‘The place they was in got condemned after a V-2 came down a bit too close just after Christmas. Mum’s fed up with it all, ’cos this will be the fifth move and Dad never stops moaning about how long it takes ’im to get to his allotment. Me sister don’t help, neither,’ she added gloomily. ‘What with ’er gadding about in the West End with all sorts, and staying out all night. Poor Mum’s at the end of her tether.’

Rita gave up her search for something to wear and put her arm around Ivy’s shoulder. ‘I’m sure she’ll write soon,’ she comforted. ‘You know what the post has been like recently, and with moving house and all the excitement over the past few weeks, she probably hasn’t had the time.’

‘Yeah, that could be it,’ Ivy agreed. ‘It’s just frustrating that I don’t have no address for ’em, ’cos I’d’ve liked to have gone up there to see ’em.’

Rita bit her lip in thought. ‘You could ask Auntie Peg to help you write a letter to the rehousing people, I suppose. But I suspect you’ll hear from your mum before you get any answer from them. Government offices take their time to reply to anything.’

Ivy’s face suddenly brightened. ‘Perhaps there’s a letter downstairs just waiting for me, and I’ve been worrying meself silly over nothing?’

Before Rita could reply, she’d shot out of the room and was thudding downstairs to the hall. The metal cage below the letter box was empty. Thinking Auntie Peggy must have already collected the post, she raced into the kitchen to ask her and tripped over Daisy who was sitting on the floor with a jigsaw puzzle.

‘Sorry, darlin’,’ she said, giving her a cuddle to stave off tears. ‘Auntie Ivy was in such an ’urry to get to the post, she didn’t see you down there.’

Daisy forgave her by winding her arms round Ivy’s neck and giving her a kiss.

‘I’m sorry, Ivy,’ said Peggy. ‘There was nothing for you this morning, but there might be something in the second delivery. The Post Office is all behind because of the public holiday.’

Ivy had no option but to accept the fact. She gently disentangled herself from Daisy’s clutches and sat down at the table. ‘You ’aven’t got an aspirin, ’ave yer? Only I got a blindin’ headache.’

Peggy smiled knowingly and fetched a bottle from the dresser drawer. ‘It’s a good thing I bought an extra supply of these last week,’ she murmured. ‘I have a feeling you won’t be the only one suffering today.’

As if to prove her right, Rita came in looking like death warmed up, and Cissy emerged from the basement still in her dressing gown, blonde hair tousled, and last night’s make-up smeared on her wan face.