Not romantic?

I regret to report that the euphoria of last week's perfect powdery snow under (sometimes) blue skies has given way to gale force winds, freezing rain and treacherously icy pavements bordered with dirty sludge.

So after a quick trot around the park we're staying indoors today, and Gail has decided to show me some old letters sent from Human Grandad to Human Granny, in 1955 when they were just engaged to be married.

It won't come as a surprise to my long time readers that Gail's family are not demonstrably romantic by nature. 

Or at least I thought not until I saw this letter, written in the late evening when HGD's work had taken him away from home for a few days to a work-related conference in Eastbourne. 

It has to be admitted that HGD's handwriting was never the most legible, so here's a transcription of the passage that caught my eye:

"However, when the day does at last come to a close I lay in bed and think of ourselves, and all the pleasant things that the future surely holds for us, and the encouragement that I have received from our friendship. Somehow, since falling in love with you Maureen I have gained a new confidence in myself and a sense of responsibility to you because you seem to have confidence in me and I can't bear the thought of letting you down in any way. When away from you this seems to find its outlet in a desire to do my job as well as I possibly can in order that you can be proud of me."

Sadly, the collection of letters that Gail found when clearing out her parents' house after they died did not include a reply from Human Granny.

By the time I knew Human Grandad his wits were beginning to fail him, although he always would remember to save a bone for my visits and to welcome me a fond pat on the head. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends!