11th March 1963

The Hongkong and Shanghai BC
Hong Kong

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter and card for Elisabeth.  My no smoking continues but so does the eating and putting on weight.  Could well be a problem - am very pleased with myself though but still have to resist the temptation.

Your cold weather has gone and so has ours thought of course the two did not compare.  We are now in cloud which can continue for sometime -  maybe two months - but the sun comes through down below.

The tape-recorder is OK.  Is Alan sending the tape back? as I can record at his speed.  Have got the colour slides and they are OK.  Shall send them seamail.  I do not follow the thing about the plug on the wall - anyway everything has been OK so far.  All four children have had measlesso have been away from school.  Adrienne had previously gone happily to her new school and is back again now.  Susan is back and Caroline will be off next week.  Elisabeth is fit but cannot go to Sandy Bay just yet.  Then she will be having a plaster on for two weeks to straighten the left foot which has turned again.  This will put her exercises and swimming task for a while but this cannot be helped. 

Elisabeth had her party to-day though her big one will be with Susan next week when we can safely invite other children in.   We bought a charming dress for her £1 and will do the same for Susan.  I got her a Jeep (one she can sit in) strong and hefty and the other girls can sit in too.  Although it does not look it is is second hand and represents a large saving.  She also had a dressed doll and jigsaw which she can do and seemed very happy.  Had a letter from Ian and Emma which mentioned they are booking their holiday already and of course detailing their awful cold up there - I do not envy them  Scotland this winter though perhaps it was just as bad in London.

Went on the mainland with the car for the first time this weekend.  Visited a new office of ours at Kwongtong on the other side of Kai Tak airport.  As the ceremonial key was solid gold it bent at the opening and they nearly did not open.  Went on to Clear Water Bay, past some of the army camps and Shaw's movie town to picnic lunch on the hills, looking over the sea.  The girls enjoyed it.  The ferry  is very efficient but with over 100 cars in the queue to go over we had to wait 20 minutes or so.

Friends have a share in a motor launch and we are invited at the weekend, so hope the sun is out.  It is grand to get out at the weekend for a picnic.

Cheerio for now & lots of love from us all
Peter