East Sandling
Sunday Jan 2/15

My Dear Mother

I rec' letter from you dated Dec 12th and one also from Arleen and Cecil. I was just beginning to think what had happened as I never had a letter all last week and I knew you write one every week; but the mail was delayed as it only came in once this week and it is supposed to come on Wednesday and Saturday.

I got a parvel from 478 Dalmorial St the other. It was for Leslie Arthur and myself and from the whole household. I haven't got the parcel but Mrs Leith sent yet nor the apples that Father sent; but I expect Mrs Leiths any day but am hopeful about the apples. It rained yesterday afternoon and has rained all day today so I didn't go out any place. Mac knows some friends down in Folkestone and so spend Xmas and New Years with them. Yesterday we had to move out of our hut and they put four in each hut out of our platoon so we are all split up again, but Arthur Leslie, Mac and myself managed to get in the same hut. Another draft from Winnipeg the other day, they don't like the idea of all this mud but they will soon get used to it. The other day I got a parcel of chocolate from Frank [?] and a letter a few days before. I guess I will have to write and thank him for them. I got a letter from [?] [?] today also. I haven't had a letter from [?] Mary yet buy expect on any say as I had an answer to the one I wrote to Aunt Tillie. I have got over my cold and am feeling fine now. We have to go down to the shooting ranges tomorrow morning and have to have breakfast by six o'clock. We were down the other day and shooting at a range of two hundred yards. I made mine out of twenty [?] so that wasn't too bad for the first time. I never shot out of a rifle.

Plenty of fellows made worse and [?] made better shots but I am getting better as I go along. I suppose you have rather cold weather and plenty of snow but the time this letter reaches you. How do Arleen and Cecil manage about going to school and do they drive alone. I guess Cecil would be kind of careful about driving [?] when they had a runaway. Has Father left for the coast yet?

Ralph Connor gave us a present today in the form of a little book. I haven't read it yet but when I read it I will send it home to you. He gave us a fine sermon this morning on the war. He talked about the relation and condition the different countries were in since the outbreak of the war and said that he could see the end in sight. I haven't had a letter from Frank for quite a time but expect on any day.

New Years morning we had an inspection by the officer commanding of the battalion. We had to stand about an hour and a half before he got thro. We had to have our pack on with a [?] of underwear, shirt, shaving [?] and [?]. One company were dressed up very neat do they have pack drill for three days in their own time. The Major in Command passes some very severe sentences. Some of the lads of the original [?] got leave at Xmas after being here all summer. They were supposed to be back in camp Christmas night and that would mean that most of the lads would have to leave home Christmas eve and because some of the lads were four hours late they got seven days in the cells and their pay stopped for five days.

The next time I write I will send a few snaps which we are getting printed off of a few taken in camp and around the huts. I rec' the package you sent and will try will keep and carry at one my bible all the time. With love to all.

From your loving Son
Jim