Reference
AU10/102/1/77
Title
Handwritten letter
Date free text
13 March 1957
Production date
From: 1957 To: 1957
Scope and Content
"["THANET 63256" added to top of letter by hand.]
I returned from the Continent two weeks ago, and found the usual accumulation of letters and papers awaiting me, and I have been coping with it ever since. I see your last letter arrived on my birthday: and now it is my turn to greet yours! Thank you for all the details and snaps of the Professor's TV interview, and the coach etc. I can quite imagine it was an "occasion" for Ampthill.
Most of January we were at Cortina in Italy, where the skiing was far from good (not enough snow), but the skating excellent. The outdoor rink is quite the finest I have ever been on: they held the Olympics on it last year. It was my first visit to an Italian winter sport place, and I found quite a different atmosphere from Switzerland and Austria. Some French people we met there offered me a lift in their car to Nice (where they live), so I found myself back at my beloved Mentone for a few days, and revived acquaintances on the Riviera. I then finished up with a few days in Paris with my Russian friend (we were at New College together over 30 years ago) and so back to the castle! This last week we have had wonderful weather (you too, I expect): apparently it has followed me up from the Riviera. So I expect we can expect a cold and stormy Easter! Next weekend I am staying at Highgate with my pianist friend, Eric Hope: I see he was broadcasting at 5.45 this evening (Light programme, oddly enough) but I missed it.
It was quite delightful to experience the feeling of coming home to the castle. We really are most fortunate in our neighbours - there is no one who is really "out" of it: and we have now gained sufficient knowledge of each others' private affairs to enjoy a gossip about our mutual doings, and comings and goings! A new neighbour has arrived in our absence - another bachelor, which now makes 3! This one is only 27, an ex-Captain of the Cheshire Regt: now E.Kent representative for Schweppes. He has bought a flat overlooking the sea, and is a "do-it-yourself" type: unlinke me!
So the "Old Gates" has lost Mrs.Wingfield. Has a new tenant arrived yet? I have skimmed through the pile of "Ampthill News"-es Perton sends religiously every week: but nothing very much seems to have happened since Christmas, apart from the TV event. But in the country at large, there is plenty doing, what with threatened strikes in shipbuilding, engineering, and the doctors.
I hope this finds you and your family well. Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Yours sincerely"
skiing
Level of description
item