6th May 1959

Written on a HSBC Jesselton airmail letter

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

The first news of supreme importance is that Adrienne can now walk! She staggered her first few steps last week and found it so much fun that she has kept going. She can now be seen to be pretty tall - certainly taller than Caroline at similar age and of course fairly beefy though some of that surplus fat has already gone. Thank you for the brush set for Susan, it was very good of you. It is difficult to say what toy Caroline would appreciate. She likes things with a touch of realism so that she can copy Margo with the baby. A toy iron perhaps - but she has a lot of things she doesn't bother about. The tricycle is in daily use still and I am shipping in a paddling pool from Singapore so that they can splash about by the house. We seldom manage to take them down to the beach and in any case there has been a flock of jelly fish about lately. Thank you too for my birthday card - we are having 1/2 doz people to dinner to-morrow to celebrate. Caroline does speak sentences a lot of which is difficult to understand but she does improve and has a lot to say. She knows a lot about the servants, & the gardener and trots off by herself to the Accts house down the hill - it was some time before we knew she was doing this as we couldn't follow her recital of events. Glad Alan & Donald are to go to-gether - Imagine they will get around a bit and really see things. Dons A50 sounds OK. I notice that you are planning your trip to Scotland and confusing the issue with everyone elses movements. Alan can look after himself, you ought to know that by now. When you have the house report your absence at the police station, it doesn't matter if the whole road is empty so just go when you wish. We laughed at Mauds' comment on Susan's birth announcement. The only other Briggs in Borneo is a "Justice" so they should not get us mixed up. Have just got a new record from Hongkong - "Carmen Jones" from the film sound track. It is a beauty and at full volume is very lively! Am very glad I bought the record player as there is not much on the wireless. Susan continues to progress she is putting on plenty of weight and is a good length. (height) Margo is fit and had a successful inspection at the hospital. Ian having golf lessons from a friend at the Golf Club and it makes an improvement. I won a cigarette lighter at a dance last week and a few days later a packet of tees at darts on a club night but no more Premium Bonds just yet! Cheers for now and lots of love from us all Margo Peter Caroline and Susan. X (by Caroline)