Letter from Madge Greenfield to Dorothy Simkin 23/9/1972
September 23 1972
Dear Dorothy,
I received your parcel yesterday, thank you so very much, it was such a nice thought to think about me at the time, it is a lovely nighty and will be so nice and warm, but you should not spend your money on me, it is not only the garment itself, but having duty to pay as well, anyway, I do appreciate, not only the nighty, but the kind thought as well. My sister in law is very curious to know what the material is, so soft and fluffy, she said it must be some very fine material and laughed.
Now I must try and let you know about Auntie Polly and Auntie Florrie, there was also Auntie Sarah, all were mother’s sisters and spinsters. I was rather surprised your mother had not told you about them. The reason they went out in the first place, my mother was already out, there was also my brother Ernest and Nellie, Nancy’s Mum and Dad, then you Mum and Dad. Business was very bad in England at the time. Aunt Sarah had a small shop and Auntie Polly was with her as confectioners, and Aunt Florrie had a small shop selling knitting wools and fancy work. It was a, what they call slump in business, and they were feeling, what we call fed up. Aunt Sarah was a lovely cook, she did all the baking for the shop. They were the last to go out, intending to look for a fair-sized house and cater for boarders, which they did. They were out a few years when Aunt Sarah died. We all loved her very much. She was so very good to us when we were children. My mother was the eldest, then Aunt Sarah next. Aunt Florrie was the youngest. She and Aunt Polly kept taking boarders. My brother Ernest and Nellie were the first to go out the emigrated about 1911. My mother and your mother and dad went out in 1913, just after your uncle Herbert and I were married, then Sarah, Polly, and Florrie went out while the First World War was on about 1916.
Now I must be drawing to a close, no more room, I hope you will be able to read my letter, I cannot read it myself now, with my eyesight at all seems to self together, so do your best, I must keep on writing. 
Lots of love, 
Aunty Madge
PS – When you write again tell me, is there anything else you want to know, and I will do my best to tell you.