Receiving letters from Ida helps Griff get through the week until he can see her at the weekend.
He's picking up work in the Oldham travel office but he "generally did nothing that will justify the expenses sheet I shall present at the end of the week!"
Ida's been thinking of visiting the Royal Academy of Music - likely to attend the student exams of the Matthay School of Music - but London is making Griff nervous through the war.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"The greater sins of Hitler had occurred to me too. It is plain the man is a cad of the first water." Griff is writing to Ida during an air raid warning.
They've seen each other in the past year more than he thought they'd manage but dreads the coming winter, especially as he knows she'll be extra busy with the Matthay School of Music with its principal Hilda Collens away.
He asks if she is going to the Hallé this season. "I should like to support them if you are! I should hate to go alone, nowadays - in fact I shouldn't go at all unless you went with me!"
He asks her out for a walk sometime soon and reckons they could survive it on chocolate, "which is very er... nourishing. Yes 'nourishing' is the word."
"I haven't got used to writing to you in the middle of an air raid warning" especially surrounded by family when he can't relax over what he wants to say. He wonders if the recent government advice is worth listening to, in that it's so unlikely that a bomb hits your house that you might as well just stay in bed. Problem is that the bomb is likely to hit *someone's* house so maybe we should all try and get out of its way just in case.
The raid has passed and he's off to his bath. "I hear either 'onions' or guns! Very confusing" (Or was it next door going to bed?)

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"The latest 'raid' found me just home and weaving steadily through a few simple dishes," he reassures Ida. He reasons that "it's safe until the bombs are popping and there are several beautiful shelters on my ways home" if he gets caught out.
He arranges to meet her on Sunday. The cricket's playing and even though he may not go, her dad might fancy it. He thinks it might be warm enough to lounge about outside. Very optimistic weather forecast there, Griff. Remember, this is Manchester.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Seeing Ida and getting some fresh air has sent Griff to a peaceful sleep almost as soon as he got home.
He'd rung her during the day at work and was gutted to learn to that she wasn't in. It is only knowing that calling constantly to hear her voice is impossible, that stops him trying.
All's well except for the bomb that fell on Piccadilly Station's railway bridge, closing a platform. "It would have made a real mess of the transport had it exploded." You don't say. "Apparently there was a neat hole in the bridge and nothing more."

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"Today was just too trying and I stole quietly away at seven o'clock," = mood.
He writes to Ida that he's trying to fit all his life into the allotted time in the week as well as see her.
Rumours going around about the different rules for men reserved for war work and those for conscription , and now some colleagues are signing up, and it's all up in the air about what staff the travel agency will have. "We were wondering with some interest just how things would be for a time if we all went together." His pay at the travel agency "is better for the home fires than the fighting unit allowances." Either way he hears that the company isn't doing well, so it may be that he and the owner will "naturally go hand in hand" to the recruiting centre.
He's hoping to go to the gardens on Sunday evening instead of church so he can see her.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff writes to Ida that he felt so lifted after seeing her, so much so that he even feels in the mood for work. However, he knows that his mood will plummet when the days between their meetings increase.
There's a market day at Ashton so the travel office where he's based at the corner of the market square was extra busy.
She might get busier when Hilda Collens returns and with the threat of air raids.
He arranges to meet her in the cinema.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida has sent Griff a newspaper cutting and he's returning it to Ida with the "hope it will bring Miss Collens back for Oct 20th - and what a hope." Possibly a Matthay School of Music review?
She's been enjoying HG Wells and Griff has more books to read than he can keep up with.
His A string - his cello? - was fixed and he's back to practicing.
He's got a bunch of stuff for the junk cart and is feeling very organised.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"Our final goodnight was too hasty, but we have to part some time during the evening, for some silly reason, and we did steal a nice long time from Hitler didn't we."
It's got to the point where they are more likely to meet during an air raid in a bomb shelter to spend time together. "Which would be nice really but not very romantic."
He praises the arrangement of the days of the week and the allowance of Tuesday's work load so that they can see each other. When he's working he only thinks of her half the time.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff's insomnia has kept him up to the wee hours. Any season, any mood, any variable, whether he's seen Ida or not, he is likely to be up in the wee hours.
He's been visiting Mrs Flowers in Marple. He's had a big dinner, climbed a hill, visited a grave, "but I never wish to see an elephant ornament again, Mrs Flowers or the lid of a baby grand."

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff's written to Ida only mostly jealous of the people she's taking to concerts when he can't make it. To make up time, he invites her to the cinema.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff tells Ida he feels well, eats well and is apparently looking well. He hopes he can go on holiday with her if she stays in England. Anywhere abroad is out of the question as men under 42 will need "exit permits would not be granted." I'm assuming it's so men of fighting age are close by for conscription.
He hopes she can see him after the music school lessons are finished for the day, especially as his work at the travel office is due to get busy.
He needs to fix his smoking pipe and will make so and mend.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The weather is brutal and is interrupting Griff's dreams of Ida. He arranges to meet up next week. He will show his face at the choir social while she's busy.
he assures her he won't take her pupil to the cinema, given his greatest accomplishment is not dropping her when she was a baby. "And besides one cannot invite to the flicks a much larger edition of a child whom one has seen prepared for its evening bath.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff has embarrassed himself somehow on their last meeting and jokes it about it here. I think? Yeah, I don't understand the joke.
He arranges their next adventure around south Manchester. He hopes she enjoys her trip to Blackpool but "there are lots of RAF there and I am most nervous about the visit!" Griff's imaginary competition for Ida's affection, if it's not policemen, it's RAF.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff apologises to Ida for not handing over the book he meant to lend to her. He arranges a date for the cinema and hopes she doesn't stay too late at the Matthay School of Music office so that they can spend more time together.
He's doing the accounts for the travel office in Stalybridge while working in Ashton and advises her on her trip to Llandudno.
He shares her conspiracies about Birch church and how "fairly malicious work goes on in most church 'sets'" to which his solution is "to seek a church that suits one and to avoid its extra happenings if at all possible."
He fumbles over his opinions of modern women's fashion and praises Ida for not wearing it.
He's applied to the Home Guard "so I hope soon to play with a real rifle." The drills for which clash with choir on a Sunday.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff has been working in Ashton and has just found the Boots. He hopes they have a library. He spends most of his commutes reading, he tells Ida.
Re Ashton itself, "the picture houses seem to be the best buildings, but even those look faintly depressing," not worth wagging work for an afternoon in one he reckons.
He went to visit his local defence marshal and says they have plenty of water pumps for the Auxiliary Fire Service, even buying more and sharing the cost.
He praises her aversion to wearing "funny hats over your left eyebrow," as was the fashion.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff arranges a date with Ida to see the Wizard of Oz at the weekend. He assures he that he didn't offer any sopranos an escort home after choir but does relay news of the newly married Hilda and Harry. Harry has been recommended a place in the Guards on account of his height, but "I think he would prefer a less famous regiment."
Griff feels guilty for keeping Ida out so late and pledges more early nights.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff has been working hard in the choir at Birch, he tells Ida. They're all booked up for members but sometimes he ends up doing a wee bit more work than usual as a bass singer, he "had to sing against three tenors and three altos both morning and evening." There were quite a few mistakes in the singing so much so that "the morning anthem gave me the shudders" and "your father would have had a pink fit" were he still choir master.
The travel agency where he works has had a slew of travel tickets cancelled. Possibly due to the war as he reckons other travel offices wouldn't have fared much better.
He teases that he can't be fobbed off on other women as "I am magnificently enslaved, you see" by her.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It looks like Griff keeps missing opportunities to see Ida. On top of that is his indigestion which has been acting up meaning "I hardly knew how to look Mrs Bowers' cheese in the face!"
The office boy who left the travel agency where he works has got a job at a train station and Griff has been doing the accounts for an office in Hyde.
He listened to the radio when he got home and managed a bath.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff describes the fullness of Saturday night around south Manchester on his walk home from seeing Ida. Apparently there were throngs on the street, at least 2 arguments and one chap who couldn't wobble his way between 20 yards before falling over himself. Despite the interruptions he enjoys walking.
He relays some trouble of a mutual friend who didn't get the job they needed, and he asks Ida to keep it quiet. Similarly, someone's been fiddling with the Birch church accounts.
He admits to not noticing the flowers at her concert as he was far too busy looking at her to take notice of anything else.
In other news he's double booked himself between visiting someone in Marple and going to a concert but concedes he will have to prioritise Marple this time.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff writes to Ida that no wonder he was late coming out of choir practice at Birch. With three birthdays that week, there were a lot of biscuits to get through. Three ladies who "are all twenty-one together, so they say - and I never dispute the word of a lady."
He traded some cold medicine to a soprano for a toffee. Not quite an equal exchange he thinks.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff writes to Ida, "the weather on Thursday evening was a trial." Welcome to Manchester.
He tells her that "there are plenty of things that worry me, but I do try not to let them." Attaboy, Griff. However, the only fear he can't ignore "is the danger to you from possible enemy action."
Apparently he's read that "Goring told Henderson that if ever war came to the two countries, the German air force would never bomb non-military objects in Britain. I pray that it will be so, and that any loss to the civilian population will be through a 'technical' accident." Yeah, so, bad news Griff. Turns out the Nazis lied.
He's enjoying learning cello - Boris - and thinks he may buy one of his own but in the meantime will stick with his loaned instrument. He will defer to Ida's superior musical knowledge, of course.
Griff helped a van driver find his way around south Manchester who ended up in Didsbury Village, "which he had only heard of before, the ignorance of some people!"
He compares books to the film adaptation (surprise surprise it wasn't as good). The cricked was atrocious on account of one player being ill and two others away for "war work".
Church was busy so that people had to stand to make room.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff relates the trials of getting to Bramhall village. He tells Ida he thinks it has better hills than Marple. Very important in a village that.
Regarding his work at the travel agency, all staff holidays are prohibited which could be "good for production no doubt, but hard on the poor Travel Agent" who has been less than effective.
The young boy from the office has left and Griff hopes he has other work to go to "for they are having a thin time of it at his home."
He can't make tea anywhere near as well as his colleague and his despairs when he tries.
After explaining his preferred seating options at a cinema he reckons they should go and see Wizard of Oz.
Trying to help two sopranos after choir practice at church, offering to tell them the best direction to leave the cemetery, he was a bit confused when they responded, "why, do you want to go the opposite way?"
He discusses his books at length admitting that "my small collection of fiction is rather of a bygone and blood curdling age. Crime and sensation abound."
Detailing the rest of his working plans over the next week or so he relents that "it is selfish of me to protest at these extra hours when you are having to work so hard. I do hope Miss Collens returns within schedule; she appears to have one illness after another."

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff has been neglecting his cello practice lately and was just about to sit down to practice when he was visited by a friend. Oh well.
He fills her in on a book he has mentioned to her, with information about so many composers. He asks her if she recognises some notation in a book he's seen as it has him stumped.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Griff writes to Ida thanking her for her miniature photograph. He promises to send her an image of him, he got done for work at the travel office for use in a magazine.
He's checking in with friends and will play cards at home. Even so, "I love you so, when you are very near, and when you aren't so near, but eight days of not so near is painful."

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.