Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.1. Correspondence, Private letters
1968 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to May Beveridge, 26.05.1968
Source: Archives of Rural History (ARH), Elizabeth McLoughlin Papers
My dear May. I got your long letter of 23rd April on my arrival home here on 3rd May. I left hospital on 26th April and went to my brother Dr. Parkie at Donabate till 3rd May. I brought a friend back here with me to look after me and she stayed till last Thursday 23rd May. I am alone now but am not doing any farm work except feeding a few chickens. A good friend is milking the cow and now that the weather is fine all the cattle and young calves are out in the fields thank God.
I am very much better, but get a lot of neuralgia in my head, and the eye won’t respond very well. That is why I have been so long in answering your letter. I find it difficult to write much or read much. I am told this neuralgia follows shingles and I must put up with it for some months. I have tablets to take for it when it gets bad. It is worse at night than day time. The shingles did not go into my eye and the sight is perfect, but what ever virus I got in it was sudden and bad, as I was anointed the day after I went into hospital and was delirious for several days. The nun only told me this a few days before I was discharged. My eye and forehead on right side were the colour of raw liver. I was a horrid sight for days.
Parkie said my blood pressure was very high and I was to be very careful and not do any work, but my local Doctor who knows me for years said I was not to worry over that as it was only a little above normal and did not need special treatment. Enough about myself.
I note that Jim is booked to leave 23rd July for Ireland and return 12th August. I shall look forward to meeting him again. I hope he can spare a day and night with me here, even if I have Paying Guests at that time, I can always get him put up near here as many keep guests just for bed and breakfast round here in summer. I know he will be busy and rushed, so I leave it to himself to make his own arrangements about coming to see me. Perhaps your brother Jim might drive him down here, or if he comes to Wicklow by bus, I can meet him in Wicklow town. There are seven busses a day from Dublin to Wicklow.
I have some photos of Kay and her big Cookery book with all her wonderful recipes for you, and her prayer books which Jim might take back to you instead of me posting them. I don’t do much fancy cooking so will copy out the few things I might need such as Salads Dressings, and Icing for cakes.
I was very interested in your long drive 200 miles to Ogdensbury, and your visit to Miss Biscoby, also about the children and their interest in the political people. But what a car only doing 9 miles to the gallon. You must be millionaire to run such, or Gas must be very cheap. My little Austin seven 1962 I tested it on a run from here to Donabate in February and it was doing 50 miles to the gallon but our petrol for the good grade is now 6/2 a gallon.
I shall say a wee prayer for the children that they get their exams. I have a list of children who have asked me to pray for them. Exams seem to be so important now a days.
No, we never got to Goatstown to visit McCarthys. I was expecting Jennie and Hugh McElligott and Diana down this afternoon as she wrote and said if fine they would come. So I had the tea table half ready, only to cut the bread, but they never came, and it was a lovely day here, quite warm and sunny, but I have just heard from a boy who called with a message, that it was pouring all day in Dublin. Diana is taller than her Mother and is a lovely girl. She is about 17 now. I think the stamp on this letter is a new one, and I have another new one for my next letter. Is it Barry or Stephen who collects stamps?
Must say good night and God bless you all. Fondest love from Lillie.
I shall have Masses said for darling Kay’s anniversary. I miss her terribly. A year yesterday she went to hospital.