T. E. Lawrence to Clare Sydney Smith

Friday, noon. [December 1930]

I am just off to Cliveden via London. I also hate going off at the moment. Week-ends in big houses are miseries. You will find Leo looking fat and happy. Squeak ditto, I hope: though I have not been able to feed Squeak at all.

The gramophone has had a top overhaul and is louder. The trembling of the tone has gone. The motor is stiff; and to run it in Workshops first thing in the morning it had to have the valve-switch turned on for 15 to 20 minutes, to warm everything through. It may want a touch of the hand to start it turning, too. In your house 10 minutes warm-up would probably be enough. Workshops is colder. S/Lr. Jones had the Rachmaninoff Concerto, and the Mozart viola quintet.

If I get back at a decent hour on Sunday I shall come in: thank you!

T.E.S.