20th August 1959

Typed on HSBC Jesselton airmail.

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

You are very lucky to be the first to be addressed on my new typewriter. The result is going to be a little odd because it is a pin type machine formally used for typing bank drafts. A few springs have gone and the spacing system is not working. However, I have spent a little time with a duster, have removed a large rusty piece of metal that had no apparent purpose and have tied up two odd bits with string. If you read it it works. I cannot correct mistakes very well because it is hard to rub out and because of the shape of the print. So much excitment in the family during the last few days. Caroline is at school and having a grand time. On the first day she was up at half six wanting new dress, shoes flask of juice pencil and paper for drawing plus nonstop conversation. Well, eventually we were off and arrived on time at eight. We just left her at the door where she lost interest in her parents at once. When she was brought home at twelve it was obvious that she had had a lovely time. Today I collected her and the lady running the school said that Caroline was very well behaved and self possessed ... and had drawn 1234 and ABC very well. So everything is well. Already she is more like the old Caroline instead of being the silly miss that she has been of late. And Adrienne is enjoying mothers uninterrupted company during the morning which will do her good. We had a change for a night out on Tuesday, having dinner with a group of friends playing poker. Margo did quite well and did not loose quite as much as I did. I might take it up in a once a month "school". It will be an expense to find out the way around the cards but if successful it is good training and something that I have wanted to do for some time. The accountant is in the school so I shall be looked after and cant come to much harm. On Sunday evening the local grocer opened a brand new building. Super deluxe for Jesselton with self service and an airconditioned milkbar and small dancehall. We are not customers of his but somehow received an invitation. Champayne was on in the airconditioned section which Margo and I found at an early stage in the proceedings and the golf club boy was behind that bar. We started off by having our glasses refilled in the normal way but shortly afterwards he was just passing the bottle across. It was just as well that we had booked for the pictures with Martin and Mary Curren so that we left at nine. Even so I slept through a good part of the Inn of the Sixth
Happiness. We finished up at three after bacon and eggs at our place which I somehow produced in reasonable order. I still have not heard from london that they have bought those BMC shares so suppose that they could not get them. I have bad luck on motor shares as a similar thing happened with standards when I bid five shillings. Look at the markings ther have been since. Have not made an offerin Melbourne for some Swan Brewery shares. They look a good thing and will send you my report in due course. One attractive feature is that tax is not deducted to residents abroad up to £104 Australian. They are having a share boom just now with America's money coming in. This firm has a monopoly on Western Australia, hotels etc. and their reserves and undistributed is up to the same figure at which the had a capitalisation of reserves some years ago, so thought there might be something for nothing there. Anyway knowing how Australians love their beer I dont think I will loose on it. Cheerio for now and Love from us all. Hope you can read this ... It might improve in time if I get busy iwth a screwdriver,
Love,