27th February 1969

Written on HSBC airmail letter from Johore Bahru, Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for your letter.  Margo's flight is now changed to arrive on Monday 17th, I cannot remember if I advised you of this and she will go to the Jakes new house first as it is near Gatwick.  Have read about your weather and hope the worst is over - it always seems to be a record for some sort of bad weather each year.  Dad did not repeat the name of his rubber share.  Good estates should do well this year; the price has gone up from 57% to 70% since I have been here and someone is going to do well out of it.  Had dinner with Mason Nelson last week - he is the senior partner in one of the two biggest share brokers here - and Henry Grummitt was paying a brief visit.  He retired to the Channel Islands at 40 and pays an annual visit to Malay to look after the odd estate in which he has control.  Mason says he will retire in 1971 when he will be around 47 and he says he is quite well off!  Di's father is having a rough time - lets hope that all will be well in the end.  Yes it is turning hot - I do not notice it until I come out of the office and the evenings can be very comfortable if a breeze is coming off the Straits, but once or twice we have retired to the airconditioning early when it has become breathless.  We do not hear from our tenants but the Elliots would let us know if anything was amiss.  He has left the Army and is now Secretary to the Inst of Ch. Actuaries and enjoying it.  We are friendly with another Lt Col here and often go out to the mess about 5 miles from here to see a film show or as the other day a stage show visiting from UK.  Very jolly and met the players afterwards for dinner.  They were an interesting bunch doing a two week tour between shows at home.  It is Hari Raya Haji holiday today and have been into Singapore for a hair cut, had some trousers made and a lunch of steak & kidney pie at Tanglin Club.  As I said to Margo it is only the English who would have such a meal in this climate but it was good.  Love from us all

Peter