Seaford Sussex
Feb 20th 17
Dear Jessie
Just a few lines this morning as I sit in my hut waiting for some officious officer or N C O to come in & order me out on parade. Have just finished my first period which was an indoor lecture on machine gun work. When the three or four of us came out we were to report back to our companys but as it is raining like sixty we thought our hut looked best so we to our cabin repaired. I am sitting in front of our little 2 by 4 stove writing with the pad on my knee so if the scrawl is any worse than usual that is why. There is some mud & slop out of doors today. In fact I am almost afraid it is to wet for any officer to come around & catch us. but I should worry if they don't I can finish this letter & have lots of time for others tomorrow before the mail leaves
Say Awbry Bell is over here now too. I met him in the Y M C A on Sunday evening He is very boyish looking & has not changed very much It is funny how we run across fellows over here. Then we are parting with other friends all the time whom we may never meet till we run across them some day in Canada again.
There is another draft to be picked right away quick but as I haven't got my glasses yet I down't know how I will make out on it. I was speaking to the Segt Major a few minutes ago & he says that he did not turn my name in & I bawled him out for fair. He said he would find out particulars from the M.O. & let me know later on but, I don't think I will leave it to him for he is apt to forget & Im sick of this stuff here besides my mates as they say here are going & I want to go with them. If they don't send me this time Ill quit the job & go back to Canada. Thats the way to get even eh!
Well I believe I will quit & go see the M.O. & the canteen & the billiard table if it is empty so I will finish this tonight or tomorrow or ta sometime before the mail goes out & after it comes in.
Well here I am bumming again had one more lecture on the M. G. & now I think I can finish the day in the hut. I was to see the M.O. & he said he would fix it so the glasses would not stop me again. I saw the Canteen & it gave me as much chocolate for a shilling as I could buy in Canada for a nickel. I saw the Billiard table & beat another guy by about 20 points. now Im writing again while several others are playing Banker. The most of them are out on parade however so I figure I am pretty lucky. The fog is so thick that they will never miss one or two.
Say there is a dance here tomorrow night but I think 3 bob is better to me than a dance for I am not fond of it over here besides I don't know a solitary lady in the country. The only reason I might go would be to have something to write home about & it sure would be something eh! "Carry on", I don't intend to go.
Well Jess I guess I will cut this short & write another I can't use all my paper & ink & patients? & news & gossip & fabrications in one letter in these hard times. For any sake tell me some of the Biggar gossip.
Lovingly Rae
