24th Sept. 1951

H. & S. B. C.
Penang

Dear Mum, Dad, and Alan,

Many thanks for you letter. I have had the weekend in bed and haven't gone into the office to-day, Monday due to a swollen tonsil. However, it is over now and expect to go in to-morrow. The doctor gave me three "jabs" and am having a tonic to put me back into shape. "Throats" have been going around Penang for some time so suppose it was my turn.

Peter Stuart has also been having medicinal attention. The cracked his wrist playing rugby at Sungei Patani - the right hand one- so for a week now he hasn't been doing much work. Luckily things arn't too busy.

My local leave isn't due till January that being one year after my arrival in Malaya. Hongkong has no local leave. We don't have to cram all holidays into the summer months here and the weather in January will not be much different from August.

Spent last Sunday on a beach picnic with a crowd of people. We went out to a small island down south, called Pulu Remo, by launch and bathed and lazed in the sun all day. Penang in the distance could be seen to be smothered in one large black cloud which was obviously drenching everyone and everything.

Kay cam in on the Corfu in the evening and we spent the evening at the E & O - she is disappointed that her posting to the Australian line had not come through but has to be content to wait as one cannot pick and choose.

Sorry to hear that Alan did not pull the exam off this time but am glad he is going in for it again. 3rd time lucky! Thank you for the letter Alan, your ice-skating sounds fun and am glad that the work is still going strong.

Thanks for the notes on food parcels. I think dried egg is obtainable. Tinned salmon is so dear compared with the same size tin of meat - about three or four times as much, that I have bought other things instead - it just didn't seem to be worth the price. So the raisons are OK. How many do you want for Christmas? There are only two more ships to go. Can get suet and candied peel I expect but am not sure that you want these.

I have read the book "No Highway" by Nevil Shute - you would enjoy that much more than the picture. I note that Dad now has a copy of "Jungle" you will read all about leeches in there. Though please note that no European sees that side of Malaya as a rule even though he may live in the country for thirty years. You will see from the book how easy it is to work banditry in this part of the world and what a job it is to clear it all up.

You have probably seen that Singapore is now a City. The celebrations have been of interest but what advantages accrue to the people I don't really know - neither I suspect do they!

Can't imagine myself spending my leave redesigning the garden but imagine I shall be talked into something. Of course I could design something on paper -!

The car suffered its first flat tire last week - not bad after nearly 4000 miles. It would happen on the way to the office but managed to fit the spare wheel on fairly speedily.

Have been listening to the wireless more than is usual during the last two days and find that many "schools" programs from the B.B.C. are put on here as normal programmes. Mainly current affairs and instruction on democratic government - the majority of programmes are obviously for the local people and so do not provide much in entertainment value. I did listen to a Variety Bandbox and was shocked at the whole effort. The general standard was very poor and apparently all a comedian has to do is stand there and he is applauded. We get recordings of "Take it from There" and that remains good - though half the gags are missed completely and the people in the show therefore are at a loss as to whether they are being listened to or not.

Hope your cold is better Mum and look after yourself -

All the Best and Love,
Peter.