16.4.52

Written on Bank stationary. Penang.

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Many thanks for your letter of 10th. The socks appear to have gathered in great number and sound just right - am looking forward to having them.

Many of the juniors are completely new to me, though one is coming on the Chusom that I do remember.

Must be quite a problem for Tom - though I imagine he will try for the job - it would be a mistake not to. How often one finds a thing is possible once it is tried.

The Rices came in to dinner last night and we spent a pleasantly quiet evening.

The whole of Easter was quiet in fact - hot with a short fierce storm at night. Thunder and a gale of wind three evenings running. Bows and branches of trees snapping and doors being blown in. Very exciting - and cool afterwards. Spent a lot of time lazing in the pool and reading a couple of books.

Had drinks last week with the Eastern Bank man at Butterworth - that is over the water from Penang. He runs a one man branch over there and it is a little primative. It is the unloading port for North Malaya though it lies in the same Harbour as Penang. The ships unload this side - or in the Roads - and the lighters shift the goods to Butterworth.

There is a small community over there. Shell people, Government, Customs and a lot of R.A.F. personnel from the nearby aerodrome.

The Siamese Navy came to Penang this week - at least part of it. They still wear small dress swords and the white uniform looks a little old fashioned. We paid their money out here - it was quite a lot. They wanted large notes too which made things difficult as a note above $10 is little used except on race days. Still we managed to procure it in the end after lots of phone calls to other Banks in Penang.

I have sent Mrs Martin 2lbs of Tea and 2lbs of Sugar and will forward the bill when I get it at the end of the month. I cannot get tea other than Ceylon - and not Brooke Bond at all. I asked an Indian why we could not buy Assam tea here but he did not know. That is the best kind and is also strong. I suggest you drink it without milk with a little lemon!

Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.