Letters From New York
Monday 12th February 1968
Dear Mum,
Two letters of yours to be answered this week and, for the first time in ages, here I am getting under way rather early. Left minding the brood at the moment with Joan out with Jill Bartels to do the stores over for some holiday clothes. They’re open until 9.30PM and they have about two hours to browse around. Had the devil of a job with Helen who must have sensed Mum had gone out and decided to put it on for me. Jenny, as usual, was no trouble & I’ve now got to convince Catherine & Michael that bed half an hour before the boys is quite reasonable.
What a thrill about Lindsay’s exams – my hearty congrats. But I’m not clear whether it was the final exam (back in November?) he passed or the post. Anyway, it goes to prove the system is fallible and it certainly does pay to be inquisitive over published results. Pleased that all of our letters have turned up at last and that you’re completely up to date with our doings. Sorry that you were worried over us and hope that your fears have now been put to rest. Over the period of the strike we had it good and its only been the past couple of weeks that ol’ man Winter has taken its toll of us. Just over the German Measles with Michael & Cathy in very mild form and Jenny certainly more pock-marked when a 24 wog began to assail us. Quite the worst was Joan who really had a bout of it over the weekend and Phillip, Anthony, Cathy & Jenny have had it in a rather mild form though Jenny has come out of it now with quite a head cold. Touch wood, Helen has so far been bypassed completely.
A letter from Mum R. indicates that you were out at “54” during the week to hear the tape and it seems that, as before, it went over quite satisfactorily. The responses from the Fivedock-ites were quite up to expectations and we’re now anxiously looking forward to your response. As surprised as everyone else about Don Lane but will reserve final judgement until more detail comes out. Took your homespun philosophy to heart and apologise if I hurt your soft spot in my reference to the “black sheep”. Sure, he’s got his good points and the worst of me has still to be revealed of course but it's a fact that Phillip reveals in so many ways the same sorts of responses & reactions that I used to find so aggravating in Vince.
I have half an ear tuned to the T.V. at the moment (all the bairns are abed) as they’re playing a Bob Hope special to mark the opening of the new Madison Square Garden (built over a modernised Pennsylvania Station) – a concert starring Hope and Crosby for which some seats sold at $250 and the cheapest (standing room) was $10.00 a piece. I was privileged to attend, on Friday evening, the first athletics meeting at the Old Garden, and witnessed my first sub four minute mile when the current world record holder ran a wonderful race to go round in 3m 57.5secs. Have been very busy with our houseguest over the past ten days and, with him away for the weekend, took the opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep.
The weather was quite an improvement after the early days of January and it has been quite mild by comparison even though often in the low thirties. We’ve seen very little rain – most of it that has fallen has visited us during the nights. The past week, however, has seen the temperatures dropping with Sunday’s low being down to 8°. It has really been too cold to venture out too far with the younger children. Much to the kiddies’ chagrin we’ve had no snow at all except from some mild flurries which left little or no deposit about. A very heavy fall threatened for last Thursday didn’t materialise and probably that was a good thing since – as you may have been reading – New York has been in the throes of a very serious sanitation strike with the garbage collectors being out for over a week and rubbish piling up everywhere. The Mayor of the city declared a state of emergency when the garbagemens’ union wouldn’t come to terms on wages & conditions with the city authorities and the State Governor (Rockefeller) – some say sensing political disaster (he’s supposed to hold aspirations as a Presidential candidate later this year) – stepped in and took over the problem casting the Mayor in a not too favourable light and placing the city in an embarrassing position.
Joan is back with very few spoils, though she did get some very nice blouses and a cardigan for the girls. Had word back from Aust. that the firm I’d applied to for one post couldn’t wait until July for me, so will try and try again. The brothers at Revesby wrote to say they’ll be happy to accept the boys so that’s one thing settled. Out of space and news so will give over to Joan.
Love & wishes,
Bill
Dear Mum,
So pleased you were able to get out to Five Dock to hear the tape. How did you like little Jenny’s “Hello Nanna Wire”. You were lucky Lindsay was able to drive you. As Bill has told you I did not do very much at the shops tonight. Cathy & Jenny scored a couple of blouses each very pretty and only $1 each. I am still looking for something nice to wear to Neil’s wedding. We are going to be kept very busy now trying to get everything in order in time to go home. I counted up today & it is only 14 weeks. Pretty late now Mum, must be off to bed.
God bless, all my love,
Joan