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T. E. Lawrence to Lord Carlow
14th September [1934]
Dear Carlow
It's an extraordinary place-name; but then, if one knew Gaelic
all would be clear. As for fishing - but then, I'm not sporting. Nor
do I greatly like eating the creatures. On the whole, therefore, Southampton is better for me, especially
in this heavenly weather. We are adding the best September I can
recollect to a year that has been safely dry beyond the average. 1933
splendid. 1934 - splendid. What a 1935 we have earned! You do well
to think of a new yacht. If our arrears of rain come, we will all
creep into it (two by two) until it comes to rest on Ararat. Your voyage sounds like a rough one, at least you were not
wrecked like Noel Coward on Corsica from his M.L. But then, you are a
navigator. Noah again, you see. Noah was a navigator. My life? Average busy. In the last month it has been
Wolverhampton, Kent, Nottingham, London, Plymouth. In between times I
have been at Hythe. No more big boats, for this year. There are 5
dinghies to finish, a new Diesel to test in a round-bottomed hull, and
a 24 foot boat for the Australian Air Force.
In the winter they propose to move me to Bridlington, in
Yorkshire, to oversee the repair of the ten R.A.F. boats that work the
bombing range there. That would cover November to February - and
February 28 is world's end for me. It will be queer to wake up that
morning and know that thence-forward there is no single thing that I
must do. I have never owned my whole 24 hours - never in my life yet
- and this liberty will come so abruptly that I shall be puzzled what
to do with it. I wish there was any one thing in the world that I
wanted to do. Perhaps vacancy will breed a wish.
Yes, when the Firefly comes speeding south again, give me a ring
at Hythe and let us meet. I shan't have anything to give you, but
your company is exhilarating. So do ring that 102 telephone; if you
are in some friendly house that will let you borrow their mouth-piece
for trunk calls. It lies on my conscience that you so often ring up
vainly.
Yours ever
T.E. Shaw
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