I'm so distressed about the truss -- I hope it is comfortable and does not worry you. Did you strain yourself or stretch unduly, and will you now be able to do your exercises which are so potent a preventative of indigestion? Please take great care of yourself.

My Darling,

I have big news. Mary is home from Germany for good and has applied for a position in London or nearby. It's very good of her because she was having a thrilling time in Germany. She asked to be sent home so that she could be near us. And they granted her request. She rang me up from Tilbury, and said 'I'm home for good'. I think she may be demobilized in February -- I feel warmed and comforted by her presence.

I'm so happy to see from your letter that you are enjoying the beauty of the Lake sand the comfort and elegance of the Villa. I have had a most amusing letter from Sarah describing her apricot colored and mirrored bathroom.

Work is progressing rather slowly, but I hope surely, on the Chartwell and London fronts -- Whitbread is industrious and thorough and smiling. Max's hens are beautiful and have laid a few (a very few) eggs, of exquisite flavor but of diminutive size -- about the size of a pigeon's egg. So we have to give two instead of one, to those who are registered with us. But Moppett says, they will get bigger and more numerous presently.

Your Pal, Damaskinos is here being entertained by Mr. Attlee and Crankie. I see Anthony Eden attended the dinner.

No German prisoners yet till after the Harvest. It will be lovely when the lake camouflage is gone and also the barbed wire.

I enclose a cutting from the DT.

I must hurry because your mail is just off. I'm sending 2 bottles of brandy as requested. I hope they are the right sort?

Yours loving

Clemmie