30th October 66

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank,
Kowloon,

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter.  Caroline seems to have recovered from her illness and is very bright once more.  She will have an X ray check soon to make sure.  The new manager is Macleod, also Ian and I have known him before in Calcutta and Jesselton.

The last two weeks have been taken up with Chinese dinners and cocktail parties.  Buchan's farewells have coincided with the cooler weather when people try to catch up on their entertaining.  The official party given by the office in the Peninsular Hotel was impressive with 230 people.  The top men came over from Hong Kong side to give things a boost and it all resulted, I am sure, in the customers thinking we have a lot of money to spare.  It is difficult to know if these things do any good or not.  We had ten to dinner in our flat and that went off very well and the cook produced an above average meal.  Then a Chinese dinner with a share broker and another one with an Indian tailor and a drinks party on Hong Kong side to meet a few more of the London office staff who are paying us a visit.  We are wondering if Ian will come out on one of these visits.

On Friday Margo spent a busy day decorating one of the children's classrooms for Halloween and Caroline went in fancy dress to a party in the afternoon.  I cannot remember celebrating this particular event but I suppose it is the American influence.  Elisabeth has just come in which is not going to aid my concentration, constant chatter.  Took the girls into the countryside this morning and they rides on horseback.  There is a riding school here but a little far out so wee have not started them there as it would mean another set of deadlines for Margo with the car.  When I remember all the places I used to go to by myself at their age on foot and by bicycle, they lead a restricted life in many ways.  There are more cars per road mile in Hong Kong then anywhere else and transport in the form of buses is not extensive enough to get one everywhere.  Elisabeth has got the spelling bug now in 3 letter words.  She was getting a little lazy at school and now it has caught on.  She is trying hard at her reading.  Adrienne appears to be on the upgrade as well, much neater and betters marks in arithmetic.  Margo has got the brass rubbing Alan mentioned a long time ago that he wanted for the flat.  However, it may not be suitable in which case he can keep it for us and we will send another.  So please, mention that he should let us know.

Cheerio for now and love from us all

Peter