Letters From New York
Apartment C,
144-47 Charter Road,
JAMAICA. 35. N.Y. U.S.A
16th January, 1967
P.S. Can’t recall whether or not I’d asked him to do so but when you see GLENN (or through Margaret) please have him contact a Mr. George GRAY, Student Counselling & Research Unit at the University – a very good and helpful friend of mine!
Dear Mum,
Had commenced this as a “business” letter but decided an enclosure or two was necessary and so had to use the normal form of letter. Trust you won’t mind my using the printed form (rather than discard it) for our usual weekly epistle! Your letter arrived a day early (on Thursday) last week and we felt somewhat “cheated” when the postman left nothing from you on Friday.
Before proceeding, let me put your mind to rest about news which you’ve probably received a garbled version of, concerning a big fire here last Friday. Indeed, it was quite a blaze (some say the biggest in New York history) which covered some 6 blocks of shops and houses and blazed 21 buildings. Whilst it was in Jamaica, it was some distance from us and we were in no way affected or endangered. The trouble commenced in the early hours of the morning with a resident phoning the local police about a strong gas leak. Two patrolling policemen ordered to the scene detected underground rumblings and, with commendable initiative & quick thinking, evacuated people (running from door to door waking people – who miraculously complied without question). Before the blast, I woke about 6.30 am to see an enormous red glow in the sky (from my bedroom window) and the fire raged for some hours over a wide area before it could be controlled. Despite a gas explosion and the blowing up of a petrol station no one was hurt, with the exception of one fireman who sustained slight injuries, in an area which is densely populated and in which many lives could have been lost. Besides the 21 buildings two fire vehicles were destroyed in the inferno. As we’ve cautioned you in the past – don’t let your imagination run riot when you read or hear reports (usually EMANATING from New York) of tragedies in which you may think we’re involved.
Like you, I’m a little short on news this week – but by no means short on time as I’m penning this at the office all being well you should receive this in advance of expectations. Margaret’s letter was soon followed by one from a much travelled, descriptive and elated Glenn. His version of the trip through the Snowy etc. read like a travelogue and was almost as good as being there. His results were marvellous and, as he says, should assure him of the much sought after scholarship. Lindsay, too, has every reason to be very proud of himself and I’m sure Margaret will have had to invest in new bras to accommodate the chest she must now be carrying around. Hope you can all get together at Rogers’ soon to hear the tape & see the slides which should by now be with them.
The weekend was very quiet as Saturday dawned with a light drizzle which persisted most of the day. Greg and I had tentatively arranged a golf outing &, undeterred by the prospect of bad weather, left home about 7.30 am. There was quite a crowd booked in and we didn’t hit off until after 10.00 am but had breakfast and a yap in the clubhouse whilst waiting. Enjoyed a very good round with a couple of Americans and landed back home about 2.30 pm. I then bundled Joan & the kids into the car & we went shopping outside the city limits (into a lower tax area) for a couple of hours. On Sunday, I ran the usual shuttle service to mass and we spent the afternoon by coloured T.V. seeing the first ever Final between the two American Football Leagues. It was preceded by a marvellous film on the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team giving a good afternoon’s entertainment. In the evening Joan and I saw the V.I.P’s, a very recent film, starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and our own Rod Taylor.
Not a lot to report on Joan and the children (since I’m again writing this at work she won’t be contributing any news on the back) all of whom are very well and in high spirits. Anthony is progressing quite well at School and is very highly thought of. He’s becoming quite enthralled with French and his informal lessons in Japanese (from friends) and has become most friendly with a young French girl about his own age living in the Village. Phillip has not changed a great deal and continues in his “all the world’s against me” way but is finding little difficulty (seemingly) with his work. He suffers a great deal from laziness and is becoming shrewd (so he thinks) in avoiding homework etc. or taking the easy way out. I believe, however, we’re catching him out more than he’s beating us. Catherine, is growing into a lovely figure of a little girl, is mother’s little helper and – as she’ll readily tell you – is loved by everyone. She’s progressed marvellously over here and is far from the shy young thing we brought away. Michael is improving but, perhaps showing some evidence of jealousy (when Jenny’s about) is still very much a mother’s boy. All the indications are that he’ll be accepted for school in September. Of the little one, well, the superlatives just haven’t yet been coined to describe her and she really is a ball of muscle. Not walking yet (the devil) but not so far from it. Well paper’s out so must say adieu.
Regards to Vince and love to you
Your Son Bill xxxxxxx