Griff congratulates Ida on her invitation to play double bass with the Hallé! "You must be making history for the school, I know you will play well and hope you will receive more invitations; I can imagine the thrill of playing the best music in the best company." He reckons she will have "lots of fun at rehearsals being bullied by the best conductors (save Thos. Beecham)."
He writes at his desk with his photograph of Ida before him. He apologises for neglecting her when he's been so tired, but urges her not to neglect his friends in favour of him.

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 offered to walk a Birch choir soprano home, but urges Ida not to be jealous as there was a small entourage.
He arranges a hopeful meeting with Ida at the post office corner in Didsbury near her home.
He's hoping to switch up his working pattern, try something different than the travel agency as "some honest work would do one good."
He enjoyed the concert together and would have continued his pleasure with the radio programming, but "I didn't bargain for the intense activity at No.117 on Sunday evening" when dropping her home.

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 planning to sell tickets to Penzance before the train fares increase on the first of May. He advises Ida that if she's travelling in May to book her tickets on the last day of April.
If there was a sliver of a change of a glance of her out and about he would not have spent his evening in doors with friends, but knows she's incredibly busy.
"I do believe that cad R.J.F. was rolling his eyes at you from stalls to balcony because you are so attractive! To think that the day has dawned when I am jealous of that cad R.J.F!" Forbes was the principal of the Matthay School of Music's 'rival', the Royal Manchester College of Music.
He claims that "you won't cure me of sleeplessness if you serenade me beneath my bedroom window - it's the front one overlooking Broadhill Rd. But try it by all means - I should join you in two seconds and we could have a nice walk back from Didsbury."

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 hopes to meet Ida but may be later than usual as he's coming from Stockport after covering for an ill colleague at the travel agency.
He'd like to go to the cinema with her and is pleased to say he's managed to save some money over the last few weeks, to spend on her perhaps.
He plots out his week, including practicing cello and visiting friends. He prompts Ida to think about a ballet visit since there's so many options in Manchester right now.

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 commenting on the flowers at the Matthay School of Music concert. He didn't expect to see them and was too busy looking at her instead. "I enjoy looking at everything beautiful, so know you know why I enjoy gazing upon you, even from the back row but one in the Milton Hall."
A bit of crossed wires at the Birch choir re a whist drive has, after a rather tense discussion, become a decision about a social evening. He expects she'll get an invite.

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 of his good week, all being said and done. He fancied the cinema but nothing's on that's any good and "the thought of town in this black-out-cum-eve of Xmas sounded too strenuous." He doesn't fancy getting undressed but "it would seem eccentric to have a bath with all or part of the clothes on, so here we go."

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 that he hasn't had the opportunity to telephone her with either telephones being gone or the offices being too busy at the travel agents as "people stand about like Looming Shadows."
He's rehearsing with the Hallé choir and arranges to meet her at Central Library as Dr Malcolm Sargent will probably keep them late.
He advises her on trains to take and relates the story of a bit of a punch up between a private and sergeant.
If she's planning on visiting the cinema he promises to zip there to meet her as soon as he can so they can spend the evening together.

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 thanks Ida for the letter and her photo, "a very good and a delightful pose" from her holiday in Cornwall he guesses. He's popped it in his wallet window, "I am so pleased with it that the wallet generally shows slight sign of wear and tear already."
He warns her about being out and about at early hours, "dawn is as good as night time for raids in the ordinary way." He comments that "there seems to be a weird atmosphere about this war so far, and I am half afraid of a quick victory over the Poles, to our loss."
With the blackout "I cursed Hitler and his whole gang for bringing indignation upon me. I didn't bathe in the dark - just struggled like mad in the bedroom without my lamps."

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 denied falling asleep on the bus but admits that he's lucky he got home at all.
"The Hallé syllabus suits me down to the ground" and he hopes to arrange to attend some of the same concerts as her, sharing his season ticket, but will go with her father Walter as well if he would enjoy it.
He hopes to take her out on a Saturday night, possibly around bonfire night "to some hall of entertainment" but wartime police regulations have changed cinema operations on weekend evenings so they'll have to see.
"I'm not entirely at peace with the great big silly world; in fact I feel angry about lots of happenings in it, if you refer to that sphere attached to the sun!" but does enjoy that she's in his life. And that makes life good.

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 through some self-imposed grammar exercises and for some reason decides to share them with Ida - the foundations of a love letter right there.
He refers to some chat about the history of their surnames which they found out are Teutonic in origin, which he takes some care to insist is *early* Germanic. Subtly separating them from contemporary Germany. "Well, well, but I wouldn't change yours for the world, and mine has grown up with me."
Sharing some guidelines from the police about evening shows in wartime, he fancies meeting up for the cinema or concerts, but knows she's incredibly busy and may be called to war duty on any evening. He "can't visualise your feeding from a paper bag in the slow movements!" during the symphonies at the Hallé, even if she hasn't had time to catch anything to eat.

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 tried to his best to return home in good time from their date and managed to sit down just past midnight. He was delighted to see she'd arrived early at the cinema as he was picking up their tickets.
He tells her she doesn't need to slim, especially with the rationing undoubtedly coming soon.

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 thinks that "Saturday matinees are a very sound idea" but had no idea Ida may have to work Saturday afternoons - likely at the Matthay School of Music after its Saturday Junior School.
He'd put himself into something of daze against the grocer's window and totally ignored the bus as it drove past him. He'd love to get walking though, especially if it was walking with 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.

Surprise, it's freezing rain in Manchester. Ida can't warm up even after a hot bath and Griff's journey to and from choir practice at Birch was a wee bit hellish.
The only time he's gladly remove himself from the fireside with weather like that is if it was to go and see her.
Sopranos in the choir have it worse as they often stay later to work on their pieces. He hightailed it away to try and get a lift, hoping someone else would stay behind and walk them home in the dark.
"A hundred and fifty of us have been invited to sing in 'Messiah' subject to our acceptance of rehearsal dates", likely an invitation by the Hallé. Griff has been singing with 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's not managed to write to Ida lately but "don't blame Boris; a nice fellow." Boris the cello, not... *another* blamed Boris...
He urges high spirits, "I think we might just as well be cheerful and make the best of things, and look forward still to a happy new year, whether war comes to an end or not." He comments that "the world will improve one day but we shall both be firmly established in Heaven before it dawns!"
He's listening to Clifford Curzon on the radio - a pianist and friend of the Matthay School of Music - and wonders if she is listening to him too. He would love to see her on new years day.

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 on holiday in the Cotswolds, writing to Ida back in Manchester.
He describes his walks and the countryside, "there were Cows in a narrow lane and I didn't care at all for the Eye of one of them! Definitely Nasty."
Rail services are almost reduced to nothing. Ida's pupils "are not in attendance; will they start soon, or have they been sent to safer districts?" during the war. Likewise Griff promises to "go into local training immediately on my return to Manchester!" for war service, perhaps.
He remarks on the other guests and fills her in on his dream, "I woke this very morning quite convinced I was talking to you. Didn't feel at all happy when I realised you were about 120 miles away."
He's off to "plunge into the blackout, taking great care of myself!" and urges her to do the same if out on her bicycle.

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 resents that Ida can't see him for a week and hopes to dissuade her from her busy schedule. They need to see each other, he argues, for medicinal purposes - a joint on his pinkie finger of his left hand has gone numb (from playing the cello) and he reckons that a prescription of hand-holding will be just the thing to get the blood flowing again.
He hopes they can meet for a walk but will shy away from seeing friends as "domestic areas with more than two persons present fill me with alarm for another ten days at least."
He couldn't hear when the doctor was at the door over his cello scales, just occasionally calls and knocks in intervals which he didn't pay much mind and thought was rather amusing.
His health is righting, with just a nosebleed so far, and he's fit to be back working.
He rates a concert possibly by the Matthay School of Music and relays a story about Warnoer Bros vs. a double bass.

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 about visiting their friends the Bowers, particularly the card-playing regular "Night Club". He's not getting along so much with their son Jack but knows it's a simple clash of personality and nothing malicious.
He discusses war work, "the N.C. of S.S. work hardly seems in my line and Special Police (about the only work I fancy) if my age aren't wanted at the moment; I may soon be doing a bit of work (honorary of course) advising the forces about travel in England."
War work is interrupting the football but he hopes she'll have a safe day out in Tatton where it's likely to be safe. He'd like to go to the cinema in Rusholme, but doubts it's safe to do so, and more to the point, he doesn't know if the seats are comfy.
He mentions the discrete nature of their relationship, respecting her need for a private life, but knows in a small world that they've been spotted out and about together. He thinks their secret is safe still.

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 wants to see Appalachia by Delius at the Hallé, he tells Ida, but fears he's running out of slots his season ticket arrangement will allow. Either way he hopes to meet her under the cover of darkness behind the Midland hotel after the concert they're both planning to attend.
He's a bit uneasy about Birch choir, especially now her father has left as choirmaster.
He arranges to come to her family home with music and concert tickets, and writes of books and radio set recommendations.
He arrived home early which caused quite the startled uproar with his family and is not looking forward to the various whist drives he's expected to support.

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 away from work with an illness but now he's getting restless, he tells Ida. He went out but when returned his parents "wanted to know why I looked like a dying duck in ta thunderstorm" and suggested reading or radio. He didn't fancy either. He would very much like to go to the cinema, preferably with her but knows it's not possible, and would have even gone alone but dreaded walking back home alone in the blackout. So radio it is.
He'll practice on his cello Boris to pass 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.

It's been a busy day at the travel agency for Griff dealing out refunds for tickets. With the holiday cancelled (possibly bank holiday in August) there are Air Raid Precaution workers, Town Hall clerks and more that are asking for their money back.
He was too tired to practice cello when he got home so instead he smoked, read and wrote.
He hopes to take her out for a day trip in the week but doesn't yet know how transport will be affected.

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 relays his day in the third person, which is a bit weird tbh.
She seems worried that she was coughing too much at the cinema and he assures her that he will thump her on the back after a brief medical consultation if it happens again.
He loves evenings by the fire with her but admits that going out and about are also lovely ways to spend time together.

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 about music, reminiscing about when she taught him piano. He admits "I used to have an attack of nerves in the bus," on the way to lessons, "there were some positively 'clammy' moments but you were a good and patient teacher, and it did me an immense amount of good". So much so that he even admits to liking a bit of Benjamin Britten.
He comments on the voice tone and quality of singing friends, and the merits of long or short vowels in singing.
He's upset himself by making one too many mistakes at the travel agency that week.
He reckons that "I am sure there is a much more 'live' atmosphere at the Matthay than at the College. You have a grand lot of students, and those who probably aren't very, very clever are doubtless full of fun. Naturally all the staff are first-rate, especially the one who succeeded in Finishing Nowhere at the Last Tennis Tournament. All the staff probably, with the exception of those who try to scrounge cups of tea." The devils.

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 commiserates that Ida's had some jaw ache and hopes it clears soon. He assures her that she doesn't have to put on an animated cheery front for him, especially when they both feel a bit down.
Re work, "I bet there's a piano in Workhouses" but would think twice about working for another tourist agency. But he knows he can sell his house if needed.
He wants her father Walter to stay on at Birch, as most of the choir do.
He compliments her on her new dress. He likes to watch people dance but isn't much of a mover himself.
His voice is hanging in there despite the fact that "Wednesday's practice for the Bach certainly was severe, and at the actual performance there is always the tendency to go all-out."
She's some news of an acquaintances who, turns out, weren't married. Apparently Jesus will forgive them - well then that's nice of him isn't it.
He has a preference for "the usual Hallé programme" but marvels that "the greatest voices in Europe can now be heard at the turn of a knob and it isn't boasting when I say I've heard 'em all" on the radio.
They were nearly discovered after some interrogation by a friend, wanting to know who Griff is taking to the Birch church Social - they remain under the radar for now.

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 about his week, and only glanced at her along the road as he was driven past after church. He refrained from "tooting" at her, "I regret you were not able to recognise the doubtless handsome male occupant of the car that *did* toot at you."
He "was pleased to hear about your diplomatic stroke with Mr G.H.", and admits to admiring some of the travel agent's female clients. One of his colleagues even managed to accompany a tour of ladies to Paris, and got into ripe trouble for it after.

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.