22nd Jan 1962

The Hongkong Bank
Jesselton

Dear Mum Dad and Alan,

Thank you for your letter which once again I have lost before answering.  We have done some packing and shipped the crates for the UK and commenced on the crockery so it is probably at the bottom of something.  It was -  I have found it!  I don't know yet what the arrangements will be on arrival in UK.  We shall all be very tired.  I am usually exhausted and this flight will be the longest I have done.  For the first night all the children might stay with Margo at Eden Park and afterwards I might stay with you with two of them for a few days if that can be managed, before we move into wherever we are going.  I expect Margo will want to take Elisabeth to Gt Ormond Street fairly early on as that is in the forefront of our minds and thereafter things will sort themselves out.  The children will be arriving near to their normal bedtime (if you add 71/2 hrs on to 11am) and the excitement, new people and places will be a lot to take at first.  I am hoping that they will not be expected to respond to a lot of fuss because it won't work.  They wait a bit before coming to new people and react much better if slightly ignored.  Especially Susan who does not like being held.  They are very amusing to watch and listen to when they do not know they are observed but a certain amount of noise arises when all together.

Its very good for Alan to be organising something and it can provide a lot of interest.

Thank you for sending cardigans.  I believe Margo has enough to get home with - we are now in the position of having to be within the weight allowance for anything more we bring home but I will let you know a the end of this letter.  The article in the Standard with the lighting was good.  Mr Martin sent a local paper too which was interesting.

Cheerio for now and love from us all,
Peter

PS  Caroline has just answered the phone properly for the first time and had a conversation with one of her friends.

PPS  Margo thanks you for the offer but all is OK at the moment.  Also says please hold on to Susan's and Elisabeth's presents and tell everyone not to send anything more out as we will not be able to take it in the plane.  P.