Item 39 - Typescript letter, signed, from Jacquetta [Priestley] to FH

Apologises profusely for not having replied to FH's letter of about a year ago. Jack had 'all kinds of celebrations for his 80th birthday'. 'The great thing' was that 'Jack not only enjoyed most of the doings, but actually admitted to enjoying them'. The revivals are doing well, and there are more to come. Everything is well at home, although they had a difficult time for a while after Gertrude, and the gardener, and his wife all retired at the same time. They ought to move, as they can't afford the house any more, but they don't want to, and 'the day may come when we are thankful for vegetables, fruit and firewood. To say nothing of the beef that roams in our meadows'. Jack is working on a book to be called Particular pleasures. Has herself returned to work on a 'very, very difficult book of a personal kind'. Invites FH to visit when they can fit it in 'with some other excursion'. The rose Barbara gave her last summer has 'made a tremendous spurt in growth this late summer and now looks very fine'.