My own Darling, I got your letter yesterday and can't understand how you haven't had a letter for 3 days the mail must have stopped or something. We didn't go into the trenches after all yesterday, we go in today and do 3 days in coming out 2nd Feb, I prefer this to 2 days in. I saw Oliver today he is looking very well . Yesterday I met John Batten Pool a 1st cousin he's on the Divisional Artillery Staff and is a very nice fellow. The country is drying up well now but people think there will be no more till early Summer as the Russians and French wont be ready. Our guns shell away all day we seem to have any quantity of ammunition. One of the Luss farm people wrote to me yesterday and addressed her letter 'Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss the Army' not even France I got it in 2 days pretty good wasn't it? I dined at Brigade H.Q. last night and lost 7 pound at poker, you and Herbert will have to go to the workhouse Darling, if my luck doesn't change. Sweetheart mustn't be depressed because you feel weak at first it is extraordinary how quickly one gets strong again. I had a letter from George Abercromby yesterday; do you remember the one you got smacked for reading? I feel awfully well Darling and don't need any medicine or anything I haven't felt my wound at all except slightly when I ride. The parcel came yesterday. Thank you Sweetheart the things were topping we are having the raspberry pudding and the haggis tonight. Bobbie Abercromby, George's brother, goes on leave tonight . Esme isn't back yet he is due very soon. How is Mark now? Tell him I would have written but I have had to answer so many letters congratulating me on my cleverness in having a boy. Will you send me two or three white puddings I love them and they will travel quite well, also some auto-strap safety razor blades as I have run out of them. Also a box of 50 cigars Mark will choose them. I hear Guy is coming out shortly. He will go to the entrenching Battalion at the base for a month or two almost for certain. There are 8 in our mess now and we do ourselves very well and can always get ourselves a rubber of bridge. Write and tell me how Kak and John are getting on when you hear, I expect there will be some pictures in the Tatler etc next week I must look out for them. Darling it can't be very long now before I get my leave and it will pass very soon especially when you can't get up to Scotland. You must take the car with you of course it will be very useful. Has it been going well or badly you will be able to go drives in it shortly. I hope some of the daffodils will be out in February I suppose it's too early to see anything. Darling I miss you awfully and think of you all day and occasionally at night. Give my love to all the family and all my love to you Sweetheart I love you more than anything,