No. 7925934. Sgt. Greenwood.
British Army Exhibition
British Army Staff
B.L.A. Paris
9.7.45
Monday evening.
Jessie Mine: I have nothing special to report today: it has been terribly hot and sultry and I haven’t had the energy to do any sight-seeing. After lunch, I set out to go for a walk along the river, but felt worn out after a mile or so, so I popped into a French news-theatre for a rest. I saw a Disney ‘Pluto’ cartoon, and lots of news items about the French army, and a short picture of one of De Gaulle’s official tours with the Sultan of Morocco.
After tea – it was about 5.0 pm – I lay on my bed for a ‘think’ and awoke at 7.30! I felt very annoyed for wasting so much time. I daresay I would have been asleep yet but for a slightly unpleasant dream. I saw a bicyle somewhere in Paris, and knowing it was your byke, I commandeered it, thinking you must have unconsciously left it lying around. And then a young lady appeared and claimed it as hers… An argument followed… the police appeared… and it looked as though I was a suspected bicycle thief. And then I woke up in a sweat! But it took me half an hour to regain my senses: I felt really doped. It must be the air: there hasn’t been even a slight breeze all day: there is no life at all in the air.
The ‘eclipse’ made little difference (if any!) to the heat. In fact, I don’t think it was even remembered by most people. It was very hazy here at the time, but the sun was still fainlty visible. I had no coloured glass, so wasn’t able to see anything.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, I am on duty… this time from 10.30 am until 1.0 pm… and then from 5.0 pm until 9.0 pm. I am also guard commander for the night, so will not be able to write in the evening, as the exhibition hall lighting supply is switched off at 9.00 pm. But if I have anything worth saying, I will write to you during the afternoon.
Jess… I have just heard some heavy thunder, so it looks as though we are going to have some rain. I hope we are: I certainly would like to breathe some fresh, cool, air.
I have had no letters for a couple of days, but this is no doubt due to one of those postal hold-ups: I have a feeling there will be at least one letter for me tomorrow. I hope everything is alright with you, dear. In your last letter, you said you would have to devote a special letter to Barry and his latest antics. I am looking forward to it: you cannot possibly tell me too much about Jess and Barry. Your description of his attempts at talking are always amusing: wouldn’t it be nice if we could make a record of them? I would like, for instance to hear him ‘sneeze’ when he says “kiss”. But these are some of the things of his babyhood that I can only enjoy through your letters. I do enjoy them, Jess: It is so easy to follow your detailed descriptions.
Am going to bed now: I may feel a bit cooler when I undress.
Goodnight, my love,
Always
Your Trevy.