.MTQzOA.MTI0NjAw

in pencil in top margin   [1971]                                                     
underlined: 9 Avon Road         
Midanbury,

Southampton, Hants.

Dear Gladys & Jack,                                                 
          I was delighted to have your card & note enclosed, but really shocked to know Mabel Mead has died.  I had always felt with the tablets she had to take

each day, life was quite a long time for her, "Oh well" one never knows," I really was fond of Mabel, & she several times made us most welcome. Seems strange to me, your saying, London, still your favourite city. 40 years living there myself, I would never go back there, shooting, stabbing, drug taking teenagers, one would not really feel safe on the streets day or night, prices are terrible here, in one week a jar of coffee will go up as much as one 1/-, & many, many, other things I could name, meat is a dreadful price, well, it's just a vicious circle, up goes the wages, up go the food. Jack retired almost two years ago, & we have moved into a nice bungalow, not far from 52A, as we are both getting older. I was all for getting away from steps & stairs. we are well living on our