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- Am writing this lying on my blankets in the garden back of "Westlawn Villa", where we are quartered. The house in which we are staying must have been at one time a swell residence, as it is three stories high, and has a fine garden with the remains of a fountain in it. But the house at present is far from being a high class residence. There are eight of us in one room, no furniture (not even a chair), and we sleep on the floor. Have become accustomed again to having a good sleep without the help of a soft mattress so {don’t mind it at all. Our room fronts right on the English Channel, so that we are always sure of a little breeze, even on the warmest days. The washing conveniences are fierce though. Have to go down into the basement to-perform our ablutionq and as there are about forty using the one wash basin you can see what difficulties we have to oontend with. So half the time I have to do my washing after breakfast. So much for our house.
We have to parade for our meals to what was formerly a music hall but is now used, as a dining room for the C.A.M.O, Talk about slow service, everybody in single file, end only one man dishing out the grub. It is a treat to watch him portioning out the bacon in the morning. Hank says he has all the pieces marked and has to hunt for the right one. He., sure is afraid that one man will get more than is .coming to him. The noon day meal is the big one over here, and for supper we only get bread and jam. As a consequence tea and cakes before "retiring" are almost a necessity.
The first day we were here we saw a ship strike a mine, blow up and 8ink. Something like that happens nearly every day as there is a tremendous amount of shipping here. One Sgt, told me that 73 transports left from Folkstone to go over to Prance in one day, so it is not surprising that the Germans get a ship now and then.
Fortunately we have more than this little town to depend on for our amusements, as Folkstone is only 1-^ miles away. We had a . route march through its streets the second day we were here, and naturally saw many things of interest. The war is certainly brought mighty close when you see the streets crowded with Canadian, British, Belgian and French soldiers in all manners of dress. The French especially going in for bright hued colors. Hundreds of refugees and Folkstone too. Girls and women in practically all the stores, in fact even saw one driving a brewery wagon. The postmen have been superceded by the women too.
When night falls, everything is darkened. No lights in the shop windows or if any only show through blinds. In fact it is so dark that; even the baby carriages have red lights in front of them. This , is a faot. There is a heavy penalty for any light seen shining across the sea, so in our room we have to hang blankets aoross the two windows,
Folkstone is a well known (tosome people) summer resort with two mighty fine hotels, one of which is shown in a card I am mailing to Agnes. There are plenty of fine walks along the sea shore
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