23.10.56

H.S.B.C.

Dear Mum, Dad & Alan

Many thanks for your letter - yes the Streatham must be on the way round the Cape of Good Hope! Never mind it will arrive eventually. I am pleased mine wasn't lost as it would have been awkward with the cheque in it. Your life does sound busy. I am sorry that I cannot lend you my bearer he would make things a lot easier for you. He is an excellent servant, very industrious, willing and capable, streets ahead of the usual Calcutta bearer and speaks & writes English. Funny you should mention the bonds as I have asked London to buy some when they issued. Really there is very little interest to come on a small amount and one may as well be in on a repitative sweep. I am curious to see how it will take on in the U.K. as if the Govt can divert some of the money going to the Football Pools to their own pockets it will benefit the country. 1 pound at a time may be too much for the ordinary pocket, but one never knows. It iwll depend a lot on the first burst of enthusiasm and subsequent propaganda. My ? shares in Holsts have declared a dividend and stand above my purchasing price. Without any details I guess it is a 1/2 yrly declaration on the 10% forcast at issue, whcih less tax will probably give me 2 pound 10. However, it is the 1st div I have ever had as I usually sell before they produce. I will not be able to recognise the house after all the changes, but it does sound as if things are being made very smart. Christmas presents & cards to Calcutta are charged duty, but cards & books are O.K. otherwise small things for us when we come home: glassware, linen; towelling. I shall be glad if you will buy something for me for Fiona, Mary, Elaine & Dad and let me have the total cost without fail. We expect to be able to arrange for ? from here.

Last week was again spent in holiday mood as we had Friday & Saturday off so this month in all has appear to go very quickly. Our winter has suddenly arrived and it is cool & sunny, quite chilly in the evenings and the wireless is working again without interference. So good to have music playing.

Everything passed off well at the Christening on Sunday. The weather was good and the service went smoothly althoug Caroline did cry for most of the time - except at the moment of Christening. There was enough sun for a few photos afterwards and I hope to be able to forward these soon. Our final numbers for the following party came to 30 as the usual one or two could not make it at the last moment. The tea, sandwiches (smoked salmon) cakes and the cake were consumed and the champagne & toast, given by Peter Hammond who stood for Alan, were organised as I had hoped. At about six people started to drift away but surprisingly about half stayed until past 10.30pm to a most informal and enjoyable session which used up all the left overs of food and all the whisky which we luckily had allowed for. This was to my mind a good thing as a certain amount of effort had to go into the arrangements and for a good party to develop from a "tea party" meant that it was all that more worth whichle, especially as we will not be able to repeat anything on that scale for some time to come. Margo's arrangements were excellent and in the final analysis we did not find anything which had been forgotten and those who stayed on said they had had an enjoyable tiem.

Love Margo, Peter & Caroline.