Letters From New York
Monday 3rd April 1967
Dear Mum,
Letter time again and once more I’m minding house as the girls have gone out on another of their shopping sprees. In the circumstances I’m sure you’ll forgive me if this is a little disjointed. Right now, for instance I have to get upstairs to throw Michael into the bath (having not long got Jennifer bedded down) and tear the others away from the T.V. Half the job done – so have a few minutes to put some more of my thoughts to paper. Your letter arrived a day later than usual – on Saturday – but the newspaper pieces arrived on Friday (at great expense to you I noticed) and both were greatly appreciated. Whilst on the subject of newspapers, it seems that my persistence has borne fruit as I met the manager of the Aust. news service here on Friday and he has given me access, weekly, to all the newspapers (Daily & Sunday Mirrors and The Australian) which come over – usually within 48 hours of issue at home. A very good contact to have – it should save you quite a deal – and I also met personally one of the Mirror correspondents whose work I’ve read for years Raymond Kerrison. With a name such as that, there’s some chance he could be related to Joan’s mother.
Pleased to hear that the Easter weather was kind and you evidently had a better season than we did. It was almost sacrilegious to be working here on Good Friday and Easter Monday!! They had an enormous crowd at the Easter Parade on the Sunday and, following a couple of doubtful days early in the week, the weather got better as the week progressed and we had a glorious weekend this past one with temperatures in the high 70°s. Went to all the Easter church services so has quite a religious renewal. Jenny recovered from her illness quite early in the week though obviously distressed by some stomach teeth which we feel are on the way. However, as the days became better Joan was able to get her out of doors and it was rather like opening a new world for her. Just over 13 months she is now and she’s as gorgeous a little doll as you could wish for – but a regular little demon and torment to boot. She asserts herself no end, makes her presence felt wherever she is, and demands (and gets) her rights no end. I cannot sit down to any meal in her presence without her demanding her place on my knee and a taste of the fare – so much so that she’s developing quite a cosmopolitan taste and a wonderful appetite.
So much for “ma belle fille”. Guess Margaret does have her accommodation problem when the family turns out in full force but glad you were all able to get together for the festivities. I’m running frightfully behind with my shopping but hope to send Lindsay’s gift and your Mothers Day parcel out tomorrow or Wednesday. Thought it may be late assure him that it will arrive – better late than not at all! Must remember too to send a card to Brother Stephen. Delighted that Vince is conscience stricken sufficiently to have written to you so consistently since his arrival up north. Hope he keeps up the good work and at least keeps you in the picture. Can’t agree that it will be very long to Anthony’s twenty-first. So help me the way the two boys are growing I’m sure manhood is just around the corner. Indeed, I’ll have to soon brush up on my birds & bees fairy tales as I sense there'll be some awkward questions being aired any old time. All the kiddies are really developing into nice little specimens and Catherine is developing in a very shapely fashion – and well aware of it too.
Don’t know about the never come back idea! For my own part I believe I could stand it – certainly life at the U.N. has been quite marvellous – but (as it seems to have ever been) its a bit of a financial struggle and they’d have to up the ante quite substantially to make it worthwhile. Indeed, motions are already under way in this regard as I’ve been offered a permanent contract (most unusual within one’s first twelve months and a certain sign that I’ve “made the grade”) which would carry with it a nice salary rise but this would be offset by extra expenses which we’ll likely have to meet in the next 12 months. Joan, too, isn’t perfectly sold on the idea – still talks quite definitely of returning (at the latest) by June, 1968 – and, I suspect is counting the days till then. Despite its many nice features New York does not appeal to me as the place in which I’d like to drop anchor permanently and raise a family and, by the end of the year, we’re likely to have a very serious accommodation problem to overcome. All in all, unlikely that we’ll become Americans!!
The weekend, as I said, was marvellous & highlighted on Saturday by a picnic with the Bartels and a young Bolivian boy (on a visit to the USA as part of a prize he won at school) whom they were entertaining for the day. Actually, he was due here over six months ago but was involved in a freak accident on the way to the airport and has only been released from hospital after head surgery. He was a nice, quiet little fellow (spoke very little English but got on well with the kids) and confided that his first day in America saw him sleep in a bed by himself for the first time (he’s 12 years old!).
The kids went back to school today (hope you liked the reports!) after a hectic week on their bicycles. Even Michael has one now; a small one given to us by friends, and loves it. Had a bit of misfortune with the car over the weekend as, after our long journey for the picnic found the muffler/exhaust pipe had come asunder & will likely cost $20.00 to put right. Quite busy at work now with two luncheons last week and another on Thursday this week. Joan is on the improve though still having trouble with her legs & tiring very easily. For the time being, the mountain of ironing has disappeared. Hope all goes well with you as it does with all of us.
Lots of love,
Bill