Aldwinckle, Eric, Letter, 21 May 1943

Letter, Eric Aldwinckle dated May 21, 1943.
Description: 
Letter to Harry Somers

Tabs

Case Study: 
Creative Dialogue Across the Ocean: Eric Aldwinckle’s Letters to Harry Somers
Creator: 
Aldwinckle, Eric
Source: 
letter
Date: 
21 May 1943
Place: RCAF Headquarters, London
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright, public domain: McMaster University owns the rights to the archival copy of the digital image in TIFF format. Reproduced with the kind permission of Margaret Bridgman.

Identifier: 
00001542
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

F/O Eric Aldwinckle C23733 R.C.A.F. Overseas Headquarters
May 21 1943
Dear Harry,
I have been cavorting with the Scotch and the Irish since I last wrote to you and as my work has actually commenced I am in a frenzy of "creativity" surrounded by stimulation beyond measure, needless to say enjoying every day immensely. Of course music has more or less gone with the wind but we can't have everything.
I am living at present in a 'nissen' hut, which is like a half buried tin of grapefruit (and I wish it was) and have a "studio" in a hangar on the station I am on (or "was on" by the time you get this letter), and have also been painting in the air during actual operational flight. I am like a Gremlin, in this, into that here, there, inside, outside, up, down, upside down and completely "pixotic" in my daily existence.
Details, I am slathering at the mouth in my desire to relate, they would all be so interesting to you, but they would also be interesting to the enemy and, as I am censoring this letter myself -- I must desist and talk to you of birds and bees or something. Most aggravating. It is rather like having roast beef and roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding with green cabbage and rich gravy, only being able to offer you an aniseed drop out of a sticky paper bag which has been in my pocket for weeks.
The freedom I am allowed and the