12 May 1953

Dear Mamma and Daddy,

Rather late with a letter I am, I am sorry. Mamma, you are a darling. The cookies and the dates were wonderful. I tried to keep them as long as possible, but they are gone. I took the chair seat to the joker, I do not have the chairs yet. I shall check tomorrow. My curtains are very nice, I like them very much. Next year I want to live over the garage of Francis Crick's aunt. The Hostel is still terribly cold and wet, while it is often very warm outside.

I was very glad to see you, Daddy. I feel you were rather tired and it was too rushed. Still, it was grand; I am looking forward to seeing you again.

I bought a book today called The Strange Case of Alger Hiss by the Carl Jowitt. I have not read much.

I went to Oxford last Friday. Sherry party at the Mullikan's; Ducia's party. They send their best wishes. I stayed with Dorothy & Thomas. He is writing a lot on West Africa. I had a good time. Saw Eleanor Milne & the Chaundy's.

I am working fairly hard trying to get the myoglobin shape done by 15 July. I must read tonight some of Max's stuff.

Bragg is off to the RI on 1 January 1954. They will keep this house & come here often. Unknown whether Max will go. John Kendrew will certainly stay here.

You had better check up on the Porsche. If available at $2200, fine, if not Austin or Hillman Minx in Paris. I shall write shortly complete details.

I get my watch back today. Cleaned and oiled. Thirty shillings = $4.25. The Sierra Madra joker never put the back on it.

I enjoy photographs very much. I liked the valentine picture. You are all darlings.

I see Betty Tyler now and then. Albert & Victor are in Scotland. She & Tess try to rest. She reads a lot. Tess works pretty hard.

Sid Bernhard abandoned ship in Paris flew to New York on an emergency call to his mother. He is still there.

Paris was rather nice but not overly exciting. I saw Mark & Elizabeth Julia. [Supper?]. I also visited my friend Bertrand Fourcade in their country house near Paris at Monsoult. 300 acres. Much the grandest experience was talking with Jeffries Wyna for a couple of hours. He is wonderful really a remarkable fellow. He says the College de France is sans money for next year, is a little uncertain. I suppose you have heard from him by now.

I hope that book arrived safely. I bought a little Partridge called Usage & Abusage. Pretty good.

I like my New Yorker very much. They interfere with work. Thank you, Mamma, for Arizona Highways. I think I shall decorate with the pictures. We ought to go to the desert. In my next room, I am going to build a pile in the basement to keep the place warm.

I have now written Hillman, Austins, & Porsche in Paris & shall advise.

Jane Kristensen showed up a couple of weekends ago. I was rather pleased to see her. I am not sure why she is getting married: the joker is certainly quite different from me. New Jaguar Mk VII and her mother were along.

My Shortes OED came at last. The OED is terribly expensive. If so or so.

Simon sends his regards.

Please write a note to Mr. & Mrs. Ian Bush (ne Alison Pickard) 668 E 2^nd S. Street Salt Lake City. Utah & invite them to come stay with you in the early summer. I an wishes to talk to Papa; he is a physiologist. Alison is an MD. They are my very good friends. I think they wish to come soon, but if after 1 July they can stay with Linda. They are really my better friends, have done a great deal for me. Alison once shoved my piles back in, [Last page missing.]