29.11.58

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Jesselton. B. North Borneo

Dear Mum Dad and Alan,

Arrived safe and sound and in one piece yesterday afternoon and have a completed a days work to-day. My only letter from prior to Colombo seems a long way away. We had lunch there with some bank people leaving Adrienne on board but taking Caroline with us. It was a chance to stretch our legs and have a chat. Caroline played with a young girl there and thoroughly enjoyed herself. Three days access to Penang and the bulk of the packing? was completed then because it was pouring with rain and we were only there for a couple of hours. I went ashore by myself and said hello to all the clerks in the office. Also saw my old pal Doc Ballantyne for a short while. Singapore came up the next day and we were glad to leave the ship, although it had been very good to us. We were met and our baggage was taken care of by Philip Young and his wife, with whom we stayed for 3 days. They looked after us very well indeed and got us up at 5 am to catch the plane on Friday (yesterday). This proved to be a long trip calling at Kutching Sibu Laburn then Jesselton and we touched down finally at 3 pm. Must say the children took it very well although it was a little cramped, hot and at times bumpy - Margo lost half a cup of coffee at one point.

The house is a bungalow and to us is palatial, lots of polished flooring - view over the water to the mountain in the the background. The garden is not flat but terraced into the woody undergrowth and though not closely inspected yet appears to be maintained in apple pie order. Have had a full day's work it being the last day of the month so will finish this letter hurriedly written in case the next few days are too full to get it off. Will endeavour a description of Jesselton later when I have seen it myself.

Cheerio from us all and much love,
Peter