Letters From New York
21 June 1966
Dear Mum & Vince,
Well, here's your big boy with the weekly news bulletin from the New World and this time on official airmail paper! We were very pleased to receive your letter last Friday moreso since we've been a little bereft of friends from home - the letters beginning to thin down a little now. Sorry to hear you've had such damp weather but, then, you've got to get it some time if only to keep the dams filled. We haven't had much rain here lately though the water position is very much improved thanks to an exceptionally wet Spring - indeed the reservoirs are fuller than they've been for three years.
I'm writing on this paper and not on an air letter since I want to send you a copy each of the kiddies' school reports. They broke up last Friday and, as you will see, all got creditable mentions. Evidently they've gone over quite well & are revealing a few unthought of talents. Phillip, in fact, is having one of his works exhibited in Geneva and, all round, probably showed up best of the three. Anthony is proceeding in leaps and bounds with his French, but experienced some frustrating & worrying moments with arithmetic of all things - long division sums in particular. However, his confidence hasn't been shattered. Catherine also impressed us and, indeed, one can notice a big difference in her already - she's really blossomed out.
As to the other two "brats", the news is marvellous. Joan had Jennifer to see the specialist again this afternoon and the news was marvellous. Whilst he tends to agree with Dr. Tinks' diagnosis he suggests that the condition has righted itself completely and, at worst, was probably quite mild. Her heartbeat is wonderful under normal examination but the cardiographs do show a slight abnormality on the right side. He says her colour is wonderful, with no blue signs at all, and the abnormality is well within the limits of a normal heart. He does not want to see her for another three months, has given us the green light to start her injections and, to sum up, has declared her a "phoney". Believe me, if you could see her now you couldn't but agree. She's really blooming; paying attention to everything and everyone around her bursting to talk and gurgling & smiling all the time. We haven't been able to weigh her, but she's chubby as can be & getting as bald as a badger. As for Michael, well he's enjoying life immensely though, like all of us, sweating on the arrival of the ship (with his animals & etc.). He's found some very pleasant little friends and is becoming quite an avid & knowledgeable T.V. viewer.
Thank for the thoughts for the Rogers family. I'm sure they'll appreciate the gestures. Indeed, Mrs. R. wrote to say that she was writing to you to have over there one day so, when the invite comes, don't go finding excuses not to go - it should be good for all of you. Neil was evidently upset over the accident; adding to worries he may already have had over going to Vietnam, but written reports to Fivedock since seem to suggest that he's resigned to his fate & settling in reasonably. Apparently the injured still aren't out of the woods! Auntie Bern (in plaster) has been somewhat helpless - what a blow to her; Mum is still bruised & sore & Robyn has some internal problems. They're still all under the doctor but are picking up slowly. We had three letters last week from Brian (in Malaya) & everything seems to be going well for them. The two boys are looking well & are tanned like natives.
You may hear that I've written to Glenn - a little earlier than I may have done - but prompted by the visit of two Sydney priests to the U.N., ostensibly to be shown around by Greg Bartels but in his absence the job devolved on me. I enjoyed it, however, and sent them off with the commission to get in touch with him. Our ship is still behind schedule and is not now expected till tomorrow. Everyone's awaiting the goodies expectantly - it'll be like Xmas when they get here. I find it hard to believe that Vince's marauders and maulers defeated any Uni. team (hope it wasn't ours) 30-0 but I suppose miracles do happen The motorist blitz was probably overdue & they could well do with it over here too. If it has the effect of sobering drivers up - in more ways than one - it will have served its purpose. Surprisingly, I haven't had the slightest sign of any second thoughts about getting the kids bikes here - I probably wouldn't have entertained the notion over there - funny how one's ideas and values change isn't it!
I don't know about Michael but I'm sure we're all missing your baked potatoes - and many of the other comforts and pleasures of home! There's no doubt this is an experience and it will probably be even more so in retrospect. Things are beginning to quicken up at the office - obviously someone has learnt that I possess an INWARDS tray. For some reason our accent (???) is picked up by everyone we come into contact with but being an Australian is certainly no handicap here - on the contrary! The Americans quite obviously have a very high regard for us and shoot questions from all angles about life "down-under". In so many ways still the city is unimpressive but as one comes to be more familiar with it and be more tolerant of the ways, procedures and values of the inhabitants some measure of understanding (or is it tolerance?) is seeping through.
Last Sunday we had a wonderful day out at the Kelly's - a family of young Australians (with two small girls & a baby boy) who've been here only a week longer than we have but are renting a cosy little house (not a toilet!) in a heavily wooded area about an hour & a half by train from the city. They're paying rather dearly for the privilege, but he's on a better deal than I (he's an engineer) and they have a long range view of a stay of 4-5 years at least. We were, to the kids' delight - able to get down to a beach for a couple of hours (they had their first swim since Honolulu; except Anthony who went from school) and, coming home, had our first ride in America on an overhead (or surface) railway. Generally, the American homes look small but, being at least two storeys (with a basement thrown in) they're more than adequate. They don't seem, however, to go in for very big yards - and hardly any fences; back, front or sides.
Well, paper's almost exhausted and so am I, so will close. Our love and best wishes go out to you, and we do hope you're keeping fit and well. Don't feel a moment's concern for us. All things considered we're doing famously and the children are marvellous!
Your loving son,
Bill