10th May 72

P O Box 896 

Singapore

Dear Mum & Dad

Many thanks for your card and present, what an age I have grown to!  I can easily say I am ten years younger.  Margo is home now and will be busy with Elisabeth in hospital and sorting out the house.  Elisabeth had a good trip in the end and even by Jumbo which she said was jus the thing.  No, I do not get paid as a Director - it is just a detail amongst others.  In fact I know next to nothing about H P.  Have some good books to study once present matters are dealt with.  About 1994!  Somewhere in my career I have missed studying to be an architect, labour relations manager, advertising manager, auditor and now I am an instant expert.  Cannot complain of boredom.  Bill Lanchester stayed with me for a couple of nights.  He is the costing expert (trained) and was checking on shop prices etc to see if he could put the pay up based on a raise in the cost of living.  Hope your weather improves.  Margo mentioned it wa wet and misty.  Look after yourselves.

Love Peter.

5 May 72

 (Not dated but used postal date)

P O Box 896

Singapore

Dear Mum and Dad,

Many thanks for your letter and for meeting Adrienne.  We got them all off in the end and Elisabeth still went on a Jumbo.  Margo nearly had a change of plane but at the last moment that was OK too.  I think they all had a good Easter.  Susan scarcely wrote so must have had a good time and we did not hear much from Caroline so guess she was busy too - it is always a good sign.  Very sorry about Phil - it is sad, also for Hilda who has been through so much with Henry.  If you think it suitabloe please send flowers for me and let Margo know.  Guy Sayers the Chairman has come & gone.  He is unchanged and it is a novelty to be able to speak to someone in the that position as a friend.  I have also had HO property man down as am in a tangle with a new building.  The planners will not let us do as we wish & the opening date goes back & back.

Another friend arrives next week to say with me for couple of days - Bill Lanchester - to sample the "Cost of Living" of all things.  The jobs H.O. have these days.  Am starting to get involved with Union Negotiations - the General Manager goes on leave this month so will have more to do, but as ever the first 6 months are the worst in a new job and already it is getting easier on the day to day stuff.  Hope you are both keeping well now the better weather is coming.  I look forward to a good summer.  As for shares - do we sell in May and stay away?

Love Peter

24 4 1972

The HongKong & Shanghai Bank

Singapore

Dear Mum and Dad,

Many thanks for your letter, you have stirred me into action at last, although Margo would be able to give you more news.  Caroline enjoyed her stay with Aland & mentioned he has a lot of gardening to do.  We heard from Susan and all is well there, though not much detail.  Adrienne and Elisabeth are in good health and will be home on Friday.  I think they will be on a Jumbo jet.  Sorry to hear Phil had a stroke and I hope she improves quickly, please give her my love, I will try to write and may have more time soon.  The job is settling dow.  A great deal of what is going on requires research and I ought to be reading a great deal.  There is also a lot that is now coming up but at the same time I find myself doing a lot of tedious routine work which should be delegated but for the running down of Foreign Staff.  The Chairman arrives next week so expect to lose time there but no doubt he will bring news of new activities. Margo will be home on Thursday next week and I will get a report on our garden - overgrown I expect.  A letter went off this week recommending my confirmation in the present job.  Another stage completed.  Did you know I was a director of a hire purchase company?  Only a spare time activity which goes with the job.  How is Henry getting on?  Look after yourself.  You must use some "deep heat" on your back.

Love from us all

Peter

20 Mar 1972

 (Not dated so taken the postal date.)

P O Box 896

Singapore

My dear Mum & Dad,

Peter has just started his new job & with nearly evening booked solid with social events.  I'm sure he won't find time to write!  He is out playing golf this morning so the dog & I have the house to ourselves.  It is a much more comfortable house than the other & it is a joy to be unpacked with our own pictures up etc.  The garden is rather neglected but it will give Peter a hobby while I am away.  I am provisionally booked on April 29th - but may change to a flight a few days later.  Liz goes into hospital on May 8th.  I'm afraid it isn't going to be a very pleasant series of operations but no doubt Liz will be her usual cheerful self.  The hospital is hoping to do another girl at the same time so that they will be company for one another.

We were thinking of you yesterday & hoping all went well for Susan's big day & that the weather remained kind.  Liz had a lovely time for her birthday - I hear she spoke to you on the phone.  In fact I gather it was a very exciting week-end.  Ada & Reg really do a marvellous job - it is such a relief to know how good they are to Liz.  I believe Tony & Vivienne were also at the party so it sounds as tho' matters are improving in that direction.

No more news - must go & get some lunch ready.

Love from us both

Margo & Peter

20 February 1972

C/o The HongKong & Shanghai Bank

Singapore

Dear Mum and Dad,

We have been reading about the power cuts very closely and hope you had some alternative heating.  It is amazing that with nuclear power and natural gas that we still need coal.  Candles and oil stoves are still important.  Alan's move could have been difficult because of the coal strike but hope it was not too bad.  We have not see the Queen but by all accounts the visit has been a great success with the former colony putting on a display of festivity and welcome.  We did see the Britannia close to, steaming down the Straits on her way to Bangkok.  She looked very smart.  Adrienne has been ill with pneumonia, quite a bad do as she did not respond to the first antibiotic used but the headmistress wrote to say she was recovering well.  Funny she followed Susan with it and guess it is a virus.  Susan has been booked to spend Easter in Holland with her friend.  She is very thrilled about it and I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything works as planned.

At last the office has slackened off, mainly due to the the Chinese New Year period.  I shall be taking over my new job in about a month's time and it will all start up again.  The computer is getting easier to deal with but we are still learning.  It was quiet an experience to put it mildly.  We received Henry's Christmas present and will be glad if you will thank him pending our letter.  I also read the pamphlet on the door sealing with interest.  Bye for now and keep warm.

Love Margo and Peter

3rd February 1972

 C/o The HongKong & Shanghai Bank

Singapore

Dear Mum and Dad,

The pace is still fast and it is amazing how things keep cropping up which turn each day into anything other than routine.  The auditors from HO have been in, on top of the local auditors.  The computer still has to be lived with and produces its own crop of problems and there is still much that is new around the office that one can never pause to think.  Have read about your cold weather and trust it moves on fairly soon as power cuts with the miner's strike will be very inconvenient.  The girls sound cheerful.  We will have Adrienne and Elisabeth out at Easter.  I have the pools your address as I did not want them to come here - it is about time I had a win.  Shares are doing OK even Rockware has recovered & London & Northern are doing well.  Wish I had stayed in gold.  Acorn never stopped recommending gold and now are proved right.  Lets hope everything remains strong for a good period.

Hope to get down to the Loyang bunglow this weekend for some sun and air.  It makes a good break and freshens one up.  Elisabeth said she was very happy to see you the other weekend, with Alan and family.  She is to take instruction for confirmation this year.  Cheerio for now and keep warm, wish I could send a spot of our sun.

Love Margo and Peter.

5th January 1971

 Written on Snoopy notepaper

Dear Mum and Dad,

How is the snow?  Malaysia appears to be sinking under water - not where we are though, it starts a few miles away.  Kuala Lumpur was closed to-day as there is 4 feet of water in the office and all phones are cut off.  Have emerged from the year-end balance and once again the figures are satisfactory.  Margo wrote to you about the festivities - the girls had a good time as de we all and enjoyed the presents too.  They are all at the beach bungalow in Singapore this week.  I was down for the weekend and we had a few freinds in for lunch.  Hope the snow clears and they can land on time.  I shall be pleased to have my leave when it arrives but guess we will mis Johore.  It has been one of the better ones.  The office has been in good form this past year, the house is pretty wonderful and Singapore is so convenient.  We have also been lucky with friends around and about.  I do not think there are many other places as good as this and wonder what the next one will be.  I believe they have decided in H.O but it is too early for them the release the news.

It is certainly raining here now and perhaps we will have flooding tomorrow - nothing like paddling to the office.  Cheerio for now and a Happy New Year.

Love Peter