Letters From New York
Off Bora Bora
Monday 17th June, 1968
Dear Mum,
Another quick epistle on the “doings” of the much-travelled Dwyers prior to our reaching Bora Bora (about 8.00AM tomorrow morning) and so as to catch the next available mail. Everything’s going delightfully and one could readily allow oneself to become accustomed to the free and easy shipboard life we’re experiencing. Up for breakfast each morning for the 8.15AM session; luncheon at 12.30PM and dinner at 6.15PM with all sorts of good things to fill in the time between.
Gaugin Museum, Tahiti. 19 June 1968.
Have been at sea about a week with not a sign of land – our only communication with the outside world being the ship’s radio (with music and news piped to the staterooms as desired). We’ve been very active and the children have been the object of everyone’s attention. There are some fourteen or so youngsters aboard and a group of a dozen young teenagers and all have been quite well behaved and highly complimented for their cooperation, behaviour and manner.
Helen is the delight of all who see her – is quite a performer with the beaming smile and very friendly disposition – and always delays our movements to and fro when someone buttonholes us for conversation with her. Jennifer, too, has attracted quite a deal of interest and Michael is the idol of a couple of dear old ladies. We’ve become very friendly with an old lady (a dead ringer for you) and her daughter – from Melbourne & Nankervis by name – and have to sup with them quite late each evening. Two of the passengers are Sir Percy and Lady Spender and we (Joan in particular) seem to have made quite a hit with them.
The children have been very active and have won a number of prizes in various activities. Joan & I have not been so fortunate, having been eliminated so far from most of the deck sport activities, but I did manage to win 1st prize the other night in the fancy hat competition in the most humorous section. We’ve been getting to see a few good movies on board and the evening entertainments have been quite good what with Bingo; simulated horse racing; dancing; cards; movies; concerts etc. etc.
The weather has been glorious and we’re hoping it will hold. Crossed the Equator late on Saturday evening and had an induction ceremony – much to the children’s delight – yesterday afternoon when many of the adults who had not crossed before were unceremoniously dumped in the pool. It is in the pool that the kids have virtually lived and Michael and Jenny – equipped with floats – adore it and make use of every opportunity to go in.
Hit Papeete (Tahiti) Wednesday after our one day stop at Bora Bora tomorrow & have two days there before setting sail for Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands) a few days away. Due now to reach Auckland on 28th June.
So much for that – only a fortnight to go now. Hope you’ll be able to make it to the pier.
Best wishes and love from all of us,
Bill