October 20, 1943

Hi,
Are you still there? Still no mail. The mail service here is obviously run by the army. Yesterday they sent us papers, magazines, + advertisements. Today it was packages. Practically no letter either day. Tonight our Officers Club is having its second dance (We have our own club here) with old victrola records, sandwiches, + beer. Most of us Lts. Leave the socializing to the majors, but some went over to get their sandwiches on the theory that they want to get something for their dues. The beer is on sale every night, but being English isn’t very good- flat + bitter. So I stay home. My cold is almost gone now, which is wonderful, + I guess I can get out + around now. We are allowed to have some heat in the barracks now, though it still isn’t as cold as it was when we arrived. This country sure lives on soft coal. I smell of it- kind of tarry- from end to end. That is, I guess it still does- it did when we first came. I got kind of tired of it until I got used to it. The posters beg people to use some anthracite. I guess it must be expensive. Raymond M. P. (Retc) Donaghy got a cablegram telling about his new son today- transmission time:15 days. Don’t telegraph-write!

Love B