France. Dec 8 /17

My dear Fern:

I received four more letters to-day; one from each of you. Yours was 27 - I received 28 & 29 yesterday. Opened the box of candy yesterday; it sure is good. The only trouble is I eat too much.

Wrote you a couple of days ago and to Dad last night. Had a long letter from Grannie too. Nothing much ever happens here so I am running out of material as I think I write quite often.

Have not been flying to-day but am standing by in case any Huns come over the lines. Then we are to go up and chase them away and believe me they don't wait very long when they see us. I came out here at a very good time for there are not many enemy machines about. There was some talk a while ago that they were saving their machines for the spring. That suits us fine for I am getting a lot of flying in and getting used to the country which is all good experience. Two-thirds of our casualties are only fellows getting lost and landing in Hunland and so being made prisoners so even if anything does ever happen to me the chances are that I will still be all right.

You will have to keep an eye on the battery in the car. It is the only thing that needs much attention. If you use the starter too much you will need to have the battery charged occasionally. Also the lights were not working right when I left.

You did not tell me that you still had a nurse. I wish you would keep me better informed as to really how sick Dad is.

I wrote to the little devil again this morning. You need not worry about him as the R.N.A.S. is the softest job going.

I am due for two weeks leave about the first week in February. It seems a long way off but the time passes fairly quickly. It is just a month yesterday that I left England.

It is fairly cold flying some mornings now at fifteen thousand and so. It must be rotten for some fellows in small scouts especially but we are very lucky in having a stationary engine. The main trouble we have is to keep it cool. I came down the other day with my engine boiling so that keeps us fine and warm except for our faces on which we now use whale-oil.

Just came down from a flip. Nothing much doing - no Huns to be seen.

Have to stop now as I have several more letters to write.

Love to all,
Gord