19th November 1962

Flat 4
"Fung Shui"
50 Plantation Road
Hongkong

My dear Henry & Hilda,

Here we are - beginning to settle down in Hongkong.  It is a complete contrast to N. Borneo - none of that quiet peaceful living! - here everything is hustle & hustle.  We have a lovely flat on top of the Peak.  It is in a Bank block of eight flats and there are nice gardens, sand pit and swings etc for the children to play in.  We have a large lounge, dining room, three bedrooms & three bathrooms and each bedroom has a large enclosed balcony which make good playrooms for the girls.  The flat is well furnished but I am hoping to get new curtains and covers.  The bathrooms are a joy - fully tiled in pastel shades and with sunken baths!  In fact the bath attached to our own bedroom is square as well, nice to look at but rather difficult to stretch out in!

Peter is finding his feet in the office - it is a change for him to have to wear a suit instead of whites.  We have been to several cocktail parties since we arrived and I am still trying to remember names and faces of the Bank staff!

Caroline & Adrienne have both started school but unfortunately at separate ones, at least until Sept '63.  Caroline can walk to her school but I take Adrienne there & back everyday.  We have a 15 min walk to the Peak tram - this is a contraption which ascends & descends the sheer face of the hillsides (aren't there these sort of things in Bournemouth?).  This journey takes 10 mins and is quite hair raising when you first do it.  I am blase about it now after my four trips each day.  The trouble is it is very cold up here on the Peak and we have an electric fire is the evenings.  Adrienne & I leave in the mornings muffled to the ears and then strip off at the school.

I have given up the idea of sending Susan to kindergarten although she very much wants to go - it would only mean another journey in probably a different direction!

Elisabeth has been examined by a Proffessor Hodgson here - he is rated among the top ten authorities of Polio in children.  He says that Elisabeth is still seriously paralysed and will probably never completely recover.  However there is still room for improvement & he arranging Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy for her several times a week.  We are fortunate in that there is a Polio clinic here and a Hydrotherapy pool has recently been opened - thanks to the J.C.C.

Hongkong is very overwhelming at first and I am still trying to find my way around the shops.  We will be sending Xmas presents but we missed the last sea-mail posting date so things will arrive rather late.

Enclosed are photos of the children - you will remember the ones taken in your garden, Hilda.  The one of Elisabeth was taken while she was in hospital, hence the rather shaggy hair.

I should have said "your old garden" - how are you settling in the new house?  I expect Peter will be writing to you later and he will give a more detailed description of Hongkong.  We have a heavenly view from our flat - we overlook the entire harbour and the New Territories and at night it is one mass of sparkling lights.  The children call it the "star light land".  I must get ready to go our for lunch so,

love from us all
Margo