So I Have Thought of You: The Letters of Penelope Fitzgerald. Penelope Fitzgerald

course in Spain at Easter, which I should hardly have thought we could have applied for otherwise, and Miss Kershaw will be really pleased, and she has tried to help, I know! Forgive this scrawl, I must congratulate you at once, this double A is not so easy to get, even by people who spend every vacation in France

      much love Mum

      AAAAAAAAA

      

      [postcard]

      [August 1967]

      Sitting in the sun making cappuc(h)inos last – you’ll sympathise I’m sure

      Please forgive me if someone has sent Napoleon’s bed before, I thought you’d like it

      (Marie Walenska’s as she was the only one who’d come.) Still talking about your good news, though Maria speculating what Dish^* will say about terrible Epstein affair. Absurd rumours in Italian papers about Aga Khan and Princess Margaret.

      Glad Nancy^** was nice.

      much love Mum

      

      Queens Gate, sw7

      24 March [1968]

      Dearest Tina,

      Not really anything to say since you rang up last night but I thought I’d just write a few lines. It’s icy in this library as the heater doesn’t seem to work, so I’ve seized the opportunity to say that everyone who is cold must go away – and all have left except a few faithful scribblers. – But stay, Odious Mr Turner, the shady odd-job man who is running an independent plumbing and decorating business from the basement, has come in and said he’ll fix it – I wish he wouldn’t.

      Needless to say I can’t wait for your letter, as we all know that it is ‘incredible’ at the Maltbys. I wonder why? I’m so very glad you arrived safely – I still think they might have made better arrangements. And I wonder what your ‘charge’ as babies are called in the ‘Nursery World’ is like?

      John Probst came yesterday and ate large quantities and took Maria for a spin on his motor bike to Godstone, from which she came back so cold that she had a sort of rash all over her cheeks. She loves going fast – she always enjoys things so much. Probst is very ingenuous, and told me exactly all the quantities of bread cheese and coffee he’d ordered for his party the night before, with the exact prices, and how he’d decided to give a daffodil to everyone ‘to be thoroughly out of date’ as he quite brightly added. He’s very sympathetic and always takes a great interest in everyone else, and apparently believes all that they say – he told me a long story about a Mrs Lazaretto ? a friend of his parents who was a second mother to him, and determined to have each of her nine children on Sept 26th (I think), so delayed her labour pain by the power of thought – this is nonsense – anyway he’s off on a surveying course now, their degree seems very odd to me.

      We went to Jeremy Court for lunch – Angie now tired of Peter Jones and says they are all jealous of her because she is a foreigner and can manage all the department better than they can, as they are common and haven’t the power to command: so I think it’s a good thing she’s leaving there soon. I reminded Valpy about Huelva, I think he’ll do something. He’s a good boy and I’m sure he’s happy, what else matters?

      On Wednesday I make my annual pilgrimage to the school play with Miss Macrini – a small collation first at Lyons. Maria sportingly says she’ll come too (it’s As You Like It!) but I certainly shan’t hold her to this.

      It seems Daddy had to walk all the way from Victoria to Clapham – I really am sorry but money really is short – and now he says he’s ‘not certain’ if he’ll be paid on Friday – I think Lunn have given up paying altogether! My income tax problems are tiresome, as Mrs Lavender (immensely frail and ancient Bursar) is now alienated by my enquiries although I’ve hitherto been on excellent terms with her, and I still have to pay all the extra tax. Daddy must go round and see Mr Hassan, my Oriental sounding inspector, he’s a big strong man and he must face Mr Hassan. Daddy says, why are you sometimes so bold and sometimes so timid – but don’t you find that you’re also like this.

      I’m quite dismayed by my book-table. – I’ll never get all these books read, and I’m still seeing double! Hard Times! Adolphe! Apologia Pro Vita Sua! Maria has started on Little Dorrit: she selected it herself – she says that she can’t bear it when other people keep talking about books,

      Well enough of this: what really interests me is to hear about you and the Maltbys.

      much love dear

      Ma

      

       Sir Henry Lunn

       Marble Arch House

       World travel (!!)

      Sunday [7 April 1968]

      

      Dearest Tina – No air-mail paper so am using Sir Henry Lunn’s shoddy lightweight office paper. – We miss you so much, but Maria pointed out firmly and quite correctly, on the station, that we mustn’t stare, as Tina was getting just a little embarrassed by us. – We had to go and have coffee and buns in Lyons to cheer ourselves up.

      Quite exhausted by emotions raised by Eurovision Song Contest: We felt sure Cliff should have won, though doubtful about his dress of nylon ruffles and dandy’s velvet-effect suit. It was very odd Germany suddenly giving 6 votes for Spain, I’m sure it was a vote to promote trade. (Wollen Sie in Spanien gehen?) As usual I was quite wrong as the one I thought best got no votes at all, and Sandie Shaw looked frightful in ostrich-effect feathers and was hit by a piece of stage.

      No letter for Valpy from The Economic Associates Inc: so I daresay he’ll accept the Mobil offer, and I do think it will be best if he settles his mind and accepts it, and probably Don Rafael^* will be impressed and pay for the wedding (and also expect Valpy to get jobs for his relations in oil companies). Anyway, we expect him back late tonight.

      Maria has given me my first guitar lesson but I’m very slow and my fingers are so stiff. I’ve done your room out and the kitchen, with not much visible effect but I feel better as it was always a great thing to have the spring-cleaning started by Palm Sunday. – I can’t stand these dried-up bits of palm, what would be the point of strewing them under anyone’s feet? I do wish we still had bunches of pussy-willow. – Meanwhile I am continuing to read the Ruskin book slowly, as I’m enjoying it so much. How ill they all were – all Victorians I mean – and how much they talk about it, and what endurance they had all the same.

      

      It’s very smelly here this morning and I do envy you the nice pure air and wide skies of Castile. – Maria is reading a historical romance in the Loo. – She sends all her love and so does Daddy.

      Longing to hear from you –

      Much love always – Mum X

      

      Happy Easter and Much Love from us all

      

      11 April [1968]

      Dearest Tina,

      Very relieved to get your letter, and realise that you were not poisoned by the Cornish pasties from the cook-shop. Not surprised to hear about many deficiencies of the trip – but at least they got you there which is more than our ridiculous Escort would have done to Córdoba. Hope the 2 chicas are under your control: I’m sure they are.

      Valpy still out interviewing – I quite see that he feels the Mobil job would be terribly staid and settled to start in, and wants to go abroad – they’ve written him a terribly nice letter saying that they’d love him to come for his personal qualities – no matter about degree. Better perhaps are the Economic Associates (not the wild glamorous one) who have shorter smaller projects, but more secure I think. Anyway he’s encouraged that he’s