Lansdowne Crescent: Chapter 3
Jean Day’s novel concerns the lives of families living in a crescent in Worcester in the early days of last century.
This week there is a letter from Malaya from a young woman who once lived in Lansdowne Crescent.
Muriel sends greetings, Christmas 1909.
Dear Jessie,
How exciting to hear that you and your family have moved onto Lansdowne Crescent. You must let me know how my mother is getting on. She doesn’t write very often, and when she does, she never says much and she never complains. I am sure she misses me and seeing Jan very much, but it couldn’t be any more than I miss seeing her and being in Worcester.
Our new son, John King, whom we call Jan is a delight. He was born at the end of October, so as I write this, he is just a month old. I have been so worried that he would die, as our first son did so soon after his birth last year. But I took great care of myself before his birth and made sure I avoided any possibility of catching anything. I ate as well as I possibly could and rested a lot. Anyway, as a result he so far is a picture of health and we can now start to relax a bit. I am feeding him, but we have a nanny who helps with most of the aspects of caring for him. She is a lovely Malayan girl called Kim. She is only 17 and seems hardly old enough to be in charge of a small baby, but she has cared for several younger brothers and sisters at home, and has had the childcare training course which is offered for those of the natives who wish to work for the English here.
I wish I could say that I am adjusting to living in this country, but to be honest I hate it, and have done so from the first. Harold is so disappointed that I can’t see the good aspects of it – but the weather is very hot and humid and there is nothing to do. I am so lonely and so bored. Now that we have baby Jan at least I have a purpose for my existence here. He still does little besides eating and sleeping but it shouldn’t be long before he begins to take notice and smile. I long for the days when I can talk to him and play with him and he will become a real person. Not that I don’t love holding him now, and he is very good, as babies go, but I so long for him to grow enough to be able to communicate with me.
Harold works long hours and comes home exhausted. He really only wants to shower and eat, and then relax a bit before sleep. We have done very little socialising. If it weren’t for the books I read, and the letters I write, and my art, I would not have been able to cope before Jan came. But now I have a new reason for living.
Harold has applied for the manager’s job which has become vacant. If he gets it, we will be moving to Ipoh. That would at least mean a bit more in the way of shopping and socialising for me. And it means I will be with other white families who have young children for Jan to play with.
I so much enjoy your letters. Do write and let me know all that is happening on Lansdowne Crescent and elsewhere in Worcester too. Has Tom Stinton asked your sister Carrie to marry him yet? Have you or Margaret found any men to your taste? How is Margaret enjoying her job this year? Please give my best wishes to all your family, and thank you again for being such a good correspondent to me.
Love
Muriel
