Jan 12 1941 Bramcote Dear Mother Well I had better drop a line off to-night although our letter hasn't arrived. I always send a reply to each one you write and even get off an odd one in between. Perhaps news will come in more regularly again. Estelles letter of nov 20 came in the morning came this morning however, and a few good moves in the right direction may even come out of all these preachings. The [?] one next to your health is the [?]. That is all I shall say on that topic. Both the girls need music and a good any more things and each circumstance must be taken in its stride sensibly. If you neglect your health through carelessness of sacrificing of things, that is very wrong and please do not allow enough strain to reach a breaking point for any of us. We are more fortunate than the yellow race - they have an acre of bog on which to raise a large family but how much better off are they than the animals We are more fortunate with our land and it's a hundred times larger but it is not dug for best results consequently we want many things and always felt sorry for ourselves. The masses are in that rut today also, and the die-hard old victorian aristocrats cannot change. Churchill's and Bevins, and Beaverbrooks have adjusted themselves to the scheme of things and as a result are steaded - in their present and future moves because of man's yesterdays of mistakes and experiments. I would probably have made a failure on the farm because it is still tradition to plough and till as our great grandfather did on scotish hills of English downs. Those people knew, yessiree! Those damn idiotic experimental [?] may be doing a hell of a lot of silly things but the wise farmer will pick up enough good-points to make the difference between health happiness and success instead of sickness by overwork, misery by lack of common sense and a misconception what the creator gives to the deserving. All of this letter you may not understand but that will be alright as it is how I think on some of these matters. Soon I shall write Lily a letter. The honey went over beautifully but - even used sparingly disappeared too quickly. Do not be insulted if I say that marmalade peanutbutter butter + sugar is a much better substitute for fruitcake. These things help out tremendously at breakfast time and a snack at night the [?] enough milk to make tea or coffee and they are even very good alone. It is certainly strange about the cigs. The last thousand were posted in Montreal Aug 17th. If you include in my address to them under my name Royal Canadian Air Force. Attached Royal Air Force there should be less dissatisfaction again if those voluntary gifts from home do not arrive that is a small complaint and need never be whispered outside of home. It's the lads who don't come in with the convoy that makes us see things in the proper proportion. Except for the interview and medical examination there is nothing further concerning the promotion. I see it is a poor idea to write on both sides of this airmail stationary but my news is about at an end. Do take care of yourself and assure Mrs. Birch I shall soon answer her letter. It took a long time to arrive and came in this mornings mail also. Be Happy Vince