307 From a letter to Amy Ronald

14 November 1968

I said to my wife (about 3p.m. today): 'there's a man coming to the back door with a box, but it is not from our people so it must be a mistake. Don't get up! I'll deal with it.'

So it was that I received 4 Ports and 3 Sherries, from a cheery fellow, who laughed: 'It's all right, you'll find. Just a nice present from somebody.'

I should say it is a nice present: and not just from Somebody. I cannot think why youbody¹²² treat us with such magnificence. But it is very delightful. And, of course, being from you, well-timed. We are fairly snug now in our new home, having learned how to manage the central heating that was unfamiliar; but even here in a sheltered woodland (though within sound of the sea) nights, and days, grow chill. Port and a good sweet sherry are great warmers.

Elde is me istolen on... ich am eldre than i was a wintre and ek a lore: so wrote a moralist (c. AD 1200 or earlier). It did not touch me until recently. I hope 'ek a lore' (sc. also in learning, which seems to include the learning of experience, justifying the giving of advice!) is true. But I doubt it.