The Hongkong Bank
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter with all your news - I hope you have the photos. Elisabeth in her new walker was showing off that morning. Yes, thank you - the £3 will cover both presents. Margo purchased a very good leather frame which looks most attractive.
Congratulations! Alan, on your engagement and our Best Wishes to Janet also. I should write separately but at least this way I get something on paper. The girls will be thrilled to get another aunt as they only have one up to now. Can we have a photograph in due course please.
Our new reservoir will not increase the water supply as it must rain first to fill it up. We have 3 1/2 thousand million gallons at the moment and must reach 7,500,000,000 before the end of September - this is in addition to a minimum daily consumption of 40,000,000 gallons each day. Actually, the population will outstrip any new planned storage and they will have to convert seawater. Many means are under discussion but the cost is high and the talk around the subject will take several years before anything is done.
The girls are on holiday at the moment and all four went to the pictures to-day to see "Flipper". Margo said it was wonderful, the main actor being a real live dolphin, who, apart from everything else that it does, can laugh! Adrienne has the new bricks in her class and I hope it helps - also I hope the next schook use them, otherwise confusion is going to set in. Mt Charlotte were tipped by Acorn in July so they must be a good thing to hold on to.
I am looking through another set of the photos I sent, do you see Caroline's watch? It still goes and she can nearly tell the time. The Wendy house was purchased from someone going on leave and the jeep which is Elisabeth's was bought in a second hand market and is very strong. The place they are playing in is the verader to C & As bedroom, which is through the door on the left. Elisabeth's in the lounge which does not look to best advantage, as I have not focused for the background. The lounge is 3 times the area shown, with another verander to the right, where we sit overlooking the harbour. In the scene with Margo, the pram is held to prevent the pram blowing away - Signal No 3 was up!
The reservoir near us is 1/2 full and is in picturesque surroundings. What do you think of the dog - we were very lucky to have one so well behaved - he is no trouble at all and very playful.
Cheerio for now and love from us all,
Peter
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
2nd July 1963
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
We are in heavy cloud again and have had a downpour today - 1 inch, but for all the cloud one would expect a lot more water. Typhoon TMX, which was coming straight at us veered off to meet the China coast 150 miles east of here. Storm warning No 3 went up for all day Sunday and precautions were taken. All vessels that could went into the typhoon shelter and the big fellows went to typhoon anchorages and got up steam. We shut all windows and hammered down the catches and got very hot and sticky. After all that it did not come and we did not get the 10 or so inches of rain a typhoon might have brought to us.
Margo has met another snake. Bringing a crowd of children back from school, there it was on the drive. 8 feet long and pretty thick, chasing birds. She did not wish to run over it because it might have run up into the car. Whilst she was thinking about it the snake ran off into a grating. It was not seen by anyone else and has not returned.
You do not mention how long you intend to spend in Ross but assume a week or so. Richard engaged is news and shall be interested to know details.
Alan has got the right idea although to go one better, why not take both girls along at the same time?
Having a film developed - it has been in the camera for ages so hope it comes out. It is black and white as I need the copies to send around.
This writing on wet paper with thick pen is not easy so will not try anymore.
Cheerio and Love,
Peter
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
We are in heavy cloud again and have had a downpour today - 1 inch, but for all the cloud one would expect a lot more water. Typhoon TMX, which was coming straight at us veered off to meet the China coast 150 miles east of here. Storm warning No 3 went up for all day Sunday and precautions were taken. All vessels that could went into the typhoon shelter and the big fellows went to typhoon anchorages and got up steam. We shut all windows and hammered down the catches and got very hot and sticky. After all that it did not come and we did not get the 10 or so inches of rain a typhoon might have brought to us.
Margo has met another snake. Bringing a crowd of children back from school, there it was on the drive. 8 feet long and pretty thick, chasing birds. She did not wish to run over it because it might have run up into the car. Whilst she was thinking about it the snake ran off into a grating. It was not seen by anyone else and has not returned.
You do not mention how long you intend to spend in Ross but assume a week or so. Richard engaged is news and shall be interested to know details.
Alan has got the right idea although to go one better, why not take both girls along at the same time?
Having a film developed - it has been in the camera for ages so hope it comes out. It is black and white as I need the copies to send around.
This writing on wet paper with thick pen is not easy so will not try anymore.
Cheerio and Love,
Peter
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
27th June 1963
The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter concerning Reg. I wrote to Maud by return post. As you say he has been ill for a very long time but one imagined he would go on for some time yet.
We are continuing to struggle with our water shortage - I can wash all over in 1/2 basin and we manage to last 4 days before water is turned on again. A little rain has fallen but we now need about 40 inches to catch up and provide a store for next winter and this amount is not expected.
Caroline's birthday was a great excitement and success. She had a watch, a bride doll, dresses, books etc and was very thrilled. Her party went well on the Monday following - she even had a Japanese girl as a guest.
We went on a launch picnic on Sunday as it was my turn for the Bank boat, the 'Wayfoong". Took two other couples and had fun at Rocky Harbour, the other side of Kai Tak (airport) - near Gin Druiker's Bay, past Junk Bay - if you have a map. It was very hot and we were a bit scortched but we all had fun.
Caroline is learning tables - is up to her 4 times. Remembering how you had to teach me much later on I have been encouraging her to say them at breakfast.
Have first scribbled this off quickly as the days are passing in wet fashion again and I know I will not just sit down at night. We shal be into the half year's work next month and we have been here for 8 months now - still no news of a change from this present job.
Love from us all
Peter xxx
xxx
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter concerning Reg. I wrote to Maud by return post. As you say he has been ill for a very long time but one imagined he would go on for some time yet.
We are continuing to struggle with our water shortage - I can wash all over in 1/2 basin and we manage to last 4 days before water is turned on again. A little rain has fallen but we now need about 40 inches to catch up and provide a store for next winter and this amount is not expected.
Caroline's birthday was a great excitement and success. She had a watch, a bride doll, dresses, books etc and was very thrilled. Her party went well on the Monday following - she even had a Japanese girl as a guest.
We went on a launch picnic on Sunday as it was my turn for the Bank boat, the 'Wayfoong". Took two other couples and had fun at Rocky Harbour, the other side of Kai Tak (airport) - near Gin Druiker's Bay, past Junk Bay - if you have a map. It was very hot and we were a bit scortched but we all had fun.
Caroline is learning tables - is up to her 4 times. Remembering how you had to teach me much later on I have been encouraging her to say them at breakfast.
Have first scribbled this off quickly as the days are passing in wet fashion again and I know I will not just sit down at night. We shal be into the half year's work next month and we have been here for 8 months now - still no news of a change from this present job.
Love from us all
Peter xxx
xxx
12th June 1963
The Hongkong & Shanghai Bank
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter. We are all fit as far as colds go but Margo has had a bad back. After a complete check and X-ray it has, in effect, been put down to old age, which is not very complimentary. However, she is to have some massage and heat treatment which we hope will ease matters. Saw Merchant Venturer came second in the Derby. I fancied it by name but did nothing. It is still hot and sticky here with still no rain. I am comfortable in the office with very efficient airconditioning and find the difference rather overpowering when coming home. Am at present inspecting one of the Hongkong Office departments, which is a change and provides lots of interest. The department is run by eight officers and up to a hundred clerks, handling imports, so you can imagine that it is fairly complex.
We now have the walker which is a success. Also a Wendy House bought from someone going on leave. Big enough for two children to go into. And a pedigree spaniel Shan, who came from downstairs, also on leave. So we are now six plus three servants, one child, one kitten and one dog. (The wash amah is also expecting a baby). So it is lucky that the flat is big.
Thank you for Caroline's present -we have something in mind. A garden of flowers and things which can be rearranged in plastic. Will let you know the cost eventually. Talking about inspections, I was all set for Manila and Iloilo. Had my visa and ticket. But it was cancelled a the last moment. It would have been an eventful two weeks as I know a few people in both places.
My latest craze is snorkel and flippers. Spend hours watching crabs and fish. The flippers are very powerful and can go quite fast with one child on my back.
Hope the ink has not smudged too much this paper is damp.
Love from us all
Peter
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter. We are all fit as far as colds go but Margo has had a bad back. After a complete check and X-ray it has, in effect, been put down to old age, which is not very complimentary. However, she is to have some massage and heat treatment which we hope will ease matters. Saw Merchant Venturer came second in the Derby. I fancied it by name but did nothing. It is still hot and sticky here with still no rain. I am comfortable in the office with very efficient airconditioning and find the difference rather overpowering when coming home. Am at present inspecting one of the Hongkong Office departments, which is a change and provides lots of interest. The department is run by eight officers and up to a hundred clerks, handling imports, so you can imagine that it is fairly complex.
We now have the walker which is a success. Also a Wendy House bought from someone going on leave. Big enough for two children to go into. And a pedigree spaniel Shan, who came from downstairs, also on leave. So we are now six plus three servants, one child, one kitten and one dog. (The wash amah is also expecting a baby). So it is lucky that the flat is big.
Thank you for Caroline's present -we have something in mind. A garden of flowers and things which can be rearranged in plastic. Will let you know the cost eventually. Talking about inspections, I was all set for Manila and Iloilo. Had my visa and ticket. But it was cancelled a the last moment. It would have been an eventful two weeks as I know a few people in both places.
My latest craze is snorkel and flippers. Spend hours watching crabs and fish. The flippers are very powerful and can go quite fast with one child on my back.
Hope the ink has not smudged too much this paper is damp.
Love from us all
Peter
Sunday, March 10, 2013
28th May 1963
Flat 4,
"Fung Shui"
50 Plantation Road
Hongkong
My dear Mum & Dad,
It is ages since I wrote to you but as you can guess my days are very full so that I usually leave it to Peter to give you all the news. At the moment, most of the family - except Elisabeth & myself - have bad colds. There is a virus going around and most of the children are down with it. Caroline & Adrienne are nearly better & Susan's temperature is down today. Of course it is very hot 95 degrees, apparently the hottest May since 1900! The weather seems to be haywire everywhere. We are still desperately short of water and are ration to 4 hours supply every other day. To be honest it doesn't affect us a great deal but people living in large blocks of flats have a problem as do the poor people whose only means of obtaining water is to queue at the hydrants. It means that their children have to stand in line nearly all day.
We went for a drive on Sunday and passed the large reservoirs in the New Territories. These were completely dried up with grass growing in the bottom. For several days now large storm clouds have been gathering but they all pass over & presumably their precious water comes down in the sea somewhere!
Caroline & Adrienne normally wear white dresses to school but this rule has been relaxed to save washing. They are both in their element deciding what they are going to wear each day! (it doesn't really save as they get just as dirty whatever they wear!)
Elisabeth is improving still & is growing in to a big girl - Her legs are certainly much stronger. We have just had new boots made for her & her calipers are being altered. Yesterday she was measured for a bamboo walking frame for home use. She manages very well with the one at Sandy Bay. When we have the walker at home I shall only take her to Sandy Bay twice a week. With the hot weather , the physiotherapist finds Elisabeth getting overtired. It is quite a long journey & we return during the heat of the day. I am also joining the Ladies Recreation Club because they have a swimming pool (but no water at the moment!). It is convenient to the house & I can swim with Elisabeth early in the morning. Professor Hodgson is going on leave this week & returns in November. He may be able to operated on Elisabeth's foot next year.
Joyce & Ian Townend who have just completed a tour in Hongkong, have asked for & being allowed to do another tour here. They have a daughter of 8 with badly deformed arms & hands and the professor is going to do a series of operations on Debbie next year in an attempt to improve them.
Phoebe, our kitten is having a wonderful game with the waste-paper basket - she looks very lively now but on Friday I had a very sad little kitten on my hands. The small boy next door (3 1/2) came to see Elisabeth & during his five minute visit managed to drop Phoebe over the balcony! I can't imagine how a child would do such a thing - it made me feel quite sick at the time. The girls were very upset & the kitten was in a terrible state. I had a long drive to take it to the vets and I really expected it to die during the journey. However, the vet examined her & found that the only thing wrong was severe bruising & a bad eye & mouth where she had landed on her head. I had to give her milk through an eye dropper for about 24 hours & then she recovered. Even the eye looks fine even tho' she was expected to lose it. Poor Phoebe she has had an eventful life already, having been found on the hillside near Sandy Bay. She was so tiny that again it wasn't expected that she would live but the Matron fed her every 2 hours by means of a bottle!
We are having a spaniel on Friday, taking Shane over from the Campbells who are going on leave.
I have just finished making myself a suit for the summer & now I am making Susan a dress. She has grown so much that none of her clothes fit and of course Adrienne is so hard on clothes that she never has any to pass on. Incidentally, Susan is the tubby one of the family - Adrienne is becoming quite slim & is losing her large tummy. She is very thrilled this week because she has just started to read at school. In her last report (maybe Peter told you?), her teacher said that she was progressing well but was a slow starter & not yet ready for reading. Caroline can read very well & we have run out of books for her to read - she scorns all the 'baby' books!!
We had a nice letter from Margaret this week who apparently hasn't heard from us for ages! I though I had written a few months back but I must have been thinking of someone else! I shall try & write this week I expect Fiona is becoming more grown up then ever. Time passes so quickly - it's hard to believe that children grow so fast.
Love from us all & big kisses for the girls
Margo
I expect you will soon be hearing all the news about the Canadian trip.
"Fung Shui"
50 Plantation Road
Hongkong
My dear Mum & Dad,
It is ages since I wrote to you but as you can guess my days are very full so that I usually leave it to Peter to give you all the news. At the moment, most of the family - except Elisabeth & myself - have bad colds. There is a virus going around and most of the children are down with it. Caroline & Adrienne are nearly better & Susan's temperature is down today. Of course it is very hot 95 degrees, apparently the hottest May since 1900! The weather seems to be haywire everywhere. We are still desperately short of water and are ration to 4 hours supply every other day. To be honest it doesn't affect us a great deal but people living in large blocks of flats have a problem as do the poor people whose only means of obtaining water is to queue at the hydrants. It means that their children have to stand in line nearly all day.
We went for a drive on Sunday and passed the large reservoirs in the New Territories. These were completely dried up with grass growing in the bottom. For several days now large storm clouds have been gathering but they all pass over & presumably their precious water comes down in the sea somewhere!
Caroline & Adrienne normally wear white dresses to school but this rule has been relaxed to save washing. They are both in their element deciding what they are going to wear each day! (it doesn't really save as they get just as dirty whatever they wear!)
Elisabeth is improving still & is growing in to a big girl - Her legs are certainly much stronger. We have just had new boots made for her & her calipers are being altered. Yesterday she was measured for a bamboo walking frame for home use. She manages very well with the one at Sandy Bay. When we have the walker at home I shall only take her to Sandy Bay twice a week. With the hot weather , the physiotherapist finds Elisabeth getting overtired. It is quite a long journey & we return during the heat of the day. I am also joining the Ladies Recreation Club because they have a swimming pool (but no water at the moment!). It is convenient to the house & I can swim with Elisabeth early in the morning. Professor Hodgson is going on leave this week & returns in November. He may be able to operated on Elisabeth's foot next year.
Joyce & Ian Townend who have just completed a tour in Hongkong, have asked for & being allowed to do another tour here. They have a daughter of 8 with badly deformed arms & hands and the professor is going to do a series of operations on Debbie next year in an attempt to improve them.
Phoebe, our kitten is having a wonderful game with the waste-paper basket - she looks very lively now but on Friday I had a very sad little kitten on my hands. The small boy next door (3 1/2) came to see Elisabeth & during his five minute visit managed to drop Phoebe over the balcony! I can't imagine how a child would do such a thing - it made me feel quite sick at the time. The girls were very upset & the kitten was in a terrible state. I had a long drive to take it to the vets and I really expected it to die during the journey. However, the vet examined her & found that the only thing wrong was severe bruising & a bad eye & mouth where she had landed on her head. I had to give her milk through an eye dropper for about 24 hours & then she recovered. Even the eye looks fine even tho' she was expected to lose it. Poor Phoebe she has had an eventful life already, having been found on the hillside near Sandy Bay. She was so tiny that again it wasn't expected that she would live but the Matron fed her every 2 hours by means of a bottle!
We are having a spaniel on Friday, taking Shane over from the Campbells who are going on leave.
I have just finished making myself a suit for the summer & now I am making Susan a dress. She has grown so much that none of her clothes fit and of course Adrienne is so hard on clothes that she never has any to pass on. Incidentally, Susan is the tubby one of the family - Adrienne is becoming quite slim & is losing her large tummy. She is very thrilled this week because she has just started to read at school. In her last report (maybe Peter told you?), her teacher said that she was progressing well but was a slow starter & not yet ready for reading. Caroline can read very well & we have run out of books for her to read - she scorns all the 'baby' books!!
We had a nice letter from Margaret this week who apparently hasn't heard from us for ages! I though I had written a few months back but I must have been thinking of someone else! I shall try & write this week I expect Fiona is becoming more grown up then ever. Time passes so quickly - it's hard to believe that children grow so fast.
Love from us all & big kisses for the girls
Margo
I expect you will soon be hearing all the news about the Canadian trip.
27th May 1963
The Hongkong and Shanghai BC
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Have recently written to Ian & Margaret and Ian and Emma and consequently cannot remember if I have written my usual letter to you. We are going though a hot dry period just now with an acute shortage of water. We had a drive on the mainland at the weekend and saw many dry reservoirs. Clouds are about but it won't rain and we are rationed to a few hours every two days. If nothing happens before the end of the month restrictions will be more severe. Presumably because of the hot weather we all have colds which are difficult to throw off but apart from this everyone seems very happy. Elisabeth has new boots and shoes and her leg support have been made longer and she is once again enjoying her swimming and kicking well.
Margo's mother has written - the letter was delayed a little and the journey proved to be enjoyable. It seems the trip will have been worth while.
Hope you have a pleasant birthday and good weather - the BBC news suggests that it should be.
Love from us all,
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Have recently written to Ian & Margaret and Ian and Emma and consequently cannot remember if I have written my usual letter to you. We are going though a hot dry period just now with an acute shortage of water. We had a drive on the mainland at the weekend and saw many dry reservoirs. Clouds are about but it won't rain and we are rationed to a few hours every two days. If nothing happens before the end of the month restrictions will be more severe. Presumably because of the hot weather we all have colds which are difficult to throw off but apart from this everyone seems very happy. Elisabeth has new boots and shoes and her leg support have been made longer and she is once again enjoying her swimming and kicking well.
Margo's mother has written - the letter was delayed a little and the journey proved to be enjoyable. It seems the trip will have been worth while.
Hope you have a pleasant birthday and good weather - the BBC news suggests that it should be.
Love from us all,
6th May 1963
The Hongkong and Shanghai BC
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for the cheque Dad - very good of you. I shall be getting the case in due course. Your stay in Bournemouth was a good change for you both - you mention that is is still cool. We are now in the eighties without rain and face further restrictions in the water supply. Henry's Louise appears to be very comfortable and they do not mind popping up and down to Wolverhampton every day or so!
We are still pottering on in the same old way, with nothing specially interesting cropping up. Expat things will free wheel a little now until the Chief Inspector returns from leave in June. It is possible that I will then do an inspection somewhere, but I do not know. In fact the odd thing about this place is that one lacks information in much the same way as one does away in a branch.
Saw "Mutiny on the Bounty" last night and enjoyed a lot of it, though it was very long and funny in parts where it wasn't supposed to be.
A baby kitten called Phoebe has been bought home by Elisabeth from the children's home, on the pretext that it is a birthday present for me. Luckily it adores children as all four pull it about endlessly and it is in constant demand. I believe we are getting a dog next month.
We have joined the Stanley Club which consists of a substantial club house and clean and quiet beach in the surrounds of Stanley Prison. It started and is run by the Prison staff and is the only private and well kept beach here. We have purchased a beach umbrella and on Sunday went down for the first time. It was great. The water very clean and as good as in Borneo - parking space for the car and other children for ours to play with. There are several social events arranged during the month which we shall enjoy, but the main requirement was the beach for the children under reasonable condidtions as I had been warned that the others eventually become crowded, noisy and dirty once the hot weather was underway.
So with our first six months completed in residence here we are gradually accepting the odditys of the place. There is so much of it however, that it will be a long time before we can say that we know it.
Cheerio for now and once again thank you very much for my present.
Love from us all,
Peter.
Hong Kong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Many thanks for the cheque Dad - very good of you. I shall be getting the case in due course. Your stay in Bournemouth was a good change for you both - you mention that is is still cool. We are now in the eighties without rain and face further restrictions in the water supply. Henry's Louise appears to be very comfortable and they do not mind popping up and down to Wolverhampton every day or so!
We are still pottering on in the same old way, with nothing specially interesting cropping up. Expat things will free wheel a little now until the Chief Inspector returns from leave in June. It is possible that I will then do an inspection somewhere, but I do not know. In fact the odd thing about this place is that one lacks information in much the same way as one does away in a branch.
Saw "Mutiny on the Bounty" last night and enjoyed a lot of it, though it was very long and funny in parts where it wasn't supposed to be.
A baby kitten called Phoebe has been bought home by Elisabeth from the children's home, on the pretext that it is a birthday present for me. Luckily it adores children as all four pull it about endlessly and it is in constant demand. I believe we are getting a dog next month.
We have joined the Stanley Club which consists of a substantial club house and clean and quiet beach in the surrounds of Stanley Prison. It started and is run by the Prison staff and is the only private and well kept beach here. We have purchased a beach umbrella and on Sunday went down for the first time. It was great. The water very clean and as good as in Borneo - parking space for the car and other children for ours to play with. There are several social events arranged during the month which we shall enjoy, but the main requirement was the beach for the children under reasonable condidtions as I had been warned that the others eventually become crowded, noisy and dirty once the hot weather was underway.
So with our first six months completed in residence here we are gradually accepting the odditys of the place. There is so much of it however, that it will be a long time before we can say that we know it.
Cheerio for now and once again thank you very much for my present.
Love from us all,
Peter.
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