Letters From New York
Monday December 12th 1966
Dear Mum,
Our boy is a bit busy tonight with his French, he has an exam on this week so he will fill in later. Your last letter arrived one day late and was full of news as usual. We look forward to your letter each week.
The children are all well. Jenny has a slight head cold. It has been cold again today with snow expected before the end of the week. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were beautiful days with temp up in the 60s. Looks like the cold weather is here to stay now though. Michael will not put his nose outside the front door without his coat, hat and gloves on.
Has your Christmas parcel arrived yet? The Five Dock gang received theirs last week. We are taking the kiddies into town on Sunday night to see all the lights and decorations. I believe they are beautiful. I suppose we will freeze to death but it should be nice to see just the same. We are going to put the tree up this week. The youngsters are quite excited. We bought the silver tree over with us.
I suppose you have been wondering why the Rogers have not invited you over to see the slides we sent out. There is quite a story involved. I sent some of Peters slides back to him plus a box of ours too. When the parcel arrived, it was open at one end and only Pete’s slides inside. We had given up hope of ever seeing them again as it is two months since we sent them. However, today they arrived back, some how they found their way to Kodak in Melb. Bill’s name and address was on the box and Kodak’s very kindly air-mailed them to us. I could not believe my eyes when I saw them. We are real pleased to have them back because most of them were terrific pictures of our trip around Manhattan Island. No doubt Mum will be pleased to find out they were not lost forever too.
All is peace and quiet here now, the children have gone to bed and Bill is studying so the TV is not on either. Will leave the rest for Bill Mum, he can tell you about our fantastic night out last Saturday. Lots of love and God Bless you. Joan xxxxxxx Regards to Vince too xx
Well, I’ve broken the spell of peace and quiet now as I’ve put on a batch of records as I settle in to polish this off. The stereo outfit is proving to be most popular and we’re slowly beginning to build up a collection of some very nice discs. Our two most recent editions are $1.00 Xmas “specials” from two of the motor tyre companies. It’s quite something to be able to put on and listen to a collection just when one likes and the children – even quiet little Michael – are all very noisy singing all the tunes. Had tried to organise some of the youngsters to go off on a round of Xmas carolling on Xmas eve, but had no response at all from the Dwyers and only token interest from some others so it seems the idea will die.
Had a disappointment on Friday when, nervous as hell, I failed the Road Test for my licence and so will have to give it another go in a few weeks. Everyone was amazed as I’d apparently been going so well but, on the day, it just wasn’t my day and after a very short while I wasn’t much hope. Some consolation on Saturday however, as after I’d won a ticket for the very difficult to get into U.N. Human Rights concert, the Australian community scrounged another for us and, with the children being minded by the newly-arrived Aust., Joan and I went in. To top it all off, the Travis’ insisted on swapping us their official (delegates) section seats for ours (in the “Gods”) since it was our “first ever” and we finished up only twenty feet from the stage. The programme included a wonderful Metropolitan Soprano; a team of Canadian dancers; the actor GREGORY PECK; a marvellous Russian pianist (who played a wonderful rendition of a Chopin piece) and as a finale, the Ballet Africans. Before Vince gets his blood pressure up tell him that that to my disappointment none were topless. It was a concert which I’ll remember for quite a long time and contained artists which, individually, one would have paid quite a deal to see here – and it was all free. To top it off we had a wonderful supper at the famous Howard Johnson’s Inn and stole off with a souvenir menu. As it turned out we also were able to be good Samaritans as, when both our tickets weren’t required, we were able to invite – at the very last moment – Carolyn Tolhurst (who’s not long had the baby) to see her favourite film star. The Tolhursts are, by the way, moving into the village at the end of the month.
A pretty busy week ahead with a formal Xmas Dinner tomorrow night (at the Statler-Hilton); cocktail parties on Thursday & Friday nights and a Xmas party (a la Australian – that’s French!) at the Travis’ on Saturday. We have a big Australia Day lined up for Xmas & the Dwyers are giving a New Years Eve “at home” on 31st – You’re all invited!!! Will eat plenty of turkey and tell you all about it!
Love and best wishes from,
your son Bill xxxxxxxxxxxx