18 Oct 1935 - Saffron Hotel

[Diarist]

To my surprise Sally was also at the Hotel. "When you told me that Gertrude would be helping out here at weekends we arranged to meet so that we can buy some appropriate clothes for her."
"Excellent. You going to London?"
"Yes. Can I have the car?"
"Of course. I won't need it anymore today."
"Can you send this letter to Irvine?" Lucy asked.
"We have a courier leaving this evening. The photos of your new home are being sent too."
"COL Wilkins has told me that all is well with the problem that arose yesterday," Sally said.
"Yes. I talked to Winston Churchill. Anthony Eden has taken full credit for the idea. Oh, I almost forgot. I've called off the BBQ because the forecast for tomorrow is terrible. It'll probably start to rain this evening so drive carefully and don't leave it too late."
John and Edward arrived. "Did you purchase it?" I asked John.
"Naturally. It's just what I'm looking for. Did you know that the second building has an indoor swimming pool?"
"You need to keep that secret, John. I was thinking about buying it myself then renting out rooms. We are always receiving new people at TRADOC looking for a place to stay. It would make a great BOQ."
"BOQ?"
"Bachelor Officer Quarters. Most young Lieutenants are unmarried and they need quarters."
"Have you had time to read the newspapers this morning?" I shook my head. "The Prime Minister has announced a plan to call up a million unemployed men over the next two years and teach them a trade before they go through military training. That sounds very much like what you discussed with John Keynes a couple of weeks ago."
"You talked with John Keynes?" John asked.
"He's our Economic Advisor at the Annex. The plan will enable you to get cheap apprentices and workers because they will receive military pay and you only have to pay the difference. You will have to teach them a trade though and most of them, in your case, will eventually be assigned to the RAF. It's all part of the expansion and will provide jobs which will lead to more employment, GDP growth and that means more tax revenues."
When will that happen?"
"Hopefully as soon as possible. For permanent workers you need to hire women and teach them how to assemble aircraft. They won't get called up."
"Things are taking shape aren't they, Bob?"
"And you need to be prepared. Have your firms look for sleeping accommodation. Empty office blocks or halls. No tent cities, please. Choose a project officer at each location who reports to a project officer at Vickers. Do it next week, John. Let Vickers set a fine example and you'll be rewarded."
"I'm on it, Bob."
"I have to get back to work. More planning for the exercise next week."

[Diarist]

After work I went to the Hotel and had a talk with Luigi. Now that there is a Peace Treaty between Italy and the U.K. his status should change soon. He is no longer staying at the Hotel. Last week they started renting a 2-bedroom apartment. Actually it's half of a cottage and is big enough for the three of them. I told him that Rommel has arrived but his name is now Irvine Miller.
"His daughter will be helping out in the restaurant at weekends starting this evening. Her name is Gertrude."
"How is the planning for the exercise?"
"More or less complete. I'm praying for good weather otherwise there will be no parachute mission and that will mean I am grounded and nowhere near the battlefield."
"There's Sally," he said.
"...and that's Gertrude with her. They've been shopping in London."
"Hello, darling. I see you've bought everything in Oxford Street." They were both carrying 7 or 8 bags.
"Not quite, but almost."
"Gertrude, this is Luigi. Sprichst Du italienisch?"
"Nein. Ich muß umziehen." She has to change.
"Let me help you because I have to talk with Lucy."
I took the bags which Sally had been carrying then knocked on Lucy's door. I showed her the letter from the Foreign Office and translated it.
"Have you telephoned or written to anyone in Germany since you have arrived here."
"No, of course not. You said not to."
"Now you are officially dead so it is imperative that you have absolutely no contact with Germany. The Gestapo monitor international telephone calls and read mail. You have to impress that upon Gertrude and Manfred. I'll tell Irvine when I see him next Tuesday."
"I understand."
"It looks like Gertrude has bought a wardrobe full of clothes. While you help her I'll take Manfred to the fish and chip shop."
I found Manfred. He was reading the learning English for Germans book I had bought in London. "Fish and chips, Manfred?" He nodded. "Let's go before it starts raining. Bring your book."
We returned thirty minutes later and went into the room reserved for hotel guests. I got a couple of plates, cutlery, ketchup, vinegar, salt and pepper, and last but not least, a bottle of stout and two glasses.
"When I was your age Saturday lunch was Grandma's day. Every week we went to her house and every week we had the same meal. Pork sausages with chips and baked beans plus a glass of stout."
"Every week the same?" He asked.
"The same meal every week. I looked forward to it."
"Mutti says you have been to Germany."
"About six years ago. I caught the ferry to Calais in France then took the train to Cologne. I stayed there a couple of days there before going to Frankfurt. I then travelled to Stuttgart before going to Switzerland for a week."
"Did you like it? In Germany?".
"Yes, I did. Do you like it here?"
"It's alright."
"Your Mum bought a nice house today with a very large garden. When your father comes back he has to sign some documents and then it's yours."
"When is he coming back?"
"He should be here next Saturday. You miss him, don't you?" He nodded again.
"He's a soldier and he'll often be gone. You'll get used to it."
After we'd finished we cleaned the table and put everything on the tray I had brought and took it to the kitchen.
"You've been drinking beer," Sally said as we sat at the table.
"It's a family tradition. Once a week we eat fish and chips and drink a glass of stout together. In Ordnung?"
"Bob, your are spoiling him!"
"It didn't harm me. Ask Mum about Saturday lunch at her Mum's house. Look at me now. Big and strong."
We stayed for another hour then went home. I'm planning to write to Canaris this weekend and will include invitations for him, Guderian and Rommel plus spouses for our wedding party at Windsor Castle. It's on the 9th of November, two weeks after Edward returns from Parachute School. He appears to have passed the first week unless he is hiding at Belvedere, his home near Windsor. I'll ask Sally to call Wallis Simpson this weekend.