Letters From New York
Sunday 4th February 1968
Dear Mum,
A day early this week – you’ll almost receive this before it should (normally) have left – but we’re in the middle of a social bind at present and I’ve no possible chance of writing this tonight or tomorrow night. Here I am sitting down early on Sunday afternoon though we’ve still only got one letter from you to answer. Two have arrived from Mum R and one from Auntie Bern but they seem to have been written since the strike ended so we’ve had nothing yet that preceded or was written during the strike. Was very sorry to learn of Mr Davidson’s death – can imagine you feeling it was the end of an era – but then its a “fate” that one has to start expecting now. Guess he must have been quite an age! We were writing all through, as normal, so do hope our epistles have found their way to you by this – even if out of sequence.
We’ve been hearing of some terrible heat “down under” and presently have a house guest from Melbourne who has phoned his home twice to learn of temperatures well above the 100° and we have had word here t’other day of a recording of 119° somewhere near Adelaide. Believe it’s really been knocking the oldies about and – whilst we don’t cast you in such a category – do hope you’re not finding conditions too oppressive. Heard all about your locking Auntie Bern out of the house and do trust that the two of you have “made up” now & gotten together. We’re cursing the strike as we’ve been dying to get your reactions to the tape which we sent out to Fivedock. We’re still awaiting the chance to take some good photos of Helen to send out to you though may have taken some ones this morning when we had her out for a few minutes. Surprised that you had to be educated as to the Knights’ doings at Camelot.
Joan’s quite happy that the mails are beginning to come through again and moreso since she’s learned Brian has withdrawn his application to go to Vietnam. It still seems to be on the cards however that Neil will have to go back again towards the end of this year. Not too happy ourselves, at the thought that Lindsay would have to go though he may be one of the lucky ones. Things certainly don’t seem to be too bright there at present and the current problem of the North Koreans pirating of the U.S. boat certainly adds an air of danger to the whole S.E. Asian problem.
Been hellish busy at work and, unusually, with little time available for sociability or letter writing. Our guest – who was over here on business in August, 1966, arrived on Tuesday evening and will be spending about three weeks with us. He will be away for a few days over each of the next two weekends but, since he’s working in town close to the UN, he’ll be staying with us whilst he’s in New York. Except for last night, when everyone was in bed before 9.30PM, we haven’t had an early night since he arrived and, as you can imagine, we’re all pretty wrecked. It’s just like a long lasting hangover.
He got in about 7.15PM on Tuesday and, by the time we chewed the fat it was midnight before we hit the cot. Ditto repeato on Wednesday night and then an outing on Thursday night to, of all things, the ballet when I managed to get two free seats in the orchestra (a prime spot) for a performance by the Philadelphia ballet company which, we learned later, starred an Australian. With the momentum going strong Joan and I left Athol minding the children and off we went to a party given by friends. It has an Hawaiian theme (despite pouring rain & very cold conditions outside) and it was 1.45AM on Saturday before we headed for home. We had a marvellous night of magging, fun and game.
Despite the early morning was up as usual on Sat. morn & had Athol out and about looking over the stores. As I said we all hit the sack early but shortly Athol & I are off to Greenwich Village (New York’s Kings X – only more so) to see a preview of a new Broadway musical comedy show – again gratis. Today is the twelfth anniversary of our wedding and I have booked seats for us to see Ingrid Bergman (live) in her first Broadway performance for years tomorrow night as our celebration outing. The show is a play of Eugene O’Neill’s called “More Stately Mansions” and she’s had rave press though the show’s evidently not sensational.
Well, again out of paper, so will close leaving the back for Joan.
Love & best wishes,
Bill
[Flap missing] while the strike was on & you should have received at least 3 letters from us. Everyone here is well, but Jenny has a dose of German measles. She is not sick at all & only has to be kept inside which is what she does all the time anyway, it is too cold to go outside. Have not had any snow for a while, but it is pretty cold today.
God bless, all my love,
Joan