Pte A Nelson
‘Dcoy'Calg. Hight
CanArmy Eng
Dec. 24/43.

Dear Mom

It may seem a little late to be answering your letter now. Not that I can find any excuse other than acute laziness & a complete absence of any thing of intrest to write about. So it is with two strikes before I begin that I start this miserable note

The parcel arrived in fine time & I sure was more than pleased with the contents. The ring fits perfectly & I'd been waiting for months for for the wallet & gloves. The cake I'm keeping for the final day, as it is in grand shape & looks as if it were made for the occasion.

I'll be sending my watch home for repairs, as it is impossable to get replacements for main springs, or any other part that goes wrong with watches in this part of the world common refered to as Limeyland The spring broke while I was winding it but it is nothing serious, & seems a bit of a bother to have to send it half way across the world for repairs.

It sure looks like its going to be a dreary Christmas for Nelly, my Janes gone & deserted me for her husband who is fresh out from the middle east, & for the life of me I can't even see my way clear of even going on a good tear to keep up the good old custom of celebrating a Limey festivety

Well keep the chin up & eat the lions share of the turkey, cause I sure plan on making up for what I've missed next year even if I have to desert to get there.

Lots of Love
Nelly