18th Oct 65

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Central PO Box 227
Osaka, Japan

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter.  The Oriana affair was impressive, the ship the biggest I have been on and the buffet dinner was terrific and overwhelming.  We have another round coming up and at the end of the month 4 in a row.  The afternoon of the last day being a tour of Suntary Whiskey distillary!

We are putting Elisabeth into hospital to improve her walking.  The nun who is running the school here has had experience of handicapped children and though E was very bright and determined - but tha she should do much better.  It is common that they do not, mainly because of a fear of falling and it is necessary to teach them how to fall.  Also to get the mind through the "barrier".  Then she should walk and get about on crutches all the time and with ease.  The hospital is run by the same group of nuns and they are eager to have E and say she will return either speaking Japanese or with a Texas drawl.  The other patients being Japanese and the nuns American.

So it is all very exciting but it will be a wrench for us all.  E is old enough now to realis all we have done and will be very upset initially but I have no doubt all will be well, and we will be forgiven in the end.

Reading an article by "Questor" in the Telegraph as made me doubt the wisdom of investing in shares.  He reckons that the private individual cannot win today and the normal professional man is unable to put his mind to the problems involved.  He recommends Investment Trusts.  This was confirmed today by and ICI pension plans man out on a visit from UK.  He said ICI pensions UK fund ran to £250 million and it was this sort of money which influenced things today.

Mrs Aylett's venture to Dover is of course the sort of move you could have made to Hastings Bexhill area some time ago.  It is not too late and you should continue to look around.  Near the bus and shops, no hills, small and with good heating, garden not too big.  Actually Dover looks fine on the map - protection form the north anyway.  Or what about slightly inland.  The great thing is to act now.

I bought Dad's tie in Bexhill.  But BHS was then advertised in every paper.  Where is Victoria Street?  I took dark green & blue & though a dark plum red would do.  But don't worry I can now write to M & S Oxford St & get anything sent ("via USA" 38 days) and have sent for shirts.  You might pop in your local M & S & let me know what they have of interest.  We will get A birthday present and let you know.  As for the rest your are righ about books - Margo would like stockings 10 1/2.

Do you know anything about COMFREY a spinich like plant which contains B12 and Allantoin?  It is supposed to be better than liver for aenemia and promotes cell growth and cures a variety of ills & prevents colds.  If all this is true and you can get tablets (I believe) please send some as B12 is very useful here but not easy to absorb usually.  I have just read an article on it and of course it could be nonsense.  Enclosed article I have found.

I have been busy visiting the big trading companys here MITSUI - SUMITOMO - NISSHO- C.ITOH-MARUBENI and generally making myself known.  Full of unappitising green tea and difficult conversation, but it does have an interesting side when English is spoken well.

Went once again into the countryside with the girls & two of their friends - six in all.  They were very good - will send photos soon.

Now two months as manager and no news yet of the new one to come.  Have fixed the Christmas Local Staff Party for 3 Dec at our new hotel "The Royal" 1000 rooms.  Very impressive -hope they are pleased as I obtained approval to increase expenditure this year from Y1800 per head to Yen 2500.

So we keep on the go, the cool weather does aid activity.

Cheerio for now
and Love from us all
Peter