10th May 1970

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Johore Bahru

West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for your card.  We celebrated by going out to dinner in Singapore and had a grand evening.  Henry wrote a long letter to which I have replied.  He said they would be glad to have any of the children in the summer.  I am sure they would love to visit but of course will be coming out here in July.  Hope you  have recovered from Adrienne's stay.  I am afraid she is a bit too quick with her school work but there is little one can do to change this.  At least I did not change.  When you mention 28 waist I trust you you do not mean inches as if so A must be getting pretty tubby.  Elisabeth has been up to Westminister Abbey and No 10, where they had their photos taken.  She writes a good letter.  Her piano playing is the latest thing which she enjoys.  Guy Sayer, who I took over from as Manager Osaka, is now a director as well as one of the three General managers.  He has come a long way in less than four years.  Mike Calvert who stayed in my flat for a time in HK is going to New York as manager.  We had a night out with them when they passed through Singapore for leave.  Lots of rain and thunder here but I see that your weather has been warmer this last week.  A big tree came down in the garden in a storm and we are cutting it up to remove it from the lawn.  A large snake was killed by the Kebun a few days ago and I hope it had not got a mate in the grounds.  We will see.

All our love Margo & Peter xxx

P.S. Will send cheque in another letter - Many thanks for buying A's things.

May 1st 1970

 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Johore Bahru

West Malaysia

My dear Mum & Dad,

I have rather left it to Peter to write to you but felt I really must write now & thank you for having Adrienne, she sounded as tho' she had a good time.  My mother enjoyed having the other girls - said they were very helpful & it was nice to have a bit of life around the place.  I think Mum finds it rather quiet as my father doesn't say very much & sleeps a lot so it was a tonic to have Caroline & Susan.

Uncle Reg wrote & said Elisabeth is fine - they saw Alan & Di on Sat & he was saying how lovely Jeffery is.  We glad to hear Di had her op & all is well.  The dog has settled down very well & it's hard to believe he was in such a terrible state when he first arrived.  Think he will grow to be quite big.

I spent all morning at the school - lots of teething trouble moving in to a new place & it takes time getting everything organised.  Had a free afternoon & felt restless - couldn't settle down to sewing so I altered all the furniture around.  I've never liked the study but have now got it more to my liking.  By the time I've finished the house it will be time to go on leave!  No news at all about that so we are prepared for 3 years. Mike Calvert & his wife were in Singapore this week, prior to home leave & thne a posting to New York as Manager.  They have a lovely little girl - adopted in 1967 so they are taking their Chinese Amah with them.

I haven't read much about the weather in the Daily Telegraph so hope it is milder.  We have had 2 very hot days - 96% so that you have to keep drinking to avoid being dehydrated!  Cousin Joyce is nursing 3 days a week - Bill is with Harland & Wolf who aren't doing too well so he's thinking of changing his job.  Andrew, their eldest boy tried to get in the police cadets but failed because of short sight in one eye so he will stay at school & take his A levels.  Cousin Muriel's son starts with the Police Cadets in Sept.  Joan's husband Ken is now a Chief Superintendent & I ofen see his name in the D.T on a murder case.

Hope you are both well

All our love

Margo & Peter

18th Jan 1970

 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Johore Bahru

West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Many thanks for your long letter.  I think the girls enjoyed their Christmas and despite the shocking weather managed to be quite busy.  Elisabeth's report was good - the only one I have seen and she has another story in the school magazine.  It is above average and far better than I could have done at her age. Rockware at well up though have come off the top.  My Target Overseas units have suddenly put on 10%. Sorry I did not tell you about the view but you must have forgotten those pictures I had developed of the house and garden and view before I left.  I have some more photos to send you mostly of the children on Summer holiday.  Another projector should be on its way to you.  It is a second hand one bought & despatched from a friend so there should not be any duty to pay.  You have to be careful with the bulb as before but change slides should be easier & maybe a better picture.  Our orchids are coming out just now and spent some time in the garden today - sunny and a good breeze.  Golf yesterday at a new course in JB.  Very hilly and good exercise.  Am keeping on the go with a few outings but will be glad when things are back to normal once again; although Easter will be with us very soon and it looks as if Elisabeth will not  be happy without Margo.  However I feel happier with the girls having a regular contact and we are lucky to have these cheap flights available.

Cheerio for now and all my love

Peter xxx

Pyjamas arrived - jolly good ones, 

thanks a lot

Peter

2 Jan 1970

Airmail letter
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Johore Bahru
West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Into the seventies as they say and a Happy New Year.  Mine was spent very quietly at home which is the best thing with the following day's work to come.  The balance went well with quite pleasing results.  I have also started the year with a lucky profit on shares.  I had ordered some Australia at 11 cents as a gamble and the broker came through the next day to say he had bought something else at 19 cents.  He realised his error, but I said it was a gamble anyway and took them.  Endeavour Oil - they went down to 30 cents the next day.  A week ago I sold, but due to the confusion the broker did not know the exact price and later - another error - received a purchase order fo r600!  However, the mail confirmation came in today and the sale was done at 71 cents so all is well - a 40% profit on a company that haven't got anything as far as I know - lets hope it isn't another Poseiden.  So all in all a good start and lots hope the year continues that way.  Hope you do not catch any of the 'flu going around just now, it sounds pretty bad.  Am off to walk the dog.  He keeps pretty trim but is missing the family so I make a bit of a fuss of him.

Cheerio for now and love

Peter

11th Dec 1969

Airmail letter
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Johore Bahru
West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thank you for your letter.  We are enjoying the first day of Hari Raya, the two day holiday that ends the Muslim month of fasting.  It depends on the sighting of the moon so we do not know the day until the night before the first one possible - if it is not that, say 10th then it must be the 11th.  So this morning I went at 9 am to the Istana and had coffee and cake with the Sultan, to wish him Happy New Year.  The next HNY is the proper one and the next is Chinese New Year in February, after which one can get down to 1970.  We had very heavy and continuous rain, resulting in floods in Singapore and to a lesser extent in Johore.  The banking in front of a house near us slid and a few trees went into the road.  I drove through fairly deep water to get to the bank yesterday and was lucky to get through.  The rain has stopped today giving the water a chance to run off.  Hope that is the end of it as otherwise it may be a problem getting Margo to the airport.  I do not expect to buy CRA directly but the Investment club of which I am a member has taken 100, so I have a 20th share.  The club started in July and after 4/5 months is up 8%.  It lasts for 5 years and it will be interesting to see the outcome.  We have a broker and a fairly wealthy planter on the buying committee and I am the third, although so far I have gone along with their ideas.  We are pretty conservative.  We have had Mrs Forsyth staying with us for a couple of days - the widow of a former manager.  The Sultan knew her when he was a Tunku so Margo took her along on Monday for a chat and the usual coffee.

Love for now,

Peter & Margo

24th November 1969

Airmail letter
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Johore Bahru
West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Thanks for your letter.  I had noticed that companies going in for takeovers these days have a habit of offering convertable stock but it may be an advantage sometimes if capital gains tax is avoided.  I hav sold the Waterval Platinum.  It will probably go up more but a 35% profit in 4 months is not bad.  I hear there is a "buy" signal out for CRA and intend to look into it tomorrow.  Hope Di is ok - will write to Hilda and Ian, what a list of hospital news.  Do hope they can clear things up for Ian it must be wearing to have a thing like that all the time.  Adrienne is ok and has passed her music exam.  Susan did too with good marks so all is well with the children.  Thank you for looking after Adrienne's music case - we should have thought of that one.  I still think piano and violin are too much but must leave her to sort it out.  Margo will be arriving at Gatwick on 16th Dec now about 1.30 pm but do not meet her because the time can be variable on Charter.  Margo will phone you soonest.  She will be picking up Elisabeth on 17th and then on to Dover to pick up the other girls on 18th.  HOpe nothing goes wrong with the timetable.  Margo has decorated the downstairs with new curtains and chair covers.  A wonderful improvement and at a dinner part last night it really looked smart.  Please give Di and Alan our love, do hope Julie's eye clears up.  I imagine that corrective treatment is required it will have to wait until she is a little older for exercises or glasses, but I guess Di knows how to get the best advice.

Cheerio for now and love

Peter

10th November 1969

Airmail letter
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Johore Bahru
West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Many thanks for your letter.  Your holiday sounded most enjoyable and such unusual weather.  What a summer it has been in England this year.  I do wonder what my roses have done and whether the grass is too dry.  Margo will arrive on 15th December but we have not got the flight details yet and will let you know.  Have sold Waterval; if they meet my limit tomorrow.  They may go up more but with markets uncertain I cannot resist taking a profit when there is one.  We have a long weekend and as we are in the rainy season it is very sticky.  Golf this afternoon is going to be muddy.  Pen has run out on me and the new one is not flowing probably because of the weather.  The girls seem ok although Adrienne is going through a bad spot.  Rather like Caroline used to and imagines she is unloved.  Also wants to give up music but guess Margo will sort this out next month.  As far as we know their school work si up to standard.  There are a lot of interesting changes going on in the bank just now as 1970-71 will see a number of the war time people leaving.  Those taking their places will be in control for almost as long as I am in the bank as in number of years they are not much more senior.  Curious to know who will get what jobs and it is of course always on the cards we will be moved in the shuffle but there has not been any hint of this.

Cheerio for now and all the best

Love Peter & Margo