16.9.59

Typewritten on HSBC Jesselton airmail

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter, am not too sure about Adriennes toy myself. Could you see if it is in the local shops so that I can have a proper description for a purchase. As for Christmas, Margo and I would like a Karry cool, sip, which keeps things hot or cold for picnics, about £1.10. Something like a tea set for Caroline, small pull along toy for Adrienne and a plastic cup for Susan. I have sent a batch of photos to Dorothy and Donald and enclose a set for you. They are a bit out of focus this time but the group has been enlarged many times to where it is now. Howard King of Croydon should be sending you a framed picture and I hope it is OK as it is difficult to explain in writing what I wanted done. That is the one of Susan and Adrienne which I think is good enough to preserve. Margaret's new house sounds fine though I have not yet found out why the change was made from the other place that we went to see. Caroline continues well at school and there is a noticeable improvement in Adrienne now that she receives personal attention in the mornings and can be taken shopping. Her speech is coming on too. We had a trip out to an island off shore at the weekend with a few other people. C came too. It was the first time that I had seen coral in the way that is depicted in the undersea films. Whole forests of it in clear water of many colours, with a greater variety of small fish than I had in the Calcutta aquarium. We lunched off legs of chicken with tinned beer and though it a very fine outing indeed. The inspectors arrive next week. Poor chaps they have visited seven offices non stop in Borneo and imagine they will be pretty weary when they come to us. We will have them for five days and do not anticipate anything other than routine checks. Susan is now 18 llbs and seems older than her six months. She can turn over both ways and is generally active. Her looks continue to favour Caroline but with a distinct difference.

Cheerio for now and love from us all,