July 1972
Dear Denden
The hardest thing I have to do is start. I am very impy. Have been in London 11 days and haven't even written Claudia though we have talked several times. Piers Edward Patten was born on the 12th. No daughters in my family I fear. I've only seen him twice but he really is quite perfect and I know Machi would think so - ears back, not much hair, beautiful skin without a blemish and an adorable profile. He was 7lb 12oz. and Jennifer was at a party the evening of the 11th, went to the hospital at 4am and he was born before 8am. Hugo saw it born. The new style. Mrs Bulmer has done all the looking after of the two bigger boys since that date, and I really give her full marks because I think the backing and forth is just awful. Of course I can look at it in a mean way and say she likes just sitting and playing with, looking at, reading to, the children, and lets them be perfectly filthy, and I don't know what they eat, so it isn't as much of a chore for her. But a good way to be. Jennifer came out of the hospital after a week and has spent the days at her mother's and the nights at home, while Joan still kept the boys, who go down to the cottage again tomorrow which is the start of the summer holidays.
Lee and I went down last Sunday. When I woke in the morning I could scarcely get out of the bed, but by ten I asked Lee if he wouldn't like to go, and in the end I drove there, and he back. His car is laid up. I had four mornings of waking feeling like the devil, stomach aches etc., but thank goodness this hasn't been the case for the past two mornings. My digestion and bowels are still anything but right, and getting not the slightest bit better, so I am rather fed up with the surgeon who just said to come back in a month - to eat more steak and wine and to stop taking my temperature - and he's sure I'll be all right. Both he and the other doctor said to do anything I felt like but nothing I didn't feel like. Kind of silly. I think I have done too much as I feel more tired these past two days. He said if I overdid things I'd be tired and I wouldn't do it again. He even says I ought to be able to cut the grass, and my lawn mower is a big one.
I have recently been on the phone to Khoan Sullivan who says she wasn't well after a serious operation - for two years - and the doctor said she ought to be all right so she thought she'd better get up and carry on and advises me to consider that I'm a person of 80, and act like it. I had wondered why I heard nothing from them who come to England every summer. They had a bad car crash almost as soon as they got here in the middle of June. Car being fixed ever since. She in hospital for five days with a ten stitches gash above her eye and an internal injury to her kidney (but surely that would be very serious) and they both had cracked ribs. They have been to Sikkim, blessed by the living buddha, and entertained by the king and queen. Surely a professor doesn't get enough money to go around the world every summer?
I am having to stay in London to attend the wedding of Bangkok Chow on the 24th. Otherwise I should have gone to the EJ's. I HATE having to fix big meals for myself. The bride comes from Formosa and has been living in Bangkok with the Chows since she got out of Formosa, waiting for a visa to Canada, where Bangkok is with Shell, but he goes to MIT in the autumn. I had supper with the family two nights ago and met the girl. The wedding is to be at the Siam Embassy, and a feast at a restaurant at 7.30. My boys are going too, but Jennifer doesn't think she ought to come down from the cottage (also added that she had nothing to wear). I have been doing something to the dress made for Hugo's wedding which I never liked and haven't worn since. I discarded a silly over-skirt and stitched a cowl neck sort of kerchief on it, and it seems to be very nice.
I have been fiddling with my summer clothes which all were too long or too short. It is really too hot for London. Poor dried garden. Mary Frances Rivers who came to see me yesterday, a very keen gardener, says London has had three very dry summers with no heavy winter snows, and three of her trees have just died. I am sure that is why my two best hydrangeas are useless. Phil watered heavily. I was told this house could fetch £100,000. You really feel you ought to sell. If I bought a short lease flat I would have a great deal of money in hand. If I just hadn't worked so hard. Joanna Spicer wrote me suddenly, suggesting lunch. She said she thinks cancer is brought on by worry and anxiety, a thing I've noticed. My builder phoned last night. Undoubtedly has tried often. I still owe him £67 which I said I'd pay as soon as he eases a door, and I'll not contact Bill Maddison again. Just see what he does.
Had a long chat with Ellen. She much enjoyed her dancing act. Lee saw it. I asked what she was like and after quite a pause he said she was a good amateur. She has enjoyed her garden very much, burying lots of rubble, covering it with the dirt she took out making a raised bed, and she says everything in it is blooming away. She is very game. I am sure the wall that fell down between her and the neighbour is still down. She says she doesn't want her house to be her hobby for the next many years, and I was surprised to find she considered it so, as you wouldn't guess it.
I was appalled at your carrying thirty buckets of earth - but most pleased about the good news of your eyes. Why not sell that huge sofa, and the chairs for that matter. You can't often use that side as a sitting room anyway, and it's nice to have a dining room.
I have such a nice tenant I can't believe it. She helped me wash my car - really did it all while I talked. I am handing them my brush that fits on a hose. They will pay for a hose that can stay down in the basement front where the tap is. They have been bringing buckets of water from upstairs. She also cuts at the mind-your-own-business, but doesn't like to come through when I'm here, so I hope she does more when I go - which I think I will do - go to the cottage where Jennifer and the boys and Mollie Patten the cleaner with her two girls will be until the 7th of August. I'll be alone in my house. The EJ's can't have me until the 4th now. This is a new form to me. A smaller one is cheaper. This is quite good, isn't it. Much love.
I think I will go see the new Piers (they like the name, and like Piers too).
No answer to the phone, so I'll eat instead. Do get a bit lonesome. As you suggested, maybe I won't enjoy my life when I've no work to do.