2nd May 1960

Written on HSBC Jesselton airmail

Dear Mum Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter and excuse the red ink - we must have got the wrong refil for the pen at home. The Turner's are off to-day after a very full visit. They have been to Sandakan and Tawan since their official visit here and have spent the last three days resting. Mrs Turner has been ill - nervous strain we think - and had to put off her visit to Margo twice. Today Margo went with all four children to the Manager's house with the children who behaved themselves very well. Mrs T has made a point to see all the wives separately and children, which must be quite an effort on top of all the parties and parades which occur at these tours. C & A went also to the staff tea party - the local staff function. Caroline made a curtsy - unrehearsed - at the appropriate moment and they both chatted quite gaily. C does not often talk to strangers and Mary Curren lost a $10 bet with Mrs Turner to the effect that C would be dumb - She was quite the reverse and talked of the tiny tiny baby at home. The cocktail party went off very well - quite a large one for Jesselton. We are now ready for our holiday on Thursday and I may not receive your letters for a couple of weeks. We too ? redecorating and hope it will all be over before we return, the accent is on "hope".

The ports of call will be KUDAT, SANDAKAN, LAHAD DATU, SEMPORNA, TAWAN and return. We cannot think of anything for the children at the moment but will let you know. We have at last bought the Coca Cola bag and used it to keep extra bottles cool when the manager and others came to a buffet supper. Its the first time we have had them round except for the Christening last year and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Margo put a lot of work into it and the table looked wonderful and served 15 in all. I too have seen the same remark for Careras but do not know if it is ? 1960. I have only just received a dividend on another share paid last November so find it difficult to check. Can you find out? as mine were bought prior to Feb. It is hard to tell whether they might go lower. How long the reconstruction will take to produce full results is also unknown but the price might rise towards the end of this year in expectations. The lowest they went in 1959 was 3/5. Am now looking forward to Roan Antelope results as I think I have bought at the bottom - the price being depressed only because of South Africa. We may see a little rise now the Bank Deposit system has been settled unless someone thinks of some other little scare. Love from us all
Peter