Post by Diarist on Jun 22, 2016 23:15:19 GMT 1
George and I dropped off the mail at the HQ then we invited Sally and Mum to the Saffron Hotel for dinner. They hadn't cooked anything because they didn't know when we would be back. Beatrice Patton arrived about 30 minutes later and we sat outside because it was a mild evening. A short while later I.D. joined us with his wife Julia.
After we had eaten I.D. asked what I can tell them about Irvine.
"He grew up in the former German colony Cameroun. After the war he went to Germany and served in the Reichswehr. He later transferred to the Wehrmacht but is no friend of Hitler or the Nazis so he decided to come to England. A friend of ours in Germany has recommended him so we went to Lisbon to whisk him out of Europe. He has been given a new identity because he has family still living in Nazi Germany and they would be in danger if it were known that Irvine were here. That's all there is to say. End of topic."
Sally said, "We've been offered an allotment a couple miles north of here on the road to Little Walden. It costs £5 per year. It has a small hut, a hand pump for water and there is even electricity, but that costs extra. If there is a war there will be rationing and it would be good to be able to grow our own vegetables."
"A great idea but who is going to work there and when?"
"I can do it. You know I like gardening. We had vegetables in our garden in Kent remember."
"Of course I remember. I also remember doing most of the work there too. Rent it, Sally. It's a good offer. How big is it?"
"50 yards by 20 yards."
"That's almost a field. Much too big for one person. Are you sure it's yards not feet?"
"They said yards."
"We'll take a look tomorrow morning. I have a few other things to take care of. I volunteered to be Irvine's sponsor so I have to make sure he and his family get settled in."
Before leaving I left a note for Lucy or Gertrud to call me at my office in the morning.
After we had eaten I.D. asked what I can tell them about Irvine.
"He grew up in the former German colony Cameroun. After the war he went to Germany and served in the Reichswehr. He later transferred to the Wehrmacht but is no friend of Hitler or the Nazis so he decided to come to England. A friend of ours in Germany has recommended him so we went to Lisbon to whisk him out of Europe. He has been given a new identity because he has family still living in Nazi Germany and they would be in danger if it were known that Irvine were here. That's all there is to say. End of topic."
Sally said, "We've been offered an allotment a couple miles north of here on the road to Little Walden. It costs £5 per year. It has a small hut, a hand pump for water and there is even electricity, but that costs extra. If there is a war there will be rationing and it would be good to be able to grow our own vegetables."
"A great idea but who is going to work there and when?"
"I can do it. You know I like gardening. We had vegetables in our garden in Kent remember."
"Of course I remember. I also remember doing most of the work there too. Rent it, Sally. It's a good offer. How big is it?"
"50 yards by 20 yards."
"That's almost a field. Much too big for one person. Are you sure it's yards not feet?"
"They said yards."
"We'll take a look tomorrow morning. I have a few other things to take care of. I volunteered to be Irvine's sponsor so I have to make sure he and his family get settled in."
Before leaving I left a note for Lucy or Gertrud to call me at my office in the morning.