Letters From New York
14 June 1966
Dear Mum,
I'm back again Mum. I hope you are able to understand my writing, usually I hate writing letters but since we have been over here I quite enjoy it. Bill says I'm sending him broke with all my letters, but I know he's got millions, so I may as well help him spend it.
It was parents day at school today so Michael, Jenny & I went down. They had an art show & a concert. I always said Phillip was an actor & today he proved it. He had a leading part in a play as an old man & really he was marvellous. He took the part very well and everyone clapped like one thing. I was real proud of him. Anthony said a poem about Australia most of which he made up himself. The children from the different nations said a short poem on each of their countries. It was really lovely. Phillip also made a puppet & it is being sent to Geneva to the United Nations there till September, (his isn't the only one). Anthony's model is not going as he did not quite finish it.
Last Saturday week we went to the shops & bought a dinner set at 8.30pm. It is really fantastic the hours the shops keep over here. We were having guest for dinner on the Sunday, all I had was the plastic picnic set so that wonderful son of yours took us out & bought a nice dinner set. Some shops even open after lunch on Sundays from about 1 till 6. It is great really because it stays light till nearly 9.00pm & with Bill home at 6.00pm if I want I can go out then.
Poor Cathy has just about lost her two front teeth, she and Phillip ran into each other on Sunday & her mouth hit Phillip's head which made her teeth pretty loose, then the very next day she ran into something else & now both teeth are very loose. Have you heard from the Five Dock mob yet? Mum said she was going to write to you. I hope they are all over the accident by this.
I have to take Jenny back to the doctor next Tuesday. I am expecting another good report on her. She is really filling out now & smiles all the time. We will send some photos of all the children as soon as we can. I think they have all grown in the time we have been here.
We don't feel out of place at all in our fashions here. They are very much the same. Particularly here in the Village & for Bill in U.N. there are so many people from other countries that most wear their national dress anyway. It seems quite strange really to see the teachers at school in the sari & so on. They look most colourful. Bill & I had been wondering why Anthony was so interested in French & he tells us now that he has a girl friend who is French and her mother teaches it at school. The way he is going I think he will speak better French than English by the time we come home. Cathy & Phillip are also doing quite well at it. They break up on Friday for 3 months.
Well Mum I think I have told you all the news again to this minute. Look after yourself. Give our love to Vince & tell him we would like to hear from him sometime.
Love & best wishes from all,
Joan & Bill
Good to hear of Vince's doings on the football field, though it seems as though he's suffering for it. Was absolutely delighted to read in the English press over hear of Scobie Breasley's success in the English Derby and, moreso, of the thrashing the West Indian cricketers gave the poms in the First Cricket Test.
I've written to Margaret and expect she'll pass the letter on to you - eventually!! The weather's gone somewhat haywire here again, being almost cold for a few days, but it's on the rise again. Things are still slow at work, but none the less interesting. I've met up with another young Australian - this time from Brisbane - over here with his wife (they were married before they left). The Bartels are in Geneva at the moment and leave for Rome (where they'll probably get an audience with the Pope) tomorrow.
Love,
Bill