Letters From New York
“Our Place”
2nd January 1967
Dear Mum,
Well, the New Year is with us and what a hectic one it’s been for the Dwyers. Despite the season and the mass of postage that must have been going through yours has not been delayed at all, arriving quite on time at the weekend. Happy to hear that your Xmas was made a little brighter by the boys’ presence – hope you felt us with you, at least in spirit – but sorry that proceedings were marred by the accident. Seems like Santa Aitken was very kind to you and hope he and his wife didn’t get into any trouble on their 2nd honeymoon! Imagine 25 years married – it’s amazing isn’t it how time gets away. You yourself certainly get up to some antics on your evening excursions and you must be earning quite a reputation in the district there. All your long long frinds seem to be coming to light – must be the festive spirit. Won’t be any time before there’s a knock on the door and all seven prodigal Dwyers troop in.
Snow on our doorstep, Xmas Day 1966.
We’re busily preparing a tape to bring us all nearer to you & will shortly send it out to Rogers for a preview. Will make a point of their getting you out for the show. We only started on it today though we’ve had it in mind for so long and really we have been just too busy and involved over the past fortnight to get time for the concerted effort necessary to complete it. If you guessed from our letter that Xmas was hectic, well New Year was even more so. Not a great deal to do at work in the four days before the three day new Year weekend but we easily found something to keep us busy until quite late each night. Had a somewhat hectic time organising purchase of a coloured T.V. for Greg during the week – his Xmas gift to his family – and was “rewarded” with the free gift of his old black and white portable. Very affluent now with a T.V. in the lounge room and the kiddies bedroom.
Presented Joan with quite a formidable problem on New Years Eve as a rather small gathering of people which we’d invited over for a drink and chat eventually grew into a party of nineteen made up of fourteen Australians; three Britishers and my Chinese/Australian friend with his very attractive Chinese/American girlfriend. To make matters “worse”, I’d invited Frank and his girl plus a newly arrived Australian (fresh from Melbourne and working six years in T.V. with Grahame Kennedy) for dinner and it was quite a job getting all of us fed before the others started arriving at 8.00 pm. The arrangement turned out to be quite successful and the party something to be remembered. Indeed, we created such a din that the kiddies had extreme difficulty getting to sleep. The main body broke up about 1.30 am after we’d welcomed in the New Year quite boisterously. I’m sure no one left disappointed and everyone mixed quite happily and successfully. It was a very tired and weary Joan & Bill who flopped into bed at 3.00 am in the morning. To make the matter worse we then had the Kelly’s (who couldn’t make it for the party out for lunch and tea on the Sunday (New Year’s day).
Tuesday 3rd
We had a most enjoyable three day holiday, one of the highlights being the arrival, on New Years Eve, of a friend of the Bartels (a Qantas Stewardess) with a Xmas cake from Mrs. Coy. She, of course, had also to come to the party! Monday (yesterday) was very quiet but we really needed the rest. We have rain and snow forecast for New York this evening but don’t expect it to be anything like the Xmas snow a lot of which, in ice form, is still lying around. The Children are in the very best of good health and spirits and reluctantly resume school today after the Xmas holiday break. Michael’s birthday was an unqualified success as he & Joan entertained ten little friends to luncheon. As with the other kiddies some of the toys he got were terrific and your jumpers went over very well too. Now he’s four he considers himself quite a man.
Didn’t continue this to completion last night as I had a road test scheduled for this morning and hoped, afterwards, I’d be able to give you news of the result. Well, fact is, I made it and now hold an interim N.Y. Driver’s license, so should be able to get up and go now. ‘Twas a very testing time and my nerves took a battering (before & during) but it’s over now and I hope we can make full use of the vehicle. Must now turn to getting Joan to drive!! In going for the test and being away from the Office for some time, missed another University of N.S.W. associate who was passing through New York with his wife. Bad luck (they leave tonight) but may catch up with them when they return end of March or early April. Seems to be a mass exodus from Aust. for the USA.
Received word late last week that I failed the French exam, quite well so may make a more concerted effort at it this coming term. Most of my Australian friends got through to progress to the next stage. Our Queensland friends have finally made their way our to the Village and we now have a small group of Australians there.
Jennifer is still progressing marvellously and is sporting four front teeth (two upper & two lower). She’s a real little doll and the idol of all coming into contact with her. We’ve received some wonderful photo slides of our recent tripping around and first experiences in the snow and must risk sending them all out to you.
Hope you all had a very happy Festive Season that the New Year, 1967, will be kind. Love and wishes, your fond son,
Bill xxxxxxxxxxxx