My father would have been on leave in UK for about 6 months in 1964 before taking up his post in Japan but I don't know why there are no letters from 1964. The following two extracts are in the file after the last post of Jan 65 and before the next post in March so I have included them here in that order.
Page 2 of letter headed with
Tel. Ashiya 2-3188 10-1 Rokurokuso-cho Ashiya (crossed out)
"area and the office itself has two floors of tenents above us to be looked after. There are still seeral local systems which have to be investigated. The language difficulty is the main barrier even in the office and that is going to take time to get used to. I don't see myself learning it at all. But once I have done the first six months things will settled into place. Especially when the warmer weather comes in. I just can't cope with being boiling hot as I am now then standing on an icy station as I will be doing tomorrow morning. However, I am told things warm up at the end of this month, and go on doing so until July when temperatures of 120 deg are normal. Earthquakes are, I believe, pretty well continuous but do not bother us here. Tokyo have noticeable but small ones frequently and it is these you see reported in the UK papers - but not ours.
The girls have settled down remarkably well and the school seems to be a good one. The fees appeared pretty steep at first but are really quite manageable. Elisabeth is going along for physiotherapy for the first time this week and we are keeping our fingers crossed as no one is quite sure what to expect. The language difficulty may rear up here as well but I am sure it will be solvable. The shops are full - quality is not always what is should be and"
The next extract is typewritten by my mother with a PS written in my mother's writing.
"read the Science bok which Adrienne brings home to Elisabeth. At the moment A is learning about methods of heating which range from Central heating to hibernating animals! They wear a navy blue tunic, white blouse, white tights, navy cardigan with a gray blazer and a little navy skull cap. We have only just received our uniforms as the first tunics that the tailor made would have fitted me and they had to go back. The tunics are still much too long although they have been taken up 4 ins but I shall leave them now as in a few months the girls will be in summer uniform.
It is a change to see all the girls with colour in their cheeks - even Caroline and Elisabeth have rosy cheeks. We have 12 channels on T.V. - there is colour but we haven't that kind of set. There are several children's programmes during the day, especially for toddlers and E enjoys watching even tho' it is all in Japanese. The girls usually watch T.V. from 6 pm to 6.45 pm. -- this is when the cartoons are on, with Lassie (in Japanese) on Monday. They have DeputyDog, Huck Hound etc and it doesn't make any difference that the characters speak Japanese!! We seldom watch as the only programme in English is the "Defenders" which is odd as all the other American shows are dubbed. Imagine "The Lucy Show" in Japanese!!
If you like I will buy the girls Birthday presents -- there are plenty of toys here. Elisabeth desperatly wants a "Skipper"doll. This is a young sister of the Cindy dolls and is made here in Japan for 10/-. I believe we have to pay duty on all parcels except books. There are the items we are unable to buy. Only one shop sells English books for children and their stock is very limited. Perhaps you could send Caroline a book for her birthday as she is the one most in need. The others can read Caroline's books but she is rapidly outgrowing the first reader type book. C enjoys Enid Blyton and has read "The Caravan Family" etc. Now she would like either "The Saucy Jane Family" or "The Pole Star family" "The Buttercup Farm Family" The Seaside Family". Most of the bookshops will send books out direct and it will save you having to wrap them up.
I must go now and supervise the Maid -- it takes her a week to do what Mrs Bancroft did in one morning!!!
Love from us all -- Pter will be writing when he gets more time. I think it will take him a few months to settle down.
Margo Peter & the girls
P.S. Elisabeth & I go into Kobe for her exercises every afternoon for one hour. No one speaks English but I get by as I do when I buy food - by pointing & smiling. Everything is sold in grammes & kilos or metres. Also all packaged goods are printed in Japanese characters - never no whether it's soap flakes or starch!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
31st Jan 65
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Central PO Box 227
Osaka
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter, I have not written before because things have been as busy as I expected. A great deal is new and one cannot relax until reasonably confident that all is understood. It is anyway a busy time as January includes all the end of the year work and we are also printing invitation cards and great lists for the centenary in March. I went out to a Chinese meal at lunch time last week to test the setting for a local staff party of 80 for the same purpose also in March. It all cuts into the time available. But as you say one thing at a time. Documentation takes ages here and one has to visit the offices personally although a Japanese clerk has to come along to do all the talking. We have finally got our Alien registration cards and driving licences which must be carried at all times and never lost. This all took three working mornings and various luncheons took odd hours out from the office. One also has to get used to leaving fairly promptly to catch the train - you have never seen such crowds. Luckily one can use the bank car if leaving at the proper time otherwise the underground provides the entertainment of complete crush. One stands outside a full carriage and waits for the crowd behind to push one in. There are no seats and its just bad luck if you go down because you would never get up again. I have done this only once.
These are some of the tedious aspects of the place which are the first to become apparent in a new setting. It will take time to discover the better side. Meanwhile, Margo is doing much better and has found shopping in Kobe to be fairly easy and has contacted a doctor for Elisabeth. She is to see an Orthopaedic surgeon this week.
Cheerio for now and love
Peter
PS The girls are getting rosy cheeks from the cold weather
Central PO Box 227
Osaka
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter, I have not written before because things have been as busy as I expected. A great deal is new and one cannot relax until reasonably confident that all is understood. It is anyway a busy time as January includes all the end of the year work and we are also printing invitation cards and great lists for the centenary in March. I went out to a Chinese meal at lunch time last week to test the setting for a local staff party of 80 for the same purpose also in March. It all cuts into the time available. But as you say one thing at a time. Documentation takes ages here and one has to visit the offices personally although a Japanese clerk has to come along to do all the talking. We have finally got our Alien registration cards and driving licences which must be carried at all times and never lost. This all took three working mornings and various luncheons took odd hours out from the office. One also has to get used to leaving fairly promptly to catch the train - you have never seen such crowds. Luckily one can use the bank car if leaving at the proper time otherwise the underground provides the entertainment of complete crush. One stands outside a full carriage and waits for the crowd behind to push one in. There are no seats and its just bad luck if you go down because you would never get up again. I have done this only once.
These are some of the tedious aspects of the place which are the first to become apparent in a new setting. It will take time to discover the better side. Meanwhile, Margo is doing much better and has found shopping in Kobe to be fairly easy and has contacted a doctor for Elisabeth. She is to see an Orthopaedic surgeon this week.
Cheerio for now and love
Peter
PS The girls are getting rosy cheeks from the cold weather
28th November 63
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Hongkong
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter and for your cheque which will be well spent in due course. Adrienne's birthday went off very well and she takes the Panda to bed every night. Her large tricycle is her pride and joy and indeed with its red paint looks very fine. Margo was going to buy her first party dress for some time, but could not find exactly what she wanted. So Adrienne got a bicycle and Margo as usual made the dress herself. It is in Thai silk and looks very well.
We went to a very large wedding on Saturday. A very bank affair which went on from the ceremony at 4 pm to sometime after 7 pm. It was the forerunner of several social events. We will be out tomorrow and the following night. As usual all together at one time.
We went to the City Hall Theatre for the first time last week to celebrate our 9th anniversary and saw "Iolanthe", very well done too in lovely surroundings. We happened to be three rows in front of the Duke and Duchess of Kent which added to our evening. We had seen them out and about previously in Hongkong.
It is colder here now. Down to 62 F on the way to bottom at about 50 F. An electric fire is necessary now in the evenings and shortly we will be having a wood and coal fire. I have now got another colour film in the camera and am waiting for the combination fo a sunny and not hazy day which sometimes occurs here so that the really fascinating views can be taken. Glad you were impressed with the ferry in my last photos. There are a lot of them you know. Not only a lot of ferries but a lot of ferry routes to different places on the island and mainland. At 20 cents a time this is good value. At the rush hours they come in and are off fully loaded in minutes. The constant stream of people coming in and out of the ferry station reminds one of the crowds at the rush hours at the tube stations. All shapes and sizes and colours. Then the trip across the harbour is always full of interest, junks, barges, destroyers, steamships, tankers, cargoe boats all flying every flag under the sun. 10 minutes then bump at the other side and off to the buses, taxies, trains & rickshaws which are never too many to carry the thousands on the move to their places of business.
There is more rebuilding than ever in Hongkong. I was having a look around today. It is impossible to describe. As soon as one skyscraper is up then the one next door is taken down. Pole driving commences and another is on its way up. Millions of dollars go into property daily with an expected return in the extraordinary short time of 5 to 6 years. Rents are very high indeed and one wonders if the bubble will burst. But people have been wondering just that for a long time. Whilst writing this I am also tape recording from the wireless. With net result that I have managed two pieces at different speeds! Most odd, but as it is not a reel for my own amusement it doesn't matter very much. I must do another one for the children and send home. They still enjoy playing about on it although Elisabeth goes very babyish and wont do much herself. You noticed Elisabeth looked thinner in her photos. She has lost a lot of baby fat but is a lot heavier and her legs have grown well. They are better covered than when in England. Although that left leg still shows no signs of life the healthy look to is is contradictory. The physiotherapist is impressed with her energy which is unflagging - her mind is just as tough though and if she decides she isnt having any then that is that for the afternoon. The physiotherapist has suggested that Elisabeth use crutches or at least, try to do so. However, the answer to this idea is, at present, a flat No! but we continue the properganda.
Cheerio to you all for the present and love
Peter.
Hongkong
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter and for your cheque which will be well spent in due course. Adrienne's birthday went off very well and she takes the Panda to bed every night. Her large tricycle is her pride and joy and indeed with its red paint looks very fine. Margo was going to buy her first party dress for some time, but could not find exactly what she wanted. So Adrienne got a bicycle and Margo as usual made the dress herself. It is in Thai silk and looks very well.
We went to a very large wedding on Saturday. A very bank affair which went on from the ceremony at 4 pm to sometime after 7 pm. It was the forerunner of several social events. We will be out tomorrow and the following night. As usual all together at one time.
We went to the City Hall Theatre for the first time last week to celebrate our 9th anniversary and saw "Iolanthe", very well done too in lovely surroundings. We happened to be three rows in front of the Duke and Duchess of Kent which added to our evening. We had seen them out and about previously in Hongkong.
It is colder here now. Down to 62 F on the way to bottom at about 50 F. An electric fire is necessary now in the evenings and shortly we will be having a wood and coal fire. I have now got another colour film in the camera and am waiting for the combination fo a sunny and not hazy day which sometimes occurs here so that the really fascinating views can be taken. Glad you were impressed with the ferry in my last photos. There are a lot of them you know. Not only a lot of ferries but a lot of ferry routes to different places on the island and mainland. At 20 cents a time this is good value. At the rush hours they come in and are off fully loaded in minutes. The constant stream of people coming in and out of the ferry station reminds one of the crowds at the rush hours at the tube stations. All shapes and sizes and colours. Then the trip across the harbour is always full of interest, junks, barges, destroyers, steamships, tankers, cargoe boats all flying every flag under the sun. 10 minutes then bump at the other side and off to the buses, taxies, trains & rickshaws which are never too many to carry the thousands on the move to their places of business.
There is more rebuilding than ever in Hongkong. I was having a look around today. It is impossible to describe. As soon as one skyscraper is up then the one next door is taken down. Pole driving commences and another is on its way up. Millions of dollars go into property daily with an expected return in the extraordinary short time of 5 to 6 years. Rents are very high indeed and one wonders if the bubble will burst. But people have been wondering just that for a long time. Whilst writing this I am also tape recording from the wireless. With net result that I have managed two pieces at different speeds! Most odd, but as it is not a reel for my own amusement it doesn't matter very much. I must do another one for the children and send home. They still enjoy playing about on it although Elisabeth goes very babyish and wont do much herself. You noticed Elisabeth looked thinner in her photos. She has lost a lot of baby fat but is a lot heavier and her legs have grown well. They are better covered than when in England. Although that left leg still shows no signs of life the healthy look to is is contradictory. The physiotherapist is impressed with her energy which is unflagging - her mind is just as tough though and if she decides she isnt having any then that is that for the afternoon. The physiotherapist has suggested that Elisabeth use crutches or at least, try to do so. However, the answer to this idea is, at present, a flat No! but we continue the properganda.
Cheerio to you all for the present and love
Peter.
15th Sept 63
The Hongkong and Shanghai BC
Hongkong
Dear Mum and Dad,
Many thanks for your letter. You will have seen that I have written to Alan. I forgot his birthday until two days too late. Will you get him something for me? I have told him also to let me know what he would like for a wedding present and expect you will have to pass this information on, as if he intend to get married next month than he will not have time to think about writing.
The Typhoon passed off with the strongest blow we have known yet but did not bring much rain unfortunately. Hurricanes are in the West Indies by the way. All the same of course but different names in different areas. "Ty-phoon" is Cantonese for "big wind" so I am told and when it produces 90 mph gusts in places here although 100 miles away, it is big enough. No offices were closed that I know of - but staff went home early so that those living on the mainland could get back on the ferry. I think one ferry kept going the whole time. Watching from the Bank windows it was having a rough time though crossing in the most sheltered spot in the harbour.
The swimming lessons have come to an end as the instructor had to go home. There was no ? - Adrienne was talked into it and did it in fullest confidence. She has since swum in the sea with me. Mostly with her head in the water. She goes like a torpedo in the first stage of the crawl leg stroke and stops when she has to breath. Caroline could swim in Jesselton so I did not mention her. She is better now but the important thing was the crawl, for which she has only the first stages (everything except breathing) and I do not know enough about to teach it. However, expect next season will be here soon enough to take care of that. Meanwhile, they have their dancing lessons and school starts tomorrow. Caroline is up in the higher section and will have homework. Adrienne is up too. Very pleased because a new 6 year old just arrived is in a lower form initially. Elisabeth's spots are bad circulation of course. But since the airconditioning and a diet all is well. She is a lot bigger and heavier. The bad leg which is still not working has a lot of good flesh on it. This is promising because if all the nerves had gone wastage would have set in. It is the same size as the other which is doing well.
Alan's home sounds great - I do not know the are but imagine it will be useful for his work. An October wedding means they are going to be pretty busy getting things to furnish etc. Let me have the address in due course and all details. I should not worry about the quiet wedding - if Janet's family are unable to attend there is little point in a large celebration, though I appreciate that you would enjoy one and in any case a wedding in church does give a little more point to proceedings. However, I have no doubt they know best. Yes Roger's house impressed us a lot - just the thing for us on leave too- but the snow bound winter does not appeal. I think a warmish bit of coast is the answer myself. Certainly anything in too easy reach of London seems to be a waste of money these days unless one is saving a lot on fares. However, unless we have a big win on a sweep it is not likely that we will be interested for a long time to come as school fees and paying off a house would be too much.
Cheerio for now and Best Wishes
Peter.
Hongkong
Dear Mum and Dad,
Many thanks for your letter. You will have seen that I have written to Alan. I forgot his birthday until two days too late. Will you get him something for me? I have told him also to let me know what he would like for a wedding present and expect you will have to pass this information on, as if he intend to get married next month than he will not have time to think about writing.
The Typhoon passed off with the strongest blow we have known yet but did not bring much rain unfortunately. Hurricanes are in the West Indies by the way. All the same of course but different names in different areas. "Ty-phoon" is Cantonese for "big wind" so I am told and when it produces 90 mph gusts in places here although 100 miles away, it is big enough. No offices were closed that I know of - but staff went home early so that those living on the mainland could get back on the ferry. I think one ferry kept going the whole time. Watching from the Bank windows it was having a rough time though crossing in the most sheltered spot in the harbour.
The swimming lessons have come to an end as the instructor had to go home. There was no ? - Adrienne was talked into it and did it in fullest confidence. She has since swum in the sea with me. Mostly with her head in the water. She goes like a torpedo in the first stage of the crawl leg stroke and stops when she has to breath. Caroline could swim in Jesselton so I did not mention her. She is better now but the important thing was the crawl, for which she has only the first stages (everything except breathing) and I do not know enough about to teach it. However, expect next season will be here soon enough to take care of that. Meanwhile, they have their dancing lessons and school starts tomorrow. Caroline is up in the higher section and will have homework. Adrienne is up too. Very pleased because a new 6 year old just arrived is in a lower form initially. Elisabeth's spots are bad circulation of course. But since the airconditioning and a diet all is well. She is a lot bigger and heavier. The bad leg which is still not working has a lot of good flesh on it. This is promising because if all the nerves had gone wastage would have set in. It is the same size as the other which is doing well.
Alan's home sounds great - I do not know the are but imagine it will be useful for his work. An October wedding means they are going to be pretty busy getting things to furnish etc. Let me have the address in due course and all details. I should not worry about the quiet wedding - if Janet's family are unable to attend there is little point in a large celebration, though I appreciate that you would enjoy one and in any case a wedding in church does give a little more point to proceedings. However, I have no doubt they know best. Yes Roger's house impressed us a lot - just the thing for us on leave too- but the snow bound winter does not appeal. I think a warmish bit of coast is the answer myself. Certainly anything in too easy reach of London seems to be a waste of money these days unless one is saving a lot on fares. However, unless we have a big win on a sweep it is not likely that we will be interested for a long time to come as school fees and paying off a house would be too much.
Cheerio for now and Best Wishes
Peter.
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