Letters From New York
Our Place
1 January, 1968
Dear Mum,
Another year’s with us and, true to my responsibilities and fresh (?) from a colossal hangover, here I am with the weekly epistle from the U.S.A. You’ll already be aware that this is our “coming home” year and the first words from Joan to the children (who we allowed to wait up for the occasion) were “We’re going home this year”, as she pushed out the old and ushered in the new. Our party was a roaring success and folded up shortly after 1.00 AM after quite an evening. Sixteen adults, including ourselves, in attendance and all but three of them Australians so you can imaging the night we had. I concocted an evil “punch” based on an alcoholic bourbon lightened by lemon & orange juice & tons of lemonade and it was downed with great enthusiasm by everyone and diminishing the emphasis on beer and whisky. In fact, one of the guests duly arrived with six bottles of Melbourne (Fosters) which was also downed with great relish.
No letter from you again this week but then the mails are all over the place at the moment. We hear that there’s some sort of strike on at Qantas but information is somewhat sketchy as to how extensive it is. The papers have been delayed and we’ve not had an Aust. letter for over a week – I think it’s obviously more than a normal Xmas & holiday delay. Perhaps there’ll be something in the box tomorrow. One does miss a letter when in the habit of receiving them on a very regular basis.
Had Jennifer to the specialist again on Saturday (the visit deferred from the previous week) and having this time been able to get some better tests before the visit, he was a deal less concerned about having the catheterisation of the heart done before August of this year. He was most appreciative of our decision to have the job done at home rather than here before going and spoke very highly of the reputation of Aust. cardiologists generally. He reiterated that the process is designed only to discover precisely what is wrong i.e. to locate the causes of the abnormalities recurring in the X-rays and tests which he has done. Tells us that there is a very slight element of risk involved; but strongly confirmed that her physical development and Joan’s accounts of the patient not raise any great fears in his mind of anything serious being amiss. She was very good for him this time - not the least concerned with him touching her and checking the heart beat. Since we’re heading home to Aust. via San Francisco he’s suggested, if possible, that we call in on the heart specialist to whom we were initially introduced from Aust. (and his professor) who is working at the University of California. If possible, we will certainly try to do this.
Just missed the snow on the “front” side of Xmas and repeated the dose on the “back” end as we’ve wound up with a white New Year. There was a very serious fall threatened on Friday and a great deal of preparation for a city emergency was undertaken. However, an unexpected rise (by only a couple of degrees) in temperature changed snow into hail, then sleet then blustery rain to wash what little snow that had fallen away and even cause some flooding. Friday was a shocking day helping to give the city an almost record year of rainfall totalling 49”. The snow then arrived somewhat unexpectedly about lunchtime yesterday and continued all through the afternoon and night leaving a total of 5” on the ground. Below freezing temperatures have left a good pack of ice and snow about and the kids have been having the whale of a time sledding & playing about.
Was not very busy at work last week in the three days separating Xmas and New Year and almost had a guilty conscience about collecting my pay check on Friday. Have started thinking about home provisions – in the clothing line – already and Joan was out on Saturday to pick up some bargain dresses for Catherine. Will have to give her a free spin soon to start equipping herself for the ship. Just at this time of the year all the stores are organising sales and one could really go crazy – funds permitting.
Trust your holiday season was enjoyable and not too hot. Thought of you all often enjoying a warm holiday whilst we’ve been bathing (?) in freezing temperatures or thereabouts. Again, we all wish you a very happy and holy New Year and look forward to seeing you soon. Love Bill xxxx
Dear Mum,
Last letter I forgot to thank you for the knitted hats which came in Auntie Bern’s parcel before Christmas. They are very handy especially with the freezing weather we are having at the moment. Don’t get the wrong idea about our party last night, Bill made it sound like it was a real drinking party. To put your mind at ease we do not drink, Bill has a light wine with his dinner at times but that is all. The punch he made for the party was delicious & about 99% fruit juice. Had to go to 6 o’clock mass tonight, it was about 15°, thought I’d freeze on the spot. We are all looking forward to seeing you later this year. God bless you, hope you have a happy 1968.
All my love, Joan xxxxxxxx