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76, PORTLAND PLACE, W.
May: 9: 19
My dearest wee Mother
I spent yesterday at Oxford. The Colleges [ST: Christ Church] have agreed to buy Elsfield [ST: the village & farms] & have exercised their option. There is one small snag still to get over, but I think we may assume that we have got it. It was looking ravishing yesterday, & I
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fell desperately in love with it. I walked all round the borders of the land we are taking. I got home [home] at 8 & Hilda & Arthur came to dine.
I see from the papers that Beaverbrook's 2nd boy, a jolly little chap called Peter, has had a very bad accident yesterday.
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Poor Max is having a heavy time just now.
I haven't been able to sleep for a week with savage pains at the foot of my stomach. Dr Blaikie thought it was only flatulence & I have been living on castor oil. But last night I had 8 hours of real agony, & Blaikie got Hutchison, the specialist on the colon, to see me. He says that there is nothing serious, but the result of my operation is
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that I digest too fast & the colon has too much work to do, & is irritated. He is giving me a belt to wear, & a mild opiate to take at night. It is nothing in the least to worry about, & he says I will gradually grow out of it.
I do hope you are better.
Much love
from
John
