Letters From New York
17 October 1966
Dear Mum,
Monday again, and the week has disappeared without my penning that promised letter to Margaret - but perhaps this week will find me with more time. Your letter arrived as usual last Friday and the paper clippings which followed on Saturday morning were most welcome. I was able to "scoop" the Australian colony with detailed news of the big race results from Sydney. If it's not too much trouble, you might keep up the good work over the next few weeks with the Caulfield Cup (run on Saturday?) and the Melbourne Cup coming up. Won't be quite the same without my annual "flutter".
Bartels and Dwyer kids in the Bartels' car. 16 October 1966.
Seems the mails at your end of the world are all topsy turvy. I'm posting this Monday effort as usual each week to catch the first Tuesday (AM) mail, in which case it should arrive on the following Saturday. We agree that you might as well be over with "us people" and, again, I'll extend the invitation. If you'd think very seriously about it for a while, we might make some enquiries as to how practical it would be finance-wise. Can't say as how I'd recommend it at this stage of the year, however, as winter seems to be on the threshold and all the signs and portents are that it will be a "dilly".
Good to hear Charlie & Vera are going up to Sydney - at least it will be some new company for you for a while. Seems as though Joan & Ron are finding it hard going; pity we aren't there to help soften the blow, but I suppose their problems are somewhat akin to ours. They'll certainly be pleased to have some true blue Melbourne company for a while too. Glad to hear that you're still seeing something of Vince - if only occasionally - and hope that things are going as well for him as can be expected in the circumstances. I gather you've heard no recent news of the younger Dwyers in Orange - guess no news must be good news!! Has Vince had any further news regarding his court action - they certainly take their time in such matters don't they; and I suppose the Venon business has done nothing to speed the issue.
Life has been hectic again over the past week, commencing on Wednesday with us minding the Bartels girls whilst Greg and Jill went into Town to an off-Broadway show - they didn't get home until nearly 1.00am. On Thursday, we were given, ourselves, free tickets to the preview of a new off-Braodway show called EH! (just that). This time Greg and Jill did the honours with our brood and off we went to the Circle in the Square Theatre in Greenwich Village - a racier, wilder version of our Kings Cross, inhabited by beatniks and other arty types - and we had the time of our lives. The show wasn't actually sensational but, with limited props and facilities, it was quite well done and provided good entertainment.
Friday night we had free and took the opportunity to recover from the previous two and prepare for Saturday. I had arranged to work with Greg in painting Kerry's classroom at the U.N. School - a job that turned out to be a little more than we'd bargained for but nonetheless enjoyable. Despite that we had the assistance of a quiet Indian; a paint splashing Brazilian and another Indian who promptly organised our tasks and then left (to return just after we'd finished), the job took most of the day. Even though I say so myself, we did a pretty good job but we warned the teacher not to recommend us to her friends and threatened the children that their response should be "we don't know" if asked who painted the classroom.
Saturday night we had my Chinese friend (the Professor of Architecture) out for dinner and he brought with him a most attractive and interesting lady Fillipino doctor (anaesthesiologist) who is working in New York. We had the Bartels over after dinner and had quite a successful and enjoyable social evening. Greg, too, was most attracted by Francis. Sunday we had a barbecue picnic lined up but, of course, it rained. As an alternative we went out in the afternoon, again with the Bartels, to the N.A.S.A. space exhibition of rockets, satellites, space films, etc. etc. and spent a most enjoyable two hours. The kids were absolutely enthralled (and the fathers didn't mind it either). I'm about exhausted, so will leave Joan to give the womens' news.
Fond love and best wishes,
Bill
Regards to the Ramsdales.
Dear Mum,
I was testing Michael the other day so I asked him what he always had at Nanna Dwyers' place, he said "Scotch Fingers", "custard without lumps in a cup with lemonade". He has a memory like Anthony. Hope you have a nice time with Uncle Charlie & Vera while they are over. I can just imagine how you are fussing & painting for them. We have had the heaters on in the house all day to-day & outside was quite cold. Went out last week and bought myself a lovely overcoat & a car coat so I did pretty well for myself. We still miss you and think of you very often.
Love,
Joan