HOME AND AWAY

Story contd.

Back home the first thing I did was write to Jamie (MTL) and thank him for the wonderful time he had given me and all the little gifts. Goodness knows how he managed it as a penniless undergrad but I was strongly discouraged from querying it, or attempting to ‘go dutch’.

As usual Andrew hadn’t written but I talked to Mum and she suggested I phone him. As a result we met in Manchester, had dinner and went to a flick. I did try to persuade him not to be so lavish but my words fell on empty ears. How times have changed – (but not my man!) As the weather got warmer we would try to arrange a whole day together and visit the deer in Dunham Park and then have boiled eggs at ‘The Swan with Two Nicks’. Considering we both had rigid off-duty systems, had to rely on others to convey messages and Andrew was a lousy letter writer we saw a great deal of each other. On the other hand, Jamie was an excellent letter writer and he sent snaps of our time together so on my bed-side locker I had two photographs – one of Andrew and one of Jamie.

The home front was very busy; Gran was back ruling the roost, Evan was commuting from home and Maddie, Paul and the baby had left Oxbridge and moved in with the aunts who now had a roomy house with a garden. Whenever I was home they would be up for lunch or supper and whilst it was great to see the baby I missed quiet times with Mum and Dad.

In Hospital our block sessions had bonded us as a group and there was lovely spirit of camaraderie. There was always someone to go shopping with, practice hair styles, share chocolate with, talk and day dream and generally do lots of girly things together. We all did much more letter writing in those days and it was a dull day that we had no letters in our pigeon hole.

I was quite open with Andrew and Jamie about the fact I was seeing them both. Jamie had mentioned that he planned to go climbing in the Lake District in the summer and wondered if I would like to join him. Would I? The thought of meandering round my favourite place with someone so experienced was an opportunity not to be missed. But I warned him I may have some opposition from the parents. At last on a rare day I had them to myself when we were walking over the hills and broached the subject. Eventually they agreed provided that it wasn’t just the two of us and that we Youth Hostelled.

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Ginny and I had often talked of trying to get time off together – perhaps she would make up our party especially as both our parents had met and liked each other. I didn’t think Jamie would have any difficulty finding an extra bod.

Then Andrew started to talk of a big Naval Ball they were having in June. He was helping to organise it and asked if I would like to go. I got the feeling that this would be some sort of test. I knew there was a lot of snobbery in the RN; Andrew had already told me that I would be acceptable because I was a student nurse in training but not if I was an assistant nurse and I thought ‘B----cks’ to that!’