Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

Undated sketch

[1 January [1916]] Im sorry dear to appear to be delaying on the RGA business I want to make sure pos. The W.O. are not like ordinary people & you have to be wary with them, So lets hope we get good news from the Farquarsons. Yes I think Food Pence Party was a joke, All the same Ford is a very fine man in more ways than one. Do you know

[1 January [1916]] Ive just opened a parcel now & thank you awfully dear for all the nice things it contains. The French book has grand big print which is a great thing. I must tell you we are your plum pudding last night it was fine: it was merged in with those of others in a big pudding.
I am writing this to Paris I expect it’ll catch you OK.

[1 January [1916]] didn’t want “to throw his service at the ‘eds of any of his other non-commissioned officers”, wanting I suppose to show a tolerant spirit towards our inexperience & amateurishness. The old chap apparently mixed his drinks a little too freely for he was in bed at noon today.

[1 January [1916]] Here is a little souvenir of the Party last night a howling success*. I think this sketch that Gray did is very good we kept it on till 2 30 am all merry but no one up-roarious which was good. We invited as a guest our artificer an old soldier. He was very happy & made 5 speeches explaining all of them that he *refers to MS 11274/17

[1 January [1916]] major at all as it is a move that comes prejudices which of course doesnt matter if I pull it offm but does if I dont. So let us wait till we hear a little more and when you go to London perhaps you could call on your aunt and explain how much the Army would lose if they dont gazette me etc..

[1 January [1916]] cannot be much help then my best move will be to apply through the Major of the W.O. in the usual way. The great drawback to all this is that the W.O. will delay interminably & then perhaps gazette me to something else such as R.F.A. Also if these were small chance of success it were better not to approach the

[1 January [1916]] on you. Now about the RGF and the Farquarson party. From both your enclosed letters it appears that its better to wait till Mrs Farquarshon meets the Colonel Spencer Farquarson before I see the Major to get my recommendation from him you see I would want to know if possible the chances of success in the getting R.G.A.
If of course the Farquarsons

Saturday 1st January [1916]
Dearest I say First a happy new year and a wish that it does not grow very old before we are together. A lot of business to talk now: First I think you should go back home or to London as soon as you can. Im sure it would do you a lot of good to have a change & a rest; as you say being below ground for a long time must tell

[23 December 1918] anyway there it is. Each pier has a little house with windows except the end abutment piers which have quite big houses built about them and at each of the four corners is an Emperor on a horse. Id not be saying there is great beauty in the statues or even in the piers but the steelwork is magnificent. The design is perfectly simple just as in my Plate I no latticing or counter bracing.
Having arrived at the end going back into Cologne you see the Cathedral the greatest outside in the world they say. The façade of the Cathedral is overwhelming.
But it was afternoon when I got there & by the time I had bought the beer it was dark nearly. Im going to have a proper day at it. Our programme for next year is as follows:
January 1st 2 weeks Section gun drill
January 2nd 2 weeks Battery gun drill
February Brigade gun drill
March Shooting
This is serious. Can you beat it? You must read the Belle au bois down ante two before Noll has it eaten
Pat