‘Tomorrow my fortnight’s rest will be up, but I am afraid I have not properly got rid of my bad headaches yet, and I have not spoken to the doctor as I have hoped every day to wake up without it. I still may have time to get rid of it though’.

He told Pips that things were going on much as usual – he was resting, and going for walks, and in his spare time had been continuing to write a story which he had begun while with the Tunnellers, ‘and I will send you it for your criticism when finished’. [A few stories and extracts set during the war still exist, but it is not clear which, if any, this  might refer to.]

Other than that, he did not have a lot to add, for ‘as I do not feel very keen on writing today, I will close my letters shortly’.

[Next letter: 8 February]