Sat 6th December 1958

Written on Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Jesselton airmail letter

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Thank you for your letter - have been here a week now and with the baggage safely arrived and being unpacked the house is taking on a familiar look. Not many breakages, a cup, a bowl and a pyrex dish - I suppose that something must be expected. We were intending to see S. Pacific but did not manage to do so - glad you enjoyed it. As for the Chinese Chow, well those long menus are a bit tricky and we seldom look at them, except for the headings. I imagine you would be content with 41/2 portions plus a soup plus a bowl of "MIXED FRIED RICE". We always have the rice as a base and it includes veg & chopped meat & prawns. You then have a choice of FISH LOBSTER CRAB FRIED PRAWNS - you can ask for a dish of anyone of these to include vegetables which should include bamboo shoots - bean sprouts - ginger. They will then suggest something which covers this.
CHICKEN PORK & OTHER MEAT (ask for Sweet and Sour Pork) - You can have three items from here so that your choice of vegetables will turn up somewhere.

The egg "omelette" is your fourth dish and you ask for a "FOO YONG". They will have several varieties - my favourite being Crab Foo Yong. Afterwards Lichees and Chinese Tea.

The house is even better than the pictures:overlooking hills and greenery and a part of the bay in one direction. Temperature is much less than in Ctta with a breeze blowing most of the time. The Governor's House is going up on the hill next to us and so far only the road is cut and they are carving the top off before starting to build. It is quite an effort to carry out a building project here as facilities are limited and the rains wash the drives away. Margo and the children have been on the sands with the manager's wife - Betty Haymes and Caroline enjoyed the swim. She also lit up when her bicycle was unpacked. I have not seen much of the place as yet. The office is keepin me busy and although procedure will quicken up in time there is enough routine to keep ones head down on the slackest days. Everyone appears to be very cheery including the local staff, who number 36 against Calcutta's hoards. Before I forget can you once again buy presents for Elaine - Fiona & Mary and let me know the cost? Christmas is nearly on us and it is difficult even to think about it at the moment. Without a car one is stuck on the hill and the few shops there are only supply necessities. Cheerio for now - must get on with the unpacking - all our love Margo Peter Caroline and Adrienne (this one is going to be a minx!)

(There is a drawing of the house plan in this letter which I am unable to reproduce here)