November 14. 1941

Dear Mom, Dad & all:-

     Came down to London this afternoon on a couple days leave.  Have all my equipment issued and so have nothing to do but wait for orders to start to school.  Am now a member of this club, having signed up on my arrival.  Had supper at six then got acquainted with the underground.  Geo. & I went to a show at Marble Arch Pavillion and then out here, "The Princess Gardens", operated by the Club.  Walked smack into a fire alarm box in the blackout and got a small cut on my forehead and knocked my specs off, but didn't break them.  I don't know how far we actually went, but we rode on about six different subways for an hour getting here from the show.
     We came from Bournemouth on the 2:30 train and the round trip fare (1/2 price to members of HMS) was only 16 shillings ($3.20).  Supper at the club was 10 pence (20 cents) and our bed for the night, a hot shower, and breakfast 2/6 (52 [cents] U.S.).  This club is really a break for Americans.
     George and I will be separated Tuesday or Wednesday for the first time since we left.  He is being sent to some airport for instrument repair work and will go to school later.  Will be rather odd without him around.
     We met an old man on one of the subways, A.H. Corble, whom we asked directions.  He must be around sixty-five.  He was a fencing master of some kind and knew all the men from the American Universities fencing teams who came over here for competitions, he offered to show us something of the town tomorrow afternoon and invited us out to his place for lunch.  We backed out on the lunch since he's out of town about an hours subway ride so he will meet us at the Club after lunch.  Should be better than going around alone, since he's lived here all his life.
    Will go take a shower now and hit the hay.  Have a long letter started at Bournemouth.  Hope you got all the post cards.-

                     Love, Bob