Hot Cross Buns

A topical letter with Easter just around the corner. Frank mentions Easter Day which was on 24 March in 1940. Indeed the Hot Cross Buns sent by his sister, Edie (my Grandmother), arrived on Easter Day – a nice reminder of home for him.
29/3/40

881937 L/Bdr.Faulkner
157th HAA Regt. RA
53rd HAA Battery RA
B.E.F.


Dear Dad,

I've sure got a lot of letters and parcels to thank you for. I have not finished everything in your first parcel; for instance, the fruit and cream is being kept until Rogers and I go to dinner or tea together. That has not been possible while the chap who helps me in the office is away. Actually he returned very early this morning and I'm glad to get some relief in the office.

I like to share my parcels with Rogers as he has given me carte blanche with his marmalade and we often have his tinned fruit between us. He frequently gets tinned marmalade from home, so for weeks now we have not been without for breakfast. (Hot x buns sent on Thursday)[Edies writing?]

Now, the buns went over very well. They arrived on Easter Sunday afternoon and I hesitated* (* I did open it, however and the buns were quite fresh) about opening the parcel as Rogers and another chap were waiting for me to go for a walk with them. We all had one in the office but I managed to get two for myself. Thanks for such a bright idea. You will have read my letter to Edie saying how much I enjoyed the ramble and the long break from work.

The picture of you playing darts is jolly good. Who did it? Shall I keep it for you?

Thanks for the letter from the Selwyn Club but it doesn't explain how they got Franklin's and my name and address. Did you send them a donation?

I was also pleased to get the autographed menu cards. They reminded me to write to Uncle Chris and I did so without delay. Do you see much of the Fowlers these days?

Am sorry to hear W.Bro. Fisher has been so ill. Will you wish him all the best from me if you are in touch with him at any time, please. You will understand I haven't time to write personally.

I've had parcels from Edie and Auntie Bertha during the last 2 or 3 days so I'm well off for stores. Edie's cake was started on in the office this morning and was commented on favourably - even by the B.S.M. So it wasn't such a frost/front(?) as Edie thought it might be.

It's funny you should mention Boscombe. I think I did the same thing when I wrote to Edie. I shouldn't mind being there now!

We still get parcels once a month from the G.E.C. with a letter enclosed and the Sales Dept. chaps hear either from Mr. Neville or Mr. Heather once a month also. But I've heard nothing from Mr. Heather re. the Commissions business.

Have you heard from Louise lately? As I told you before she promised to write to you.

Well I had to pack up this letter at that point and am resuming it at 10.30pm (not on guard).

This evening I've been to a show in the village. It was one of E.N.S.A.'s concert parties and was quite good. It was held in the E.F.I. (Expeditionary Forces Institute). You will know what that stands for when I write it in future. It's a form of N.A.A.F.I. and it's jolly useful having one in our village. One can get almost anything there and I treat myself to English beer there when they've got it.

It's been cold again the last two days. There was a terrific blizzard yesterday - the snow was driven down at a tremendous pace and stuck against tree-trunks, telegraph poles etc. It didn't stay on the ground long, though, and although the dose was repeated 3 times during the day it didn't lay.

Will you please give Jack Sharman a ring for me and tell him that I'm continually thinking of writing to him and that I will make a special effort to do so when next on guard (Monday).

That's all just now, Dad.I hope that you are keeping well and that all at "No.37" are better now. Anne sends me quite a lot of "letters" these days. She is getting on quite well, bless her.

Fond love,

Frank

p.s. Rogers and I shared and enjoyed fruit and cream this dinner-time.