Griff celebrates with Ida that he has won brilliantly at cards, "I couldn't refrain from winning. My cards were colossal, stupendous, all singing, all talking." Despite the win, he "would very much have preferred to go home with you. Honestly for two reasons." And we're left to our imaginations what those two reasons are...
She is visiting Stratford and "it is a place I've always wanted to go and I shall be pale with envy - or green. Maybe pale green."
He admits to stumbling over vocal exercises and diagnoses her as "suffering from too little help from Miss H.C. this term."
He is being held up by a salesman from Butlins currently camped out on the shop floor of the travel agents where he works, and may be late for a concert.

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 is still laid up in bed with a cold. In response to her query if there's anything she can do for him, he responds "yes there is, don't catch a severe cold."
He dreamt about her. She was talking to a man in a hotel lobby and he couldn't get to her and had to chase something aimlessly around a dark street, after which she asks him to post a letter to himself. Oooookay.
"I am ashamed of myself - that is, I am ashamed about catching a cold that had the temerity to turn slightly feverish for a time." Griff, my friend, I'm glad you never had to deal with covid.

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 replies to Ida's letter and asks her about the children's party she's organising at her house. He asks her for a walk after if there's time, "is there any change of persuading you to help me to see whether the buildings are still standing around Lapwing Lane at about 8.30ish?"
Griff has been terribly ill with a cold, in bed for 5 days. He has managed to do some music exercises and read some books.
He thinks "now is the time to make smoking reforms" for his health but he won't give up tobacco altogether.

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 she never leaves him waiting, "all the best music hall turns and humorous journals have tried to teach me that woman is unpunctual, their unions would be annoyed with you; you must try it sometime as punishment for disobedience!"
He describes the walk he went on and relays his success at cards.
"The wat is a horrid nuisance. In September 1938 we avoid helping a fourth-rate nation that is surrounded by enemies and neutrals. A year later we plunge to the aid of a third-rate nation that is also surrounded by enemies and neutrals." He reckons that without peace negotiations soon, "it might be a long and grim affair." He wasn't wrong.

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 relays a very allegorical dream he had of Ida. It included men standing in the way between them, her not noticing him, letters with blank paper and scene changes that were not scene changes. Poor lad.

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 moans to Ida about the travel agents he works at, "Stockport office is a dirty hole, full of dusty books and papers and most untidy" but he reassures her that he is taking care of himself.
He's jealous of her happy dreams, being too tired to dream himself. Being exhausted from work he comes home and "sank into a bath and then oblivion."
Ida's off to watch "While Parents Sleep" at the cinema and he would like to meet her for a walk.

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.

Who recognises this chunk of South Manchester? Drawn for Ida Carroll by Geoffrey Griffiths.

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 might not make her meeting with Griff due to a music journal salesman coming to call. "This being the age of youth on the staffs of newspapers and on certain magazines, he will probably be thirty, slim, handsome, unmarried, and may not have any children. Even so, would you do me a very great favour? Tell him the train leaves London Road at five-forty and that if he misses it, there is an excellent train at 6.20 from Central. His return half is available any way to London. Yours a trifle (?) jealously, Griff. P.S. horribly jealously."

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 shares his difficulty with pronouncing some names with a character in the book he's reading and feels verified in his struggles, he relates to Ida.
He's being sent on a "lightening (two day) tour of Western Holland and a bit of Belgian" by his bosses at the travel agents.
He's heard a bit of opera and was unimpressed by some symphonies he heard on the radio.
The howling wind prevented a walk and he instead spent the evening going over vocal exercises "and shall probably have a nightmare tonight surrounded by double vowels and awkward consonants."
He would like her opinion on the composer Lorenzo Pelosi.

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 muses on how different his life may have turned out if he hadn't started working at Ashton-under-Lyne those years ago. He would not have been introduced to the manager and his love of reading, or her father Walter and his love of music, both of which Griff now shares.
He fears for missed opportunities as he has worked for the travel agency for so long but he tries to "improve" himself in other ways. He reckons it's the same for Ida, meeting people and working at the Matthay School of Music. "A hundred and one things can happen to any of us and influence us either for good or for ill, and I suppose it is up to everyone to work things out in her or his own mind."

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 who is on holiday with her family in Stratford-upon-Avon. He's pleased she's having a good time. "Life spent continually in the city is a bit trying when one allows oneself to think about it too closely."
He commits to not bringing work home with him anymore on the weekends, especially for no extra pay "and not a word of thanks of praise."

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.

There's lots of logistics for travel around Manchester in this letter from Griff to Ida, and then finished with a tragi-comic anecdote about a violinist: "the regrettable accident to Mrs Rigby - I think that is the name, a violinist in the Women's Orchestra - the one who gives a party for dogs on the day of her dog's birthday complete with, well, serviettes, can't call them table or finger napkins. It is stated that her habit of kissing the little creature has induced it ungratefully to bit her nose."

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 gives Ida a heads up about "little Eric" and his enthusiasm to see the Matthay School of Music.

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 and discusses the top tenors of the day, but "there's nothing to beat the orchestral concert - Hallé for choice."
He is lending his dinner jacket as he does annually, to the travel agent's general manager, Vernon Arrowsmith (cool name). Arrowsmith is part of a Drama Society and he wears Griff's jacket every year because he reckons it fits and he's especially hard up now he's married. Griff however ponders how it could work when they are totally different sizes and admits that "I would give a new threepenny piece to see him dressed up in mine."
He thanks her for a ticket (to the NSM concert?) and is "proud to be one of your guests and will be on best behaviour."
He details some relationships between travel agencies and remarks that "1938 season was a record one at Piccadilly for Continental tours, despite the threat of war to Europe." He himself wishes to visit New York. With the World Fair being in the US there are lots of bookings being made at the travel agents lately.
Ida can't come to see "The Apple Cart" with him so he will play cards after the football instead.

He tells her that he is planning to wag work for a bit and "listen to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5. Not sitting in the fireplace because of the presence of others, but I wish you were with me and we could listen to it with the flames flickering in the hearth."

Griff tells Ida that he has been defeated by a cold. He wants a "large dose of warmth and sunshine, as provided by (a) your presence and (b) the sun."
He thanks her for her letter that cheered him up once he found it. He acknowledges "your little query mark is noted in 'feminine (?) curiosity'; men are probably just as curious but we pretend we aren't."
He hopes little Jack hasn't upset her with his attitude. He possibly is the son of Mr & Mrs B. who they play cards with.
He tells her that he is planning to wag work for a bit and "listen to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5. Not sitting in the fireplace because of the presence of others, but I wish you were with me and we could listen to it with the flames flickering in the hearth."

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 has spent most of his evening writing to her father Walter with thanks for the books he has supplied for Griff's "library of music." He praises Walter for his always logical advice in problematic situations.
He thinks he's suffering from a cold that either rudely returned or never left him in the first place.
He can't meet her on Sunday as "one of my old friends (never spoken to him)" is leading worship at the cathedral - Bernard Clements of All Saints, Margaret St.

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.

In a roundabout way using logic, Griff admits to Ida that he necessarily must like her independent character. He talks about card games and admits that "we are having rather too much new music at Burch for my liking."
He relays carrying "an annoying black and white cat" across the road that was attempting to do so itself in Didsbury, only to see it shortly after back on the other side.

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.

"I love watching the trains go by, especially from bridges" writes Griff to Ida. Same.
He remarks on the quantity and length of Northern School of Music concerts, saying 4 concerts in one week with long durations each is a bit much surely. Half the audience leave well before time.
Speaking of concerts, a neighbour of friends spotted them together at a play but didn't recognise her. Their low-key love affair seems ongoing as he didn't tell them who she was but remarks that they mean to keep an eye out for the couple together in the future.
He mentions how he's enjoyed the Hallé season and that last year was criticised for not having new music and omitting certain composers. He thinks guest celebrities are an interesting way to gather momentum in music appreciation and audiences and comments on a "Custard Powder" figure that could be included in the line up. No idea who that could be! Possibly a conductor?
Working at the travel agent is odd at the moment and he still thinks of striding out to set up by himself, he even has found a good place to set up.

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 relays a quick query to Ida of an invitation to come to a Rummy Contest. He hopes she will use that evening to rest if she is back in Manchester by that 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 is officially fed up with the war. "When nasty warnings snatch me so rudely from your dear arms, it is high time to do without nasty warnings. Or to ignore them for a while."

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 wonders what Ida's journey is like so far, she left so early, to the Welsh seaside.
He updates her about his new work patterns and hopes to visit Ben (no idea who that is) with her next week.
"You are so sweet I can't possibly consider you want any added qualities." Very cute Griff, nicely done.
He's been thinking of the friends he used to have. Many did not enjoy music and weren't much for reading and he has now been "left with a mere handful of the best". Except for one in the group who turned out to be a "real bad hat." Originally he wrote "real bat hat" which sounds like it should be avoided with equal fervour.

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 recounts following the movements of a very suspicious character around Lapwing Lane where Ida lives. Reckons he was confused as to a meeting point for the woman he saw him with shortly after. He wonders that the post office corner of Lapwing Lane where he often meets Ida "appears to be a curious place of meeting and I can't think why (other) people choose it. Not the first time I've seen anxious-looking people dodging about."
He even reckons he caught out someone he knows in an affair when he saw him walk arm in arm with a woman not his wife. But, "being a keen student of the Modern Novel I didn't bother."
He wishes for long walks with her but doesn't want to fret his mum if he's not home for tea.

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.

"Monday is a silly day, especially when one has to remain in a place like Ashton-under-Lyne until eight o'clock." Alright Griff, reel it back.
He wished to call her at work today "but the presence of a cheeky sixteen-year-old is rather overpowering" I must find him some errands."
As a bus swerved around the corner he was momentarily airborne on its stairs. He tells Ida he knows it's silly to go upstairs on such a short journey but he never can reason right after seeing 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.

"The world in general is a fairly mouldy place" Griff writes and "Manchester city on a half day holiday is like a wilderness." Working in the city is "a workhouse" and he wishes he had "made more strenuous effort to leave it years ago but I don't want to leave for anything worse." Sounds like he has an abusive relationship with the city centre there.
He's going to play Boris (a cello?) and smoke his pipe. He wishes he could go see Robert Donat at the theatre with her but she likely going with her dad Walter Carroll or her boss Hilda Collens or Philip (whoever that is).
He mentions his work at the Hallé Choir and that of Granville Hill (not sure who that is). He reckons any flattery of their performances by reviewers would change if they saw the choir at rehearsals. "The Crazy Gang would be nearer the mark."
He begs her not to go away to St Anne's at the weekend.

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.