23rd Oct. 55

Hongkong Bank,
Calcutta,

Dear Mum, Dad & Alan,

We are now at the beginning of the PUJAS and don't start work until Thursday. It is a series of Hindu holy days when statues of the gods & goddesses are made from river mud, gaily dressed and displayed in colourful "outdoor theatres" for prayer and music. Everyone has a new sari, clothes, etc and all is accompanied by banging & blowing of horns until the last day when the gods or PUJAS are put back into the river. As none of the other branches look at their holiday lists they get furious because wires are unanswered, bills not paid and poor old Calcutta appears to be acting even dumber than usual. Last week was hectic though as at this time there is great market activity. Cottons particularly are wanted for the holidays and woollens for the winter season which officially commences after the PUJAS. So far the first time since I have been here people have wanted to retire their bills two weeks before the due dates instead of four weeks afterwards. We had a very special Saturday yesterday. The Manager and his wife took us to Tollygunge for lunch. Afterwards we strolled across to the races and spent a grand afternoon, finishing with tea in the clubhouse. Mrs Terdre picked up Margo in the car then came on to the bank to collect her husband and myself. Margo had a drink in the manager's office whilst waiting for me to put everything in the pending-tray for Thursday and then off we went in grand style. As the Terdres don't often entertain the staff it made at least one pair of eyes pop open, the owner of them being a little seniority conscious. Actually, I think the reason for the afternoon was that we don't play bridge and usually they invite people to dinner and a cards evening, but though we would be more entertained this way - which we were. In the event also it would be no point to being the manager's favourite as he is retiring soon, the new manager arriving on 12th November, but is it funny to see the obvious reactions in envious eyes. We are lucky, however, in having only one couple that behave this way so we can treat them as a joke.

For tomorrow I have arranged a picnic for eight of us. Untimely rain is falling at the moment so I trust it will clear. The monsoons have ceased and these latter storms are very strange. I went in to do telegrams this morning and coming back had a bow-wave from the car's front wheels most of the way. I tried to buy some film to let you have your first pictures but they had sold out- still we shall get round to it eventually. Hammond has gone on short leave and will be back on 1st Nov to take over bills from me. This take over has been put off so many times that I was hoping it would never happen. Still I think that anything else will be a rest - not that I need it, have kept pretty fit touch wood.

Cheery Bye & Love,
Margo & Peter.