10.8.65

HSBC
Osaka

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter - we have been tourists recently.  Margo and Caroline and Adrienne and self travelled on the Dreamtrain as far as Macbarra on Lake Bewa.  About halfway up and two hours on the route to Tokyo.  This is the famous Bullet train and is very much like an airplane inside.  Very fast, noiseless and smooth running it was impressive.  Had lunch at Hokone castle overlooking the lake, very hot.  Then drove home about three hours on the highway (toll freeway).

The Sayer's children are out from home and we all went to Kyoto to see the famous cormorant fishing by night, on the river.  Had dinner on the small boat - sukiaki and tempura with sake and beer.  The fishing boats rode up and down alongside with flaming baskets overside and a dozen birds on strings. The birds catch the fish but are unable to swallow because of the strings and the fish are taken from them.  What a life!  However it made our evening and C & A had fun.

Went out to a couple of the renowned Osaka bars with Guy and some of the senior local staff for dinner and drinks.  Either is is all overrated or I am too old for night life but it was a pretty dull evening and I would have really enjoyed a West End review and a good meal in a more normal setting.  Bust as there are thousands of these expensive places to visit we may have struck some bad ones.

Am collecting a new car this weekend.  Automatic this time and "on the bank", though I pay quite a bit each month it is still worth it.  Not much different from the present one but is a "1966 Toyoglide."

Will be taking over officially on Monday and the Sayers leave on Tuesday.  Lets home the spell to next March runs without any upheavals but with unprecedented smoothness.

All our love

Peter