Flat 4
"Fung Shui"
50 Plantation Road
Hongkong
My dear Henry & Hilda,
Here we are - beginning to settle down in Hongkong. It is a complete contrast to N. Borneo - none of that quiet peaceful living! - here everything is hustle & hustle. We have a lovely flat on top of the Peak. It is in a Bank block of eight flats and there are nice gardens, sand pit and swings etc for the children to play in. We have a large lounge, dining room, three bedrooms & three bathrooms and each bedroom has a large enclosed balcony which make good playrooms for the girls. The flat is well furnished but I am hoping to get new curtains and covers. The bathrooms are a joy - fully tiled in pastel shades and with sunken baths! In fact the bath attached to our own bedroom is square as well, nice to look at but rather difficult to stretch out in!
Peter is finding his feet in the office - it is a change for him to have to wear a suit instead of whites. We have been to several cocktail parties since we arrived and I am still trying to remember names and faces of the Bank staff!
Caroline & Adrienne have both started school but unfortunately at separate ones, at least until Sept '63. Caroline can walk to her school but I take Adrienne there & back everyday. We have a 15 min walk to the Peak tram - this is a contraption which ascends & descends the sheer face of the hillsides (aren't there these sort of things in Bournemouth?). This journey takes 10 mins and is quite hair raising when you first do it. I am blase about it now after my four trips each day. The trouble is it is very cold up here on the Peak and we have an electric fire is the evenings. Adrienne & I leave in the mornings muffled to the ears and then strip off at the school.
I have given up the idea of sending Susan to kindergarten although she very much wants to go - it would only mean another journey in probably a different direction!
Elisabeth has been examined by a Proffessor Hodgson here - he is rated among the top ten authorities of Polio in children. He says that Elisabeth is still seriously paralysed and will probably never completely recover. However there is still room for improvement & he arranging Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy for her several times a week. We are fortunate in that there is a Polio clinic here and a Hydrotherapy pool has recently been opened - thanks to the J.C.C.
Hongkong is very overwhelming at first and I am still trying to find my way around the shops. We will be sending Xmas presents but we missed the last sea-mail posting date so things will arrive rather late.
Enclosed are photos of the children - you will remember the ones taken in your garden, Hilda. The one of Elisabeth was taken while she was in hospital, hence the rather shaggy hair.
I should have said "your old garden" - how are you settling in the new house? I expect Peter will be writing to you later and he will give a more detailed description of Hongkong. We have a heavenly view from our flat - we overlook the entire harbour and the New Territories and at night it is one mass of sparkling lights. The children call it the "star light land". I must get ready to go our for lunch so,
love from us all
Margo
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sunday 11th November, 1962
The Hongkong and Shanghai BC
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your first letter of this new tour. The sea trip ended well. Susan had two days in the ship's hospital with suspected measles, but it was only a chest infection which cleared up neatly before arrival. We were met by friends who had everything arranged and got off the Chusan on the mainland quay and stepped on to the bank launch, "Wayfoong" to cross to Hong Kong island. Then by large American car up and up, 1400 feet to our flat in a block known as "Fung Shui". We are on the second floor by lift and find it to be large enough for our needs with three bedroom, three bathrooms, three wardrobe rooms with dehumidifing dryers, large lounge, dining room, kitchen, service space, very long hallway and extensive verander balconies. We are in no way cramped and the children have settle happily form the word 'go'. Caroline is already at school nearby but Adrienne could not get in and starts this coming week down below. A nuisance this as Margo will have to take her by Peak Tram. Time and money consuming - but there is a chance for her to join the Peak School at the end of next year. They have plenty of playroom outside in the garden where a big firework display was held for them last week. The weather is cold a the moment and cloud is down obscuring our magnificent view. We are immediately above the bank and can see the harbour, mainland and the airdrome runway and at night this is a fabulous glitter of lights. One can sit and watch fifty or more ships - planes taking off and landing - naval craft coming and going. The place itself is crowded and there is much traffic. Shops are not easy to get to but there are so many of them once there it is dazing and expensive. Margo has been very busy with the schooling arrangements and has even managed most of the Christmas cards. I have finally had the photos developed and one or two fo the children are OK; apart from sending you a set I will send the negatives to Alan so that if any are good enough he may like to enlarge. I have only been "around town" twice so far and have seen very little - it is tiring on the feet as ones has to walk most places and there are streets on streets and arcades in between, there are crowns and crowds of people jostling about - a far cry from Borneo. Caroline has just had her first telephone call from a boy friend and forgot to find out who it was. Luckily he came to collect her and she has gone out to play. My office work has not been too strenuous as this has been a slack time between returns. Everyone is very friendly but is is obviously necessary to be on ones' toes. Have been to one party and met a lot of old friends. However, there are many in the bank here who I do not know - there are so very many of them in the main office. The building itself is very bis as you know and I still get lost if I take the wrong turning. An extra floor is being built in and another lift, all dusing normal working hours. It is lucky I am in H.O. out of the clamour. Two of the inspectors are off on a tour of Calcutta and Saigon shortly. I expect I shall be on the next one but where to and when I do not know. They normally take two to three weeks and apart from the work involved can be quite pleasant. Elisabeth is very well and during the sea trip and now is noticeably stronger, presumably through use of calipers. I have ordered the 'walking bars' for her and mobile stood for Margo to sit on, through the bank property department who have been very helpful.
The car is due on 16th when traveling should be easier. The driving on the Peak is a serious affair of steepness and tight corners. Again the roads are numerous and my sense of direction is hard put to know the way. One's ears pop on the way up and down, it is no mean climb and I just hope my small car can manage.
So! we are here with a lot to do and I hope, enjoy. No hot weather for at least a couple of months - a manager's conference in HO in a week's time - a series of Christmas parties for which invitations have already arrived. Will let you know how we make out.
Cheerio and lots of love
from us all
Peter
Hongkong
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your first letter of this new tour. The sea trip ended well. Susan had two days in the ship's hospital with suspected measles, but it was only a chest infection which cleared up neatly before arrival. We were met by friends who had everything arranged and got off the Chusan on the mainland quay and stepped on to the bank launch, "Wayfoong" to cross to Hong Kong island. Then by large American car up and up, 1400 feet to our flat in a block known as "Fung Shui". We are on the second floor by lift and find it to be large enough for our needs with three bedroom, three bathrooms, three wardrobe rooms with dehumidifing dryers, large lounge, dining room, kitchen, service space, very long hallway and extensive verander balconies. We are in no way cramped and the children have settle happily form the word 'go'. Caroline is already at school nearby but Adrienne could not get in and starts this coming week down below. A nuisance this as Margo will have to take her by Peak Tram. Time and money consuming - but there is a chance for her to join the Peak School at the end of next year. They have plenty of playroom outside in the garden where a big firework display was held for them last week. The weather is cold a the moment and cloud is down obscuring our magnificent view. We are immediately above the bank and can see the harbour, mainland and the airdrome runway and at night this is a fabulous glitter of lights. One can sit and watch fifty or more ships - planes taking off and landing - naval craft coming and going. The place itself is crowded and there is much traffic. Shops are not easy to get to but there are so many of them once there it is dazing and expensive. Margo has been very busy with the schooling arrangements and has even managed most of the Christmas cards. I have finally had the photos developed and one or two fo the children are OK; apart from sending you a set I will send the negatives to Alan so that if any are good enough he may like to enlarge. I have only been "around town" twice so far and have seen very little - it is tiring on the feet as ones has to walk most places and there are streets on streets and arcades in between, there are crowns and crowds of people jostling about - a far cry from Borneo. Caroline has just had her first telephone call from a boy friend and forgot to find out who it was. Luckily he came to collect her and she has gone out to play. My office work has not been too strenuous as this has been a slack time between returns. Everyone is very friendly but is is obviously necessary to be on ones' toes. Have been to one party and met a lot of old friends. However, there are many in the bank here who I do not know - there are so very many of them in the main office. The building itself is very bis as you know and I still get lost if I take the wrong turning. An extra floor is being built in and another lift, all dusing normal working hours. It is lucky I am in H.O. out of the clamour. Two of the inspectors are off on a tour of Calcutta and Saigon shortly. I expect I shall be on the next one but where to and when I do not know. They normally take two to three weeks and apart from the work involved can be quite pleasant. Elisabeth is very well and during the sea trip and now is noticeably stronger, presumably through use of calipers. I have ordered the 'walking bars' for her and mobile stood for Margo to sit on, through the bank property department who have been very helpful.
The car is due on 16th when traveling should be easier. The driving on the Peak is a serious affair of steepness and tight corners. Again the roads are numerous and my sense of direction is hard put to know the way. One's ears pop on the way up and down, it is no mean climb and I just hope my small car can manage.
So! we are here with a lot to do and I hope, enjoy. No hot weather for at least a couple of months - a manager's conference in HO in a week's time - a series of Christmas parties for which invitations have already arrived. Will let you know how we make out.
Cheerio and lots of love
from us all
Peter
3rd March 1962
Written on HSBC airmail letter.
Jesselton
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
I don't know wheter a letter of mine has gone astray but I have not received one from you for some time. My relief has been here for two weeks now and I have handed over most my desk and am myself relieving in Books for two weeks. Meanwhile, a series of farewell parties have commenced and tonight we are giving a cocktail party which will be our last big do. A dinner at Government House on 12th has also suitably cropped up and a week afterwards I shall be off to Labnan. Susan went to school for the first time on 1st M. and enjoyed herself. With 3 at school it will leave Margo relatively clear in the mornings to do the many things that have to be done. We have been inoculated & injected this week which alas brings the great event nearer still. Our next door neighbours have recently bought a new motor boat and we were all (all) taken out on Sunday for a glorious picnic on the island opposite our house. The children had a grand time and I caught a fish length 30 1/2" which is of the mackerel family, about 6 to 7 llbs. We had part for lunch next day and the owners of the boat had the rest for dinner. It was very good but like mackerel, very filling. The other people in the boat at the time thought I had caught a bunch of seaweed at first!
Well there is not much more to write about that I won't be telling you soon in more details but Elisabeth is now a non-stop chatter-box, more so than I can remember the others being. She goes on and on and is most insistent that she has attention.
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
Jesselton
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
I don't know wheter a letter of mine has gone astray but I have not received one from you for some time. My relief has been here for two weeks now and I have handed over most my desk and am myself relieving in Books for two weeks. Meanwhile, a series of farewell parties have commenced and tonight we are giving a cocktail party which will be our last big do. A dinner at Government House on 12th has also suitably cropped up and a week afterwards I shall be off to Labnan. Susan went to school for the first time on 1st M. and enjoyed herself. With 3 at school it will leave Margo relatively clear in the mornings to do the many things that have to be done. We have been inoculated & injected this week which alas brings the great event nearer still. Our next door neighbours have recently bought a new motor boat and we were all (all) taken out on Sunday for a glorious picnic on the island opposite our house. The children had a grand time and I caught a fish length 30 1/2" which is of the mackerel family, about 6 to 7 llbs. We had part for lunch next day and the owners of the boat had the rest for dinner. It was very good but like mackerel, very filling. The other people in the boat at the time thought I had caught a bunch of seaweed at first!
Well there is not much more to write about that I won't be telling you soon in more details but Elisabeth is now a non-stop chatter-box, more so than I can remember the others being. She goes on and on and is most insistent that she has attention.
Cheerio for now and love,
Peter.
6th Feb 1962
The Hongkong Bank,
Jesselton
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter and also thank Mr Martin for his help. The item he indicated is just the thing I want but not Sanderstead. I have several items on enquiry near Rye Sussex and I do want this or Kent if possible. I thought I had the perfect one and cabled but it had just been let. Am in contact with 6 agents! We now know that Mrs A can puts us all up and this will be the best arrangement in the beginning and I can come to you for a few days after the first one. Our only thought will be, at first, to get E to Gt Ormond St and arrange for her treatment and everything else. We will fit in from there. Later on you might like to take say any 2 out of the 3 eldest for short times so you can get to know them. They have recently had a haircut and I am constantly calling them by the wrong names! Especially in the car I can never be sure of the voices, because C can lapse into baby talk and A & S can put on adult talk and its all a bit difficult. We have shipped home a lot of toys received at Xmas. E&S no seem attracted to Dinky toy type cars, planes etc. But once home may need clothes.
I shall leave any meeting arrangements for you to make with Mrs A. It has occurred to me that I will not want the whole family in my new car and possibly if Mrs A met us with a car hire they could go in that and I could take someone else in mine to act as a guide. (This is not clear at all - the children & Margo to go in the car hire for a smooth run to the house). Perhaps Alan could bring you both & he could be a help generally. If it is a fine day the airport should provide a lot of attraction & you could have a drink there whilst waiting. There is still almost 2 months to work out the details.
Love Peter
PS. Please move all breakables to high level (roof?)
ACORN SAYS UPWARD TREND IN SIGHT U.K. NOT U.S.A
Jesselton
Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter and also thank Mr Martin for his help. The item he indicated is just the thing I want but not Sanderstead. I have several items on enquiry near Rye Sussex and I do want this or Kent if possible. I thought I had the perfect one and cabled but it had just been let. Am in contact with 6 agents! We now know that Mrs A can puts us all up and this will be the best arrangement in the beginning and I can come to you for a few days after the first one. Our only thought will be, at first, to get E to Gt Ormond St and arrange for her treatment and everything else. We will fit in from there. Later on you might like to take say any 2 out of the 3 eldest for short times so you can get to know them. They have recently had a haircut and I am constantly calling them by the wrong names! Especially in the car I can never be sure of the voices, because C can lapse into baby talk and A & S can put on adult talk and its all a bit difficult. We have shipped home a lot of toys received at Xmas. E&S no seem attracted to Dinky toy type cars, planes etc. But once home may need clothes.
I shall leave any meeting arrangements for you to make with Mrs A. It has occurred to me that I will not want the whole family in my new car and possibly if Mrs A met us with a car hire they could go in that and I could take someone else in mine to act as a guide. (This is not clear at all - the children & Margo to go in the car hire for a smooth run to the house). Perhaps Alan could bring you both & he could be a help generally. If it is a fine day the airport should provide a lot of attraction & you could have a drink there whilst waiting. There is still almost 2 months to work out the details.
Love Peter
PS. Please move all breakables to high level (roof?)
ACORN SAYS UPWARD TREND IN SIGHT U.K. NOT U.S.A
22nd Jan 1962
The Hongkong Bank
Jesselton
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter which once again I have lost before answering. We have done some packing and shipped the crates for the UK and commenced on the crockery so it is probably at the bottom of something. It was - I have found it! I don't know yet what the arrangements will be on arrival in UK. We shall all be very tired. I am usually exhausted and this flight will be the longest I have done. For the first night all the children might stay with Margo at Eden Park and afterwards I might stay with you with two of them for a few days if that can be managed, before we move into wherever we are going. I expect Margo will want to take Elisabeth to Gt Ormond Street fairly early on as that is in the forefront of our minds and thereafter things will sort themselves out. The children will be arriving near to their normal bedtime (if you add 71/2 hrs on to 11am) and the excitement, new people and places will be a lot to take at first. I am hoping that they will not be expected to respond to a lot of fuss because it won't work. They wait a bit before coming to new people and react much better if slightly ignored. Especially Susan who does not like being held. They are very amusing to watch and listen to when they do not know they are observed but a certain amount of noise arises when all together.
Its very good for Alan to be organising something and it can provide a lot of interest.
Thank you for sending cardigans. I believe Margo has enough to get home with - we are now in the position of having to be within the weight allowance for anything more we bring home but I will let you know a the end of this letter. The article in the Standard with the lighting was good. Mr Martin sent a local paper too which was interesting.
Cheerio for now and love from us all,
Peter
PS Caroline has just answered the phone properly for the first time and had a conversation with one of her friends.
PPS Margo thanks you for the offer but all is OK at the moment. Also says please hold on to Susan's and Elisabeth's presents and tell everyone not to send anything more out as we will not be able to take it in the plane. P.
Jesselton
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
Thank you for your letter which once again I have lost before answering. We have done some packing and shipped the crates for the UK and commenced on the crockery so it is probably at the bottom of something. It was - I have found it! I don't know yet what the arrangements will be on arrival in UK. We shall all be very tired. I am usually exhausted and this flight will be the longest I have done. For the first night all the children might stay with Margo at Eden Park and afterwards I might stay with you with two of them for a few days if that can be managed, before we move into wherever we are going. I expect Margo will want to take Elisabeth to Gt Ormond Street fairly early on as that is in the forefront of our minds and thereafter things will sort themselves out. The children will be arriving near to their normal bedtime (if you add 71/2 hrs on to 11am) and the excitement, new people and places will be a lot to take at first. I am hoping that they will not be expected to respond to a lot of fuss because it won't work. They wait a bit before coming to new people and react much better if slightly ignored. Especially Susan who does not like being held. They are very amusing to watch and listen to when they do not know they are observed but a certain amount of noise arises when all together.
Its very good for Alan to be organising something and it can provide a lot of interest.
Thank you for sending cardigans. I believe Margo has enough to get home with - we are now in the position of having to be within the weight allowance for anything more we bring home but I will let you know a the end of this letter. The article in the Standard with the lighting was good. Mr Martin sent a local paper too which was interesting.
Cheerio for now and love from us all,
Peter
PS Caroline has just answered the phone properly for the first time and had a conversation with one of her friends.
PPS Margo thanks you for the offer but all is OK at the moment. Also says please hold on to Susan's and Elisabeth's presents and tell everyone not to send anything more out as we will not be able to take it in the plane. P.
Monday, May 7, 2012
10th December 1961
Written on HSBC Jesselton headed airmail paper
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
The good news has arrived. We are to go on leave sometime in April and will know the date later. The Manager fixed it whilst in Hongkong on conference and now they are reshuffling to fit us in. We hope to go home by sea as this will give us a chance to relax a bit before commencing the hectic settling in again. This will depend largely on the availability of passages so it may be by air. If so we shall arrive in April otherwise in May. I have written off about houses and cars and as you can guess we are very happy about things and full of plans. Ian Macleod has arrived and we enjoyed a game of golf yesterday. A bit weary today as we have had three late nights running - the silly season having started. All good parties but getting up in the morning is not easy. Your parcel arrived safely and whilst we have only opened the outside cover so far it is obviously full of good things, thank you very much indeed. Hilda and Henrys have also arrived (two) and I shall write after they have been opened. Am going to Beaufort on Tuesday to introduce Ian Mac to the office - shall return the same day. There have bee 3 unexpected resignations above me recently so am moving up the staff list. It will be interesting to find out where the next posting is. Banawan estate manager was in town the other night and he seemed quite cheerful about making a profit even if rubber goes down to the expected 60c a pound. There could always be the chance of a take-over bid so guess the best thing is to forget them until something turns up. Rubber generally is very quiet anyway. The children have a very full month of social engagements - one week they are doing something every day! This includes school plays, Govt.House. Golf club fancy dress and a few odd parties around and about. cheerio for now and love from us all Peter and Margo
Nov 61
Dear Mum Dad and Alan,
Adrienne's party went off very well with as much noise as you can imagine. The dog facinated them and was an obvious success which she concentrated on for some time before she even looked at the bike.
Enclosed are my first attempts at colour transparencies which on even a very powerful automatic viewer that I borrowed came out very well. Hope you can borrow a viewer so that you can see them properly.
1) Orchid white at entrance to the house
2) House
3)4)5) Caroline Adrienne & Susan (Did not take E at the time because she was teething and would not smile. Well do some more soon)
Series TUARAN SUNDAY MARKET
Note: Sweets, tobacco, egg plant, bananas etc. Dusans & Malays & Chinese, dress, umbrellas sarongs. Look at bare feet and add big toes.
Series River picnic at TAMPARULI
Women in at side of river is washing clothes. Her son is there too. Picture with 3 children and Margo bending down - the long green bamboo is a water carrier and Margo is washing sand off the children's feet. As you can see we had a good picnic.
The shot of Margo & Adrienne shows a lot of background and there are rubber trees in the distant hill.
The background, right, of Susan sitting on milestone 16 rice.
The pictures should enlarge to half the size of your drawing room wall if you can get back 12 to 15 feet and you can then move forward to within 3 feet to see the detail. I hope to do another 20 pictures over Christmas.
Elisabeth can now sit on a rocking horse without holding and rock it herself!
Love from us all
Peter
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