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[Page] 42
[continued from page 41]

kidney potatoes since 16th July. We have had
since June Spinach, turnips, lettuce, and
more recently, cauliflower, peas and beans.
Throughout the summer we have worked on
our plot nearly every evening till 10. o'clock
& later. Owing to more Police being called
up for agricultural work etc the duties of the
specials were increased, and all through
the summer I have been out on duty every
Thursday evening from 6.0 to 10.0. This
has necessitated a meal at 5.0 and a
supper at 10.30. I find the work unexciting
but tiring. By good fortune I have now got
the beat on this side of the Dean Bridge
recognised as my own, and on fine evenings
it has been passingly pleasant. One has so
many acquaintances in the neighbourhood
that one has many chats to while away the
time. I have just completed a
course of twelve lessons in French conversation
with a Belgian Emigré Mons [Monsieur] Julian
Vanden Bossche, an advocate in the Court
of Appeal at Ghent. His daughter Heléne
has been taking Mary out for walks & talking
French to her twice a week. We have only
been out of town for three weekends since

last September and are now feeling in need of
a change. We have taken rooms at Woodlea
Melrose for two months. Mary has already gone
there, Sandy & Jocelyn join her on Tuesday and
I follow on the 25th. Till I go I have to do duty
on two weekday evenings as special constables to
take the place of men on holiday. Notwithstanding
that 50% has been added to railway fares &
travelling is very uncomfortable, as many people
as usual seem to be out of town, but they have
for the most part gone to places comparatively
near at hand. An order in council decreed
that no cartridges were to be sold for sporting
purposes owing to the difficulty of procuring
lead and for a time, we thought there was to
be no shooting. Now, however, that order has
been rescinded & the existing stock of cartridges
will be available. There is great difficulty
in getting about in the country as motor cars
are not to be hired for pleasure purposes, nor
is motor spirit available for people who own
cars unless for war work.
The war still goes on, but the allies have
dealt the Germans some serious blows inflicting
heavy casualties, and taking many prisoners.
We have just commenced a great battle to
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