Mayfield Private Hotel,
(unintelligible) Road,
(unintelligible),
Birmingham.
27.8.46
(telephone (unintelligible) 1975)

Dear Bossy or Bossy Dear!

We are in the heart of the Black Country and it is BLACK!

To begin with – we got here O.K. but the whole trouble started when we got off the train – no rooms in any hotel. We went from place to place and still it was no go. At last – and in sheer desperation, we went to the (unintelligible) and they sent us to a place. The “fish” came to take us by car and when we got to the “hotel” (that is what it was called) it was one room that does not deserve such a dignified name and worst of all they had to pass through our room to get to their bedroom – so Pappi got absolutely wild and off we went, while the “fish” skinned us alive. After that we took our cases (packed by you) and heavy they were too, to the station, had lunch and went off to one of Pappi’s old cronies. We were welcomed as long lost brothers and they found us two rooms in this place. We talked business for a long time and I think that Pappi might get away with something or other.

(unintelligible) – tomorrow we are trying to fry “big fish” and need all the good luck. The old boy has taken good advantage of the fact that there is no way in which I can escape his “lecturing” and has been talking 14 to the dozen.

You have my address above and if something special has come you can reach us, I hope, at the above address or telephone number until Friday. The letters in English from here / I mean from English firms / you can open and if there is something pressing get us on the phone with a personal call. Then you will be sending all letters to Sheffield.

This is a business letter from one partner to another. A love letter will follow / when is another question but I shall be writing /  All my love and (unintelligible) you funny fish DER BOSS.

P.S. Pappi says you should send the letters in their envelopes, so that we can see the date and time of posting which is material/important – you dope.