Palestine
9 Jan 1941
Dear Alice,
Thank you for the books, I've been enjoying the Christie quite a bit so far. It's making me uneasy about going to dentists in the future, but reading AC never fails to make me feel more at home. I look forward to P&P, and telling you all about my thoughts - I'm curious to see how much her writing changed from her earlier novels (as you say P&P is) to her later ones like Persuasion.
Also, you could have told me you live with the one and only Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, that was a surprise I did not see coming at all.
(Please thank Mrs. Collins for her biscuits, and I'm partial to ones with cinnamon as well as regular sugar ones.)
I too was glad to see your familiar slightly chicken scratch handwriting - or at least the handwriting you use when you're excited. I might have to ask you about a few words in the pathology notes as I'm either not sure of their meaning or sure what exactly it was you wrote. I am finding the notes incredibly fascinating, however, and I look forward to hearing more of your studies.
They're keeping us busy over here with training exercises, I barely have time these days to sit down and read, let alone write, but they let us have the afternoon today to recuperate. I don't know how long we'll be here, but there are always rumors flying about like you wouldn't believe. The boys, as you call them, have continued to pester me about my writing to you - especially after seeing your picture - but are always so disappointed when our letters continue to be about literature and studies (though some were interested in the pathology notes until they read them more thoroughly - it was fun to see Gibson turn a little green at your description of rigor mortis and the natural decomposition of a body).
I imagine as the homesickness kicks in more, they'll actually look forward to any news from home (so you'll have to go out and do more things and report back to us poor soldiers).
The one thing I don't enjoy is how the blasted sand can get EVERYWHERE, luckily we haven't had many sandstorms blow through, but it's a miserable experience to say the least. Still, it feels like home, so that's something.
Please do send more notes, and again, thank Mrs. Collins for the biscuits, they were a huge hit amongst the "boys".
Your Friend,
Matthew
