London, Sept. 11/18 (but written after the Sept 14 letter)

Dear Mother.-

Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along these days. You will see that I am now on my sick furlough and have got till the 28th when I will report to Shornciffe for duty. When I was leaving Epom yesterday Andrews, of the 53rd was in the same lot as me and he left this afternoon for the north part of England. When I walked into the Y.M.C.A. this morning came across both George & Douglas Young. George is on leave from France and Douglas has not been back since he was wounded last fall and he is now with the Strathcona Horse. They expected Bill to come up today from his depot, but he has not come so far. Just as I was sitting down to tea about half an hour ago they hollered my name and it was Uncle Dick he had just met the Young boys & they told him where I was so he came in to say good-bye to me as he has orders to report to go back again. Did I mention that he went down to Epom last Saturday to see me, but cannot remember if I wrote since that or not. Most likely this will go over at the same time as he does, although he does not know how long it will be before they do leave. I got your letter dated about August 9 the other day and one from Gordon dated the 8th saying he was well. Also had a letter from Aunt Mabel but have not got any of it here as it is down at the station yet in the store room with my kit. Likewise had a nice long letter from Miss McEwan. Will be taking a run up to Liverpool most likely about the end of the week. When I was down at the pay office yesterday afternoon say Dick Holmes and he looked pretty bad too, but was working there. Uncle Dick went down to see him the other day and he was home sick. I am writing this in a new Y.M.C.A. that is run by Canadians. Well its not exactly new but has not been running only for a few months and it is a dandy place. You can get a good square meal here and very cheap too in comparison with other places. Can you tell me if I answered Aunt Mabels letter yet or not as I seem to be very absent minded for some reason or other, but have an idea that I have not so you see will have to take a little time off to catch up with my mail even if I am on leave. I cannot do much tramping around anyway as it seems to play me out very quickly especially since I have done very little exercise for over three months now. The next time my stomach goes wrong and they still think I have appendicitis think I will let them take it out or at least ask them to do so and satisfy their curiousity and then perhaps they will be able to locate the trouble. I have met a few of the boys of the D.O.C. today who are on leave from France and was glad I was not with them from what news they gave me concerning them. You would think it funny me being in London and sitting down here at this time (8.30 P.M.) with all kinds of things going on and not taking any of them in but do not seem to have any inclination to do anything although at present feel better than I have for months but at times get a dickens of a sharp pain in my side, but have not get any too much money and it is better to go slow at the beginning so as not to run short of funds as I do not want to go back to the depot broke. Well I guess there is nothing more than I can think of this time so will close. With love to all your loving son

Gordon

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