Letters From New York
29th January 1968
Dear Mum,
Though feeling much like a member of the lost legion – we’ve still received no letter either from you or from Fivedock – here we are with the latest weekly New York epistle. We believe the postal strike was settled – with NSW agreement – after twelve days but can imagine that there was an enormous backlog. We’ve had two or three belated Xmas cards which had been shipped by sea mail and, no doubt, well on their way before the strike started. We’ve also had two letters and two others intended for a visitor we’re expecting any time but these were all written and posted within the last week. We’re very concerned as to how the mails are going down there as we have sent quite a few to many destinations and we hope the delays on the aren’t bad as the reverse way. There seems to have been very little through at all so far as all the Australian wives in the Village are complaining.
So much for that. We’ve had it pretty busy during the week and, of course, there’s never a dull moment anyway with a houseful of youngsters craving attention. Actually, we’re anxiously awaiting your reactions to the tape we’ve sent out particularly as regards the children’s sections and especially Michael & Jennifer. The latter mugs us blind nowadays and is a regular barrel of mischief. Quite frankly, I’m convinced she’s the worst we’ve had but she has such winning ways (and the other youngsters always see the funny side of every “prank”) that one doesn’t maintain one’s anger or stern features for too long. Helen has now negotiated her fourth month and is a perfect doll – not a scrap of trouble. She’s the apple of everyone’s eye and knows how to play it up even at her tender age. She’s another Michael with bursts of sleep, sleep, sleep, only broken by occasional periods for food.
The schoolgoers are in fine health and spirits and developing in their own individual ways. Anthony’s becoming quite fashionably American in his speech as he mimics his schoolmates and is wildly enthusiastic about cars at the moment. He loves nothing more than to seek out the latest models of the more fashionable types and goes into ecstacy’s over do it yourself model kits which are in abundance here. Phillip’s still the dreamer, and as the school report says, a better leader than follower. We had a session with him the other night over a French poem he’d been set to learn by rote. Try as he might he couldn’t remember it – we almost had a stand up fight – and he went to bed with me knowing it and he virtually in tears. Blow me if the next morning he didn’t wake up with it off pat. They’re both avid T.V. viewers and Joan & I virtually have to hunt them out of the house on Saturdays after their 5 hour cartoon sessions.
Our busy week was rather concentrated into the last half though I’ve been exceptionally busy at the office. On Thursday night we had an Australian men’s night out at Madison Square Garden to see one of the big time indoor athletics meetings over here. As you know it is an Olympics year and, even this early a number of the athletes are getting into trim. Highlight of the evening was an indoor world record pole-vault of 17’ 4 ¼” by the current world record holder (@17’ 3”) and a very fine win in the feature halfmile race by an Australian. Though not in exceptional time, he won it well with our cheers ringing in his ears – one waxes all nationalistic on such occasions.
Friday night Joan and I attended, with Jill, Greg and other friends, a social evening – very formal arranged by a school of design & art which occupies the same building within which one of the branches of the U.N. school is housed. It was a very formal “getting to know you” occasion with members of the Parents Association; members of the School Board and teachers guests of the Board of Directors of the Art School. Joan spent hours making a beautiful full length dress and had a session at the beauty parlor to have her hair set high on her head (the children barely knew her) whilst I was bedecked in dinner suit & black tie. Then, on Saturday night we were guests at a dinner party given by the Kerrisons (the Mirror newspaper man) at their home in New Jersey for another Australian & his wife who are returning to Melbourne to work for the Truth newspaper.
They were two very late nights and we simply lazed around all day Sunday recuperating. Today, we had the Australia Day holiday and, in fine conditions – though on a course soaked by overnight rain – Greg, two friends and I played golf. We had a marvellous morning and moreso for me since I shot the lowest score. Have raved on with no more space. Will leave the back for Joan.
Love & best wishes,
Bill
Dear Mum,
If that postman does not bring us a letter from “home” tomorrow I’ll cut his throat. It seems so long since we have had any letters from you & Five Dock. Wish it was not so much to ring up or I would be on that phone. Had my first hair set the other day at the hairdresser. Phillip could not believe it was me. He and Anthony said they liked the old Mum best, Cathy & Michael liked the “new Mum”. Your son looked very handsome in his dinner suit & black bow tie. We had a lovely evening. The first time I have worn a long dress since my wedding frock. By the way we have been married 12 years on 4th Feb. Time goes quickly.
God bless, all my love,
Joan