Norman – Mum: 14 Nov 1917

Cambridge Hospital
Aldershot
14th Nov 1917
Dear Mum
We start our seventh week at the hospital tomorrow and there is still no word of any move at present so it almost seems as if we can consider ourselves attached to the permanent staff.  We have been having an easier time this past week owing to the convoys arriving less frequently than usual and to our being left to sleep in for two nights while the R.A.M.C. men turned out.  We are looking forward to letters from home again next week ;  the last we have received were dated Sept 9th.  I got one from you, one from Dad and one from Gorrie, and Neil got the same I think.  We have heard no word from Charley or Alec for some time now, but we get letters from Vic regularly.  He seems to have no prospects of being sent oversea before Christmas.  Two days more and we shall have been three months in England so we cant complain of our luck so far.  The tucker continues to be moderately good and we get plenty of extras from the institutes and canteens.  The weather has taken a mild turn and it is fairly dry on the whole so things continue to be fairly comfortable.  There is really no news.  It is just the same monotonous routine day after day and the life is just about the most unexciting that I have ever led.  You were asking if my veins were giving any trouble.  Those in the legs are quite alright, but my arms may get me a holiday yet.  They are not serious, only a little annoying at times.  It is five months yesterday since we saw Cape Farewell drop below the horizon and we are looking forward to the day when we shall (see) any bit of old N.Z. rise out of the water.  It may be a short time, it may be a long time, depending on which gang of guessers happens to be correct.
We all hope for the former
Till the next letter

Yours always
Norman