Tuesday 2nd February, 2010
My Dear Jeremy,
As well as the green-green of the grass and the beautiful blossoms on the trees, the many and varied shapes of the chimney pots still sticks in my memory as I look back to that time of arriving in England the land of my forefathers.
We were delighted with our accommodation at Tripp Hill near the village of Fittleworth. It seemed a story book address to us. This was a large Victorian semi-detached house owned by Mr and Mrs Kynock who specialised in renting to families home on leave. The house was divided into two flats and the family lived in the attic. Jenny, their daughter, lived at home and was at a local school but the two sons were away at boarding school. I think Mr Kynock worked in the city we did not see much of him.
Our bedroom was large and spacious with a bay window looking out over the fields and Christopher and Jill shared the room next door. The furniture was also huge and spacious and Victorian. Downstairs we had a dining cum sitting room also with a Bay window and we shared a large kitchen with the other family. We cooked on an Aga stove and in the ceiling hung a contraption which one lowered to peg the laundry on then hauled it up into the ceiling to dry. Out at the back was a small barn known as the Television room. This was our first viewing of television which was broadcast at certain times of the day. Christopher and Jill really enjoyed this. The long lawn stretched beyond where the children played.
We explored the village and Mrs Kynock introduced us to the local pub where she met us on her red moped to stand Michael to a wicked little nip, Can't remember what that was as I only drank cider in those days. We often met her there. She and Jenny were very friendly.
One afternoon Jenny invited me to go with her into the woods to collect wild strawberries. Believe it or not, as I parted the grass to get at the strawberry, there, curled up was an adder. Of course I screamed and jumped back. Jenny came running as she had never seen a adder before but by that time it too had got a fright and disappeared. I don't think we gathered many strawberries that day.
The days were warm and I wondered why every one complained about the English weather but Jenny assured us they were having a heat wave.
We explored the countryside and visited Petworth House where I was entranced by the wood carvings of Grinling Gibbons as well as the collection of large oil paintings
We went down to the sea. Christopher went into the water to swim but it was so shallow he went running further and further out. In a real panic I put Celia on my hip and ran calling, calling after him but the water did not seem to get any deeper. Thank goodness so unlike the South African coast.
We visited the Hentys and met Mrs Henty. Ken belonged to the Automobile Association and rode around on a motor cycle rescuing stranded motorists.
A lady came to clean the flats at Tripp Hill and we became friendly and she invited us to lunch in her council flat which shone like a new pin.
Robbie was visiting a vicar friend who invited us to what I thought was to be morning tea. We sat out in the garden in the sunshine and sipped sherry and ate chocolate biscuits. Was this what the English all did at 11oclock each morning?
Chris and Jill had riding lessons at a stable along the road Jill rode Annie and Chris Elfin.
We picked the wild flowers in the hedgerows to put on the very old rustic table in our sitting room. We enjoyed the wonder of it all.
The Kynocks in the meantime had bought a little old cottage called Little Norwood and were doing it up for weekends. They said it was built of random rubble and had to dig the floors down as it had very low ceilings and the Kynocks were very tall except for Mrs Kynock.
One day she asked what it was about Michael, what quality he had as when hurrying along and she passed him a sense of quiet and calmness come over her. I think many people felt this about Michael. Later, when she was sick with cancer and dying Mr Kynock wrote to Michael and asked him to pray for her. He kept in contact with her until the end.
Christine Powell, Dad's cousin who was still at university spent a day with us. I remember being particularly impressed because she played cricket. We visited Arundel Castle, Lewes Castle and the Cowdray ruins at Midhurst. One afternoon Jenny and I visited Pulborough Castle while Michael looked after the children.
Jill got a bit worried when we went sightseeing and asked how we would know to get home again. She was given her first lesson in map reading.
More next time
Love you, Mum