breakdown in your trip, but you’re getting an old hand now, and seem to deal with everything wonderfully well. I can’t make out quite where you were for the skiing though – do they have a chalet of their own or what? Anyway if they’re as rich as all this we couldn’t compete anyway. And I think it would have been worse to stay with people who didn’t do anything at all, perhaps. I’m glad there really is a cèdre in the avenue – can’t say the same for Cedars Road, S.W.4.

      Ria has gone off to spend the afternoon with Sylvia and is going again tomorrow, I’m glad really as it’s less dull for her though I can’t really approve of Sylvia and Mrs Donan, naturally enough, doesn’t approve of me – so Daddy has to fetch her, from the back door of Lord Chelsea’s house. Ria continues to fill notebooks with drawings of ‘ladies’ in topless dresses who, she says, are ‘out to catch the boys’, so I feel I must get her a Nice Book from the library as you advised, but I haven’t the nerve to ask the one-man army at the Clapham Branch Library.

      We went skating again and a kindly stranger (’let me introduce myself: I’m Dr Green’) helped Maria – who of course took an objection to him – asked her to do the preliminary Foxtrot with him, so at last she’s done one properly.

      I’ve ordered some skimpy lino remnants for the loo and kitchen so that will be another small step forwards, and I’m collecting plants for the balcony. I’ve also been working very late each night on this (probably useless) Spanish grammar.

      Tina, if you’re getting me a present I would like one of these bowls and chopper like this [drawings] for chopping parsley and herbs and things – Josie will know what it is – it’s to hâcher things in – but maybe they’re very expensive

      Much love and best Easter wishes Mum

      

       Poynders Jardin

       [185 Poynders Gardens, sw4]

      Good Friday [9 April 1966]

      Dearest Tina,

      Thankyou so much for your lovely letter, we thought it was marvellous of you to write at once without even having a snooze. Your journey out sounds exhausting in the extreme, and I would never have wanted you to go out if I’d known what it was going to be like, but I can only hope you’re recovered and that the quiet room will drive away the hated miggy. – it sounds lovely. And I think you’d feel it was worth it if you saw Clapham S.W.4 at the moment – grey, rain falling, all of us exhausted in the middle of the spring clean – Maria washing the dolls clothes, to be put away finally, she says, me having everything out and poor Daddy left with taking the gas stove to bits and cleaning it – impossible to put it back – not like romantic processions, jasmine, oranges and paseos. I’m terribly sorry too that the Academia^* was shut but I thought that Valpy’s duties would include doing something about meeting the young ladies and they were due on that early train, weren’t they, it was the same one that he came on?

      Very exhausted as received mysterious letter from Randolph Vigne (at Stillic Press) who you may remember (or Not) was a freedom fighter in S. Africa and just escaped being hung and therefore does everything in a queer, urgent manner – saying I must take the famous ms. down to Holborn College, in Red Lion Square, at once. – but when I got there it was all shut and locked, with notes in milk bottle saying ‘college on Easter vacation’ – so I came back tired, wet and dispirited. However Rachel (name of old friend) writes enthusiastically, saying she’s so glad I’m going to drive over to Exeter with her (I’d written to say that I didn’t want to do this) and, strangely, to ask if Maria could bring a good dress, as she may have to go to a wine and cheese party!

      We’re looking forward keenly to hearing about Easter ceremonies &c and what you think of eulogio. Do you think José will turn up again from the Sierra de Córdoba? It was an excellent move to get someone to carry your luggage, even if he occasionally drinks out of a bottle, much love and Happy Easter Mum x

      

       185 Poynders Gardens, sw4

      9 April [1966]

      Dearest Tina,

      Thankyou so much for gorgeous technicolour p.c.s all of which we’ll keep por supuesto – I also read Daddy’s letter, all keenly interesting – I didn’t know Valpy wore a green hood,СКАЧАТЬ