From Janet P September 13, 1977

 

10 Westfield Drive, Yeadon Leeds

Dear Dona,

Thanks for the card. The time seems to have flown past. Before we know where we are it will be our silver wedding.

I hope you had a good 8 weeks whilst Jeremy was over three. So far he has not stopped telling us about all the things you did.

What does it feel like to be 21? Can you vote now or is 18 your coming of age? Jeremy said everybody was asking about the keys on your cards from England. My mum told me a one time nobody got a key for the door until they were 21 but I have had mine since I was 14 and Neil has had his since he was about 9.

He will be 11 on the 20th of next month. He just seems to grow every time I see him and gets cheekier. He has started to play badminton now the tennis season has finished.

At the moment I am off work with a cold and getting lots of sympathy from Niky who is at the moment getting over his exams and keeping his fingers crossed for a pass of all three. I don't know if Jeremy told you but he failed one out of the three last time so he had to retake them all.

Will you be coming in June or July next year because we have had a really wet summer this year and the weather is now getting around to blue skies. No cloud and lots of sun but not too warm.

Anyway, how are you getting along at University? Are you living in? If so you had better send your address unless you are going home at weekends. I wouldn't blame you if you did. It must get a bit lonely when your fella is 3,000 miles away.

Jeremy has told us your plans to come over here the year after next to stay. Will you have to get a special work permit and things?

Anyway I will close for now and wait for Niky to come home from his last exam (economics) which at least he enjoys the subject.

Bye for now. 

Love,
Janet and Niky

---

Note: Niky and Janet never made it to their silver wedding anniversary -- they divorced sometime after 1980. I did not go to England the next summer, but went in December instead because I'd got into a semester abroad program where I did student teaching in a school in London. Jeremy and I broke up during that visit. I did not live at college, but commuted the 45 minutes to and from school two or three days a week.

From Janet P March 25, 1977

 

10 Westfield Drive, Yeadon

Dear Dona,

I am so sorry to have taken so long in replying to your letter but I should tell you that I cannot reply to that as I lost it somewhere about the house.

I hope you are keeping well and I suppose counting the days to when Jerby arrives in the U.S.

We went to June and Grahams baby's christening last Sunday and in the evening we went to an American Pizza bar with Ian and Denise. We had a really good evening even though we did eat too much but since we got married we don't go out too often so we made the most of it. On Saturday night we went to Lorraine's Grahame's 21st party and had quite an interesting time. Don't get me wrong by the way, when I say that we don't go out often. We enjoy staying in our own home just watching TV or listening to records. 

I don't know if Jeremy told you but about 8 weeks ago I was moved to another branch of the bank. I went to the one in Town Street of Horsforth. I still have not got used to the change and miss all my friends but we still meet about every month and go out for drinks.

We have been spending quite a lot of money on the house and have covered the kitchen floor. We bought a new washer and have fitted all units. 

At the moment on TV they are showing the film Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston so Niky is quite enthralled and it is hard to get him to answer anything I say. I just get the occasional grunt and groan.

Niky's mum and dad have just called on their way to some friend's. They came to see our new floor covering in the kitchen. Pat has to go in the hospital in about 6 months for some operations so she will be off work for about 3 months feeling pretty grotty. So I expect I will have two homes and a job to do so by the time she is well I will probably need 3 months off work to get my strength back. 

Anyway I thin I had better finish as I still have the tea pots to wash up. 

Anyway hope to hear from you soon. Niky sends his love.

Love,

Janet

From Janet P November 14, 1976

 

10 Westfield Drive, Yeadon

Dear Dona,

Thanks for your letter. I don't know why you should apologize for not writing because it was sheer laziness on my part for not doing it first.

You ask if we are all right and enjoy being married, well we are both in the best of health, but dieting like mad because we have made pigs of ourselves and put on rather a lot of weight. The trouble is Niky loses weight quite easily when he tries but I lose about a pound a week and that is after a week of starving myself. As for marriage I love every minute. I even enjoy the washing and ironing.

The Lake District was boring. We got rather fed up so we were quite pleased to get home on the Wednesday.

As for Edinburgh we enjoyed it immensely but I think with a nut like Denise you could enjoy yourself everywhere.

I have not seen Lorraine for about 5 weeks so I have no idea if she is still seeing Graham but the last time I saw her they were still arguing. Did you know that they finished with each other at the wedding but they saw each other a few days later and got back together so they ended up going to Bridlington for a naughty weekend.

On the Sunday night of the honeymoon we decided to ring Niky's mum and they informed us we had taken the key but were sure we had given it to someone back at the reception. Anyway when we got back we said that we had definately not got the key so we suggested that Mum should look in her handbag. And guess what one for 17 Airedale Drive slipped down the wallet of her handbag. So Jeremy wen through the windows for nothing.

If I were you I would play the recording. I don't think you will cry if anything it should give you a good laugh.

Anyway I will have to finish off now oh and I thank you for taking part in the wedding and the photographs are really beautiful.

Love,

Janet

PS Niky sends his love

From Janet P May 27, 1976

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

I thought I had better write back now I have the time instead of putting off and not getting another chance. I have hardly seen Niky this week. I went to a hen party on Tuesday night and on Wednesday he was trying to get the car to go so he did not arrive until late and then he did no know what was wrong with it so he is not coming until late tonight.

I hope your exams went O.K. I was terrible in exams. I just went to pieces. I suppose that is why I don't want to take my bankers exams and become a bank manager.

My fiend Susan from work is getting married on Saturday. I have never seen anything like it for weeks she just was not bothered on Monday she was a nervous wreck on Tuesday she wasn't much better. She cheered up on Tuesday night when she had lots of drinks bought but was poorly on Wednesday morning and then to top it all started crying at lunchtime and couldn't stop. She wasn't too bad today. The trouble is she is really close to her parents and doesn't like any change at all not even holidays so I suppose when it comes to moving away from home she just cannot adjust to it. I wouldn't mind but her new home is only a two minute walk from her mother's. My new house is a twenty minute bus ride and I am close to my parents as well so I just hope that I don't get as upset as her but she really has frightened me.

I'm not trying to get rid of you but what date do you go back home after the wedding. The reason I am asking is I just wondered if you would be going home before we get back from honeymoon. It's just that I thought it would be a shame to not see you again after the wedding as it will be so hectic knowing me I'll forget to say anything. anyway Neil wants to write something.

Neil: Thank you because you are bringing me a bicentennial silver dollar.

I think Neil is looking forward to you arriving as much as Jerb. He said he would only go to the wedding if he could sit between you and Jerb at the reception so you are highly honored. I don't know if you suit hats because you might be wearing them at the wedding. I haven't decided.

Well I will have to finish as I am trying to write to you and watch Emergency at the same time, so if I have written loads of rubbish blame the TV set.

Love,

Janet

P.S. Have they started to show Jennie yet over there with Lee Remick? If they have do you like it because we thought it was great.

From Janet P May 10, 1976

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

I don't know if you received my last letter but it really doesn't matter. 

I have got your bridesmaid dresses so I hope you don't put on any weight for a while. I don't know if I told you that I had decided to not wear Niky's mum's wedding dress and I have hired a really beautiful dress. It is medieval style. Crepe and edged with guipure lace.

Well enough of dresses it's only about eight weeks until you arrive over here, Jeremy's beard looks super but his moustache is like Niky's, so blond you can hardly see it. The weather at the moment is really weird. We are short of water, but this week it has rained, thundered and lightninged and been sunny and hot.

We got the keys to our house at the beginning of April, but I had flu for two weeks over Easter so we are really getting into the swing of things now but they have left things in a terrible mess and as for color scheme, they left us a hall and stair carpet which is blue and purple and they had the walls painted orange a really deep color and the paint work the most gruesome blue not a bit like the blue in the carpet.

Ah well, when you arrive you will probably be roped into a bit of painting and wallpapering so come prepared.

How is your job? Will they be able to keep it open for you when you come over?

Anyway I will have to close and go shopping for my mum.

Give my regards to everybody and if I don't get a chance to write again I'll see you in eight weeks.

Love,

Janet and Niky

And hello from Neil (PS Written by Neil)

From Janet P January 6, 1976

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

Happy New Year. I hope you are well and I'm sorry to be so long in replying to your last letter. I don't think in the last month I have spent one evening at home.

Well the wedding arrangements are well on the way. We have to see the vicar on Friday and the reception is booked. 

I might be wearing Niky's mum's wedding dress if it fits alright but it is a bit short so we are having it specially cleaned then we'll see what it looks like.

When we rang you on New Year's Eve I could hardly talk as for the past two days I could not talk and as I was trying to serve customers I could not even ask how they wanted their money. Anyway it was nice to talk to you. 

Can you tell me how you are and your dress size, as I think I might have the bridesmaid dresses made as they tend to be rather expensive to buy. So I think that I will look around for a pattern and material then when you arrive over here rush you to the dressmakers. By the way do you mind blue, as I think that will be the color you both will be in.

How is your job? Jeremy said that you might be getting laid off because of financial difficulty. I hope everything works out OK. 

Niky has still had no luck. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that we have a bit of luck before we get married.

I hope you got lots of lovely pressies for Xmas. We got quite a few things for our bottom drawer. Glasses and things.

Upstairs Downstairs finished the final series last week. I felt a bit sad but I didn't really enjoy the more recent episodes as the costumes were so dreary and seemed to ruin the whole program. Although Georgina finally got married and I must admit her dress was really beautiful.

Anyway I will have to close as I really will have to have an early night. It takes me ages to get up to go to work and the mornings are so cold now winter had arrived. By the way, did Jeremy tell you about the hurricane we had Friday night? It killed 22 people and wrecked and flooded lots of people's homes on the coastline.

Anyway bye for now.

Lots of Love,

Janet and Niky

From Janet P March 12, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona

Hi, your letter arrived on Monday and today is the first chance I have had to reply.

At the moment I am sat watching TV as I was ill during the night and did not get much sleep so Mum told me not to go into work.

You say in your letter that you should have an early spring. Well I think it came to us instead. The weather lately has been better than it was in summer.

When we go on holiday we go about the 7th September for 10 days. We are staying at a fishing village called Catholica, hopefully we will be able to go to Rome. I would also like to go to Venice. A friend of mine says it really is fantastic. 

In your letter you mention some land your Dad has bought. Is it trust land? Or is there a house?

Do you have to take exams to graduate? Or is it when you get to a certain leaving age? You say you are going to college. Will it be near your home? What do you want to teach? 

When I think about it I really don't know much about you, what sorts of books you read, what films you see, what music you care to listen to. I do quite a lot of reading, and buy lots of magazines. I have a mixture of tastes. I like most historical novel fiction or non-fiction.. I love Agatha Christie's mysteries. I have also read a couple of Jackie Suzanne books and they were good. 

Niky and I go to the pictures quite a lot. We have completely different tastes so we take it in turns to decide what we go see. I like corny things like musicals and love stories. Niky likes car chases. We went to see a James Bond film and during a car chase one of the cars went up in the air and turned 360° completely. Trouble is Niky likes to drive the same in the films and I dread driving back home. The actors and actresses that I like are Ben Murphy, Dustin Hoffman, Roger Davies. I think Barbara Streisand is great. Did you see Paper Moon? Tatum O'Neil was really good. I also like Faye Dunaway . I think of all the greats are Marilyn Monroe. I really loved her. And Gene Kelly is fabulous. 

My taste in music is pretty wide, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Carpenters, Elton John, E.L.P., Neil Sedaka, and the Beatles. Niky's idol was Jimi Hendrix. He really worshiped him.

At the moment I am learning to drive. I get really nervous but I want to learn before I get much older and also the price of lessons is getting really high. Jeremy said that it is a lesson at school for you. I think that they should introduce that over here as well. Although the age for driving is 17 and the school leaving age is 16.

When you said I had a quiet and soft voice Niky's life has been murder. I have always thought I had a high pitched croak.

Ah well I had better finish off and get dressed. Give my love to Sue and all your family. Niky, Neil, and Matthew send their love.

Love,

Janet

From Janet P March 1, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

Thanks for your letter and I am sorry I have left it so long for the reply. 

Jeremy tells me that you have been snowed in. Up to now we have not had any deep snow, what snow we have had has washed away.

In your letter you ask about my family. Well my Mum and Dad have been married 28 years. I have two brothers, Robert and Neil and one sister.

Robert is just 27 and has been married for 5 years in September. They have no children yet but I suppose there is plenty of time yet. My sister Alison was 25 on St. Valentine's Day she has been married 5 years in November they have a little boy called Matthew who is 3½ (if you remember I think you met Matthew in the Park the day after you arrived at the Horsforth Gala). She is having another baby in June. Then there is Neil who you know he is the "baby" of the family and is spoilt rotten. You ask if I get on with him. Well some days I do and some days I don't. 

I met Niky through my best friend (she went out with him before me). We both went to Benton Park so that helped. I have been going out with him for 3 years and we have been engaged for 1 year. 

About marriage being so close doesn't really scare me. I just wish we could afford a house as the prices are going up and up and our wedding day is getting further and further away.

I doubt if Jeremy will have told you but Niky finally got a job. He left college at the end of November and he eventually started work on the 24th of February so we can't start saving seriously for a house.

I'm sorry I addressed your letter wrong and I'm not offended I'm glad that you told me.

Niky is not really bothered about the way you spell his name. People spell it that many different ways. He has got used to it. 

What do you mean about in interesting voice? Do you mean me or all Yorkshire people?

Will you be going anywhere for your Holidays this year? Niky and I are going to Italy. 

I don't really know much about your family either so when you write back you will have to tell me about them. Is it true you only met Jeremy 3 days before he cam back home?

Anyway I had better close as Niky wants to go to the motor accessory shop for something for the car.

Give my love to Sue and I hope that you and your family are well.

Love,

Janet

From Janet P January 25, 1975

 

Dear Dona,

Thanks very much for the birthday card. You will be pleased to know that it arrived on time.

Jeremy has been asking me to write for weeks so I will put his mind to rest. Nicky and I also think it is super fantastic news that he is coming to you. We will be getting rid of him for a few weeks.

Actually I think it will put his moping away for a few months. 

He really is lucky. I would love to go to America but as it costs rather a lot of money and all my money goes on clothes or on things for "married life". 

We hope to get married next year either late may or early September so start saving to come.

We were all pleased when you rang up on New Years Day even though we weren't there to talk or listen to you. Anyway I hope that you and all your family are well and give my love to Sue. 

By the way. It was my eighteenth birthday. Neil sends his love. I'm sorry the letter is so short and untidy. I will try harder to improve my writing. It really is shocking. Anyway write soon.

Love,

Janet and Niky

From Janet P February 29, 1976

 

Dear Dona,

I'm really sorry it has taken me so long to write back to your letters. We seem to be out all the time either with friends or just arranging things for "The Great Day". Do you know the wedding is 6 months away and we have had to book everything already.

When I received your letter with your measurements I really felt fed up. You're so slim.

I don't know if you will have heard about Mrs. Bridges dying but it was so sudden. They were thinking of a series of her and Mr. Hudson but I suppose they will have to scrap it as she is really irreplaceable. 

You have asked about Neil and Matthew. Well I will tell you. Neil is 9 his birthday is October 20th. He is very noisy and always in mischief but when he is out we all miss him. He is going to be very tall and good looking. He has beautiful thick hair and gets very brown in the summer. He adores swimming and Niky and I have started taking him to play squash with us and he enjoys that also.

He had a lot of trouble with learning to read but he has started to pick up a bit now and enjoys school a bit better. If you want to know any more just let me know but I don't know what else to write.

Matthew is 4 and was born on the 15th of December 1971 one month early. He is very small featured but I think he will grow tall as his dad is very tall. He went to playschool 2 mornings a week before Christmas but after Christmas he started to go to Infant school every after noon. He, unlike Neil, loves school but he lives on a quiet estate where as we live with lots of children on a busy little estate so I suppose he will have been a bit lonely. His best friend is called James and they fight over the train set. He has got very thin white hair and is an angel compared to Neil but he still gets into mischief.

Andrea, Matthew's sister is 9 months old. She is just like a little doll. She is really beautiful and is so good but she's not very keen on Niky whereas Matthew adores him. Everybody says she is just like me even Niky's mum so it just shows how beautiful she is!

Well I really have to stop as Streets of San Francisco is starting soon and I think Mike Douglas is super. I suppose the story is the same every week. Anyway bye for now.

Love,
Janet and Niky

P.S. I did my proposing today. Did you?

---

Note: I wish I still had the dress I wore in the wedding. It was really pretty. Not that I'd fit in it now, but it was a pretty dress -- white eyelet cotton with a orangish under skirt.

From Janet P November 1, 1975

 

Dear Dona,

I'm glad to hear that you got a job especially one that you enjoy and what do you mean about fooling them about being a nice friendly person. I'm quite sure you didn't keep up the pretense all the weeks you were over here. Anyway try to keep your chin up over Christmas, as we get rushed off our feed giving people money and I'm sure you will be rushed off your feet receiving people's money. Is it expensive jewelry?

In your letter you say you are watching Shoulder to Shoulder. I must admit when I watched it I was in tears every episode and when they force feed the women I could have really belted the prison warden. I know when I had my 18th birthday and said that I didn't intend to vote in the elections, all my family started saying "did the Pankhursts and friends suffer for nothing". Then I started to watch Shoulder to Shoulder and felt really ashamed.

Anyway to change the subject is it really possible to attend a college over here. It would buck Jeremy up no end. Last night 'Halloween' Graham and Lorraine came down for the evening and I really wished that you would walk in the door. [Jeremy] looked so lonely and fed up. I hope for both your sakes it could be next year and near to the day you were arriving over here.

Niky has still had no luck with a job yet but there is a job that looks quite promising with the civil service.

It's Niky's 21st birthday in 2 weeks and he is getting rather depressed saying how old he is getting so at the moment we are trying to cheer him up.

Anyway I will have to close now as we are having to go babysitting over the road and I want to go get changed as I am sitting around in jeans and a sloppy jumper and looking rather tatty.

Love,
Janet & Niky

---

Note: I'd completely forgotten about Shoulder to Shoulder until now. It seems it can be watched on YouTube! 

I don't recall considering going to college in England. 

From Janet P October 8, 1975

 

Dear Dona,

First I must apologize for not writing for so long, since my holiday I have got really lazy and it's taken me all my time just to get ready to go anywhere, or I have just sat reading and listing to records.

I didn't know you liked unicorns but when I showed Jez the card he said you would be pleased.

You asked when Neil and Matthew's birthday was. Well Neil's is the 20th of this month and Mathew's is the 15th of December. Neil is 9 right now and Matthew will be 4.

Niky still has not got a job. At the moment there are over a million people unemployed. We watched a documentary about unemployment in a town near to us and we realized there is a lot of people worse off than us and at least I get a very good salary.

At the moment I am working on the money side of banking as up to press I have been behind the scenes but I am on the counter now but I am so scared if I give anybody too much money as it is very easily done.

Did you get our card from Italy? I don't know if you could read it as Niky's writing is difficult for me to read and I have been reading it for nearly 6 years. 

The weather was really great. We had one bad day but it only rained in the evenings, so that day was just a bit cloudy although it was still warm.

Have you had any luck with a job. I know when I had to go for my interview Niky went with me and waited outside. I was really scared [but] luck was with me and I got the job. I don't think I could have gone through any more. I rely on Niky. I don't think I could get on a train by myself, so you must have guts if you are coming the way to England next year.

I don't know if Jez has told you but if we can manage to get married next year it will be September the 4th. So I hope you can manage to be here then.

Anyway I am in my dinner hour and I will really have to go back or my boss will be on my back all afternoon. 

Lots of love,

Niky and Janet

P.S. Matt and Neil say hello.

---

Note: I'm pretty sure that Neil was Janet's younger brother and Matthew was her nephew. I remember both of them being very cute.

From Janet P August 23, 1975

 

Dear Dona,

I hope you had a happy birthday and received our cards on time. I'm afraid I had to write Neils as I could not find him to write it and I had to catch the post.

I'm afraid Niky didn't get into the police, in a way I'm rather pleased as I have never been a lover of the police force and I would never hand seen him because of the odd hours.

So we are waiting to see if he can get a job in the tax office if he does it will mean that we can just about afford to get married next year providing we both save like mad but if he doesn't have any luck I have no idea when it will be.

I don't know if Jeremy has told you about all my plans but just in case he hasn't I might as well tell you. I want two bridesmaids. You and my best friend Lorraine and Jeremy will be the best man. Lorraine's boyfriend (Graham) will be a groomsman and Matthew will be page boy. As the best man ususally gets paired off with the chief bridesmaid I thought you could be chief bridesmaid and then Lorraine can go with groomsman (Graham) that is providing she is still going out with him but they seem pretty keen on each other. So here's hoping Niky gets a job in time.

By the way, did you get a job? I hope you have better luck than Niky.

I can't tell you how it was in Italy as we have not been yet but I will send you a post card when we get there.

Jeremy did not tell us about your contact lenses but it must have been the only thing he missed out but I'm glad to both of you that you managed to get as much in that six weeks as he as told us about.

Anyway I had better close as I have to get ready to go out with Graham and Lorraine.

Love,

Janet and Niky

---

Note: Janet and Nick did end up getting married the following year and I was a bridesmaid.

From Janet P July 6, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

I'm sorry that I have taken so long in writing back but my driving test is not very far away and I have been out most nights trying to get through the test.

My sister had a little girl on the 2nd of June at 5:30 pm. They are calling her Andrea Elizabeth. She weighed 7lb 11oz and has black hair. I don't know her length.

Did Jeremy give you the books I sent? I doubt if you will get around to reading them for a few weeks (5 or 6) but I don't want them back so don't worry about them.

Since Jeremy left we have watched Wimbledon every night. The gone out [?] full of confidence and realized it is not as easy as it looks.

I suppose you will have heard the result I felt sorry for Chris Evert. I don't really like her but she can really play tennis. She seems to stand in one place and has her opponent running all over the court. On the day of the men's finals I was trying to cut a dress out and it must have taken me about two hours just to pin the pattern on the material. Niky said from the first day of the tournament that Ash would win but I was sure it would be Connors. 

The weather here has been great for about 7 weeks but they say there is a potato shortage and fish and chips are going up to an awful price. Although it really is a blessing for weight watchers who want to be slim for their holidays, e.g., yours truly!

Anyway I had better close as Niky has arrived to go to his gramma's. Tell Jeremy all [have] been well. His brother will be a policeman by the time he arrives home.

Give my love to everybody and tell Jeremy to have a good time as I forgot to say anything last time I saw him.

Love,
Janet and Niky

---

Note: The books Janet mentioned must be the two Upstairs Downstairs books that I still have. I wondered where they came from. This must have been the trip where Jeremy and I made the clothespin ornaments. He made one of Nick as a policeman.

From Janet P June 1, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

Well we are all sat here waiting for my sister to hurry up and have her new baby. The doctor told her it was due today but besides the odd twinge there is no sign.

You ask why we have to save up to go out. Well if we really want to have a good time then we have to spend a lot of money and on our salaries we have to save up to get that money.

Yes I did know that Upstairs Downstairs got an award. Do you watch it at all? At one time I watched every episode but it got to the stage where I could not keep track. Although I have bought all the books.

Yes I did know about Eric as a matter of fact Niky's Mum and Dad went away last week so the three of us looked at some slides one night and Jeremy got his of America down and there was one of Eric among them.

I wish I could find somebody to play tennis with me as I would really love to learn but it would have to be someone as bad as me. Both Niky and Jeremy are pretty good so if I started to play with them I'd feel pretty stupid when I missed every serve.

You will probably have finished school when you get my letter. Will you be getting a job for the holiday until college, or will you not bother because Jeremy is coming over for so long?

The time has gone really quick since he told us that he would be coming over, but for you it will seem like years. I know when Niky goes away for a week I get really fed up and depressed and nobody comes near me for days in case they get their heads bitten off. I remember the fist summer we went out with each other he went to Austria for 12 days. All I thought about were other girls he would meet but his Mum told me that he moped about 'til the day they arrived home.

Last weekend we took Jeremy and Neil to some motor racing and he really is beginning to perk up a bit. All he talks about is America (Dona of course) and his cactus [?].

Well I really must close now as it is late and I have to get up to go to work (yuck!).

Love,
Janet

PS Niky sends his love

---

Note: I am surprised that I mentioned tennis because I don't remember ever having much interest in it -- although I did learn how to score at some time. I'm not sure I deciphered the last word of the 8th paragraph correctly. I don't recall Jeremy having a cactus.

From Janet P May 9, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

Sorry about the delay in replying to your letter but these past two weeks I have been busy on my driving lessons. I don't know if Jeremy told you that his dad has got a brand new car with a dent on the back and Niky and I bought a secondhand car. You may ask your self why did Mr. B buy a brand new car with a dent, well he didn't actually get the dent with it. I drove into the garage doors, buckled the door and it bashed into the back of the car. I needn't tell you what happened. 

I'm glad that you have a daily fight with your brother now I know that we're not the only two who fight daily.

You ask what it is like to be eighteen in England. Well you are allowed to drink, get married without consent, and vote, but that's all. To go in the night clubs or discos it is twenty one, not that it stops a lot of people, but if we ever want to go anywhere like that we have to save up for months in advance so we can buy a drink to last us the night once we get in. Oh I forgot you are also allowed to see "x" certified films but they don't seem to bother if kids of about 13 get in. 

Yes, I do think that time passes very quickly when you look forward to something for months and then before you know where you are it is all over.

We do get awards for films but they seem to only give it to rubbish or French films that nobody has heard of. I don't know if I have seen any of the films up for academy awards as I don't know any that have been nominated.. Although you say The Great Gatsby but to be quiet honest I thought that certain film was a bit of a letdown. When I saw that film I had been to see three films with Robert Redford -- The Way we Were, The Sting, so after the other two such great films I didn't enjoy it.

We went to see Funny Lady last night and really enjoyed it but when I think back there wasn't much of a story and James Caan and Barbra Streisand carried it. I enjoyed it so much I went out and bought the L.P. 

Oh, by the way you have the same opinion about liver as me about liver. I think it is one of the most "yucky" things and if we have that my Mum normally has to make me something else.

I don't really know if you are more excitable you seemed a happy crowd I suppose when I think you really put the English kids to shame (especially Vilma).

Anyway I better close as I have got to go and make some lunch as Mom is doing the bedrooms and says that if we want any lunch to make it ourselves as she doesn't want to break off.

Anyway, bye for now. Give my love to Sue and all your family.

Love,
Janet

P.S. Niky sends his love and I am sorry if my writing has been jumping but I have been eating a raw carrot and they always without fail give me hiccups.

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Note: I thought Janet was a few years older than me, but it seems we were the same age. Hmm...

From Janet P April 5, 1975

 

6 Craggwood Terrace, Horsforth

Dear Dona,

I got your letter on Tuesday morning as I was rushing off to work. I put it in my bag and forgot about it until Wednesday night while I was in bed so I am afraid it didn't get opened until Thursday morning.

The 'spring' weather here is really terrible it has snowed every day for the past two weeks sometimes it has been like a blizzard but it has not settled yet to we have been lucky about that.

Niky and I went to some motor racing over Easter and it was really freezing. I thought that my feet would drop off at any minute. But at least in between races we could get back into the car.

It is 1:45 pm at the moment and since 9:30 am Niky has been messing about with the engine of the car and getting no wiser. His hands are just getting blacker. I just do not know how he will clean all the oil off his hands.

You asked me where I work. Well I work for the Midland Bank. It is one of the "big five" in England and the most underpaid. Although I enjoy my work so the pay doesn't really bother me. The branch I work at is only in a small village called Stanningly. It is only a couple of miles from Horsforth.

I was reading about a family of ten been shot to death in Ohio. Why on Earth people do things like this I just do not know. Recently a young seventeen year-old heiress was kidnapped from her house during the night and she was missing for seven weeks and they finally found her down a drain with a rope around her neck but they say that she died of shock. The police have still not found the man who did it but they believe he must be getting help somewhere. How anybody can do a thing or even hide somebody who has done must really be wrong in the head.

I have not seen Vanishing Point but Niky has seen it (with an old girlfriend so he never mentions it). We went to see Freebie and the Bean last week and we both enjoyed it but because it had James Caan in helped it enormously. I think he is gorgeous and he seems to be a happy person which helps. 

Well, Niky is finally giving it up and wants to go for a drive to see how it's running so I think that I had better close. Give my regards to your family and love to Sue.

Bye for now, lots of love, Janet

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Note: Janet was Jeremy's brother, Nick's girlfriend. Until I found a pile of letters from her I didn't remember having communicated with her much at all. She and Nick married about a year later but divorced after less than ten years (I think).