5, Bent Place

Lensfield Road 10 August 54

Cambridge

Dear Mamma,

Thanks you for your very nice letters. We have been having a busy time here. Linda went to Paris with Martin Karplus and has moved in with the H.P. Robertson's. She will be there a week longer and then will go to the south with Marriete. I did not go for two reasons. I have no money and I can stay here and do a little work just as well. I would like to go; I would like very much to see Mariette and the south, but cannot. It is just as well. I think I probably shall not get my PhD until '56, but may try hard because I may be drafted next year. We are awaiting some new work by chemists. I think Linda is all right. I was very pleased to see her. She is a little batty, but not nearly as much so as I. Says she can bring back good American Coffee from Paris. My god. Oh well. A year here will do her good I am as yet unsure whether she should work or play. A year's reading would help her more than a year's English secretarial job. We have a flat. Linda likes it because it has a big kitchen, I do not really for 1. Land lady resident one floor up; 2. Share a bath room with ", 3. low ceilings and I have claustrophobia. 3. In basement (wetter). However it will be livable after I have worked on it a week. Linda should be here to paint it; I ought to crystallograph instead. It will do. Nice land lady. Excellent taste and very spry for 65 yrs old English woman. She might not like my idiosyncrasies. What the hell? Willie Fowler will be here next year. Might supply beer, which is expensive here. Robertson's come here at Christmas. Foolish we should go to Paris. Taken up silver collecting. Expensive. Very nice stuff. Library growing. It is strange and sad that I lost my reading habit. No time now and just out of the habit. Summer has been terrible. Wet. Rain. Saw Carl Price and L. Sheffield. Missed Paul MacCready at gliding contest. I am living in the Crick's house right now. Move Saturday. Bought a four foot wide bed. Probably buy another. Go to auctions Linda should go. Arthur Compton is in town. Have not spoken to him yet. Missed Bill Houston. I am glad Linda will be here. We shall enjoy it. She can learn potting, weaving and Italian. Also settle down into smoother life. Good American coffee my eye. One year probably is not enough. Still, it will help. I would like to visit you, but guess I had better wait a while.

Much love,

XXXOOO Peter