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14A Randolph Gardens
Maida Vale NW6
My Pets -
Just a few wee lines to greet you after all the Xmas festivities are over - but it won't be really over for you - you will all be surfing, sunbaking - going gay in lovely sunshine - oh yum yum - do you know what I'm doing? - just listen -
I'm on night duty at U.C.H. - a nice case really - have been with an old boy for nearly a fortnight so all is well - I'm quite beginning to enjoy myself a little - he is getting better after a spine operation so I can take a quiet 40 winks in the wee small hours - but I fill in my time lapping up posters from all the Travel Associations re winter sporting - I'm surrounded by the most glamorous & intriguing literature you can possibly imagine AND how I'm loving it - I can't possibly decide where to go - but it won't be St. Moritz - one has to have unlimited money & clothes there, but it will be very lovely & exciting wherever I choose. Ween & Phyl Sheehy leave fro Andermatt on Dec 23rd - I can't go yet & anyway I don't want to go until the days get longer & the sunshine gets warmer - besides we're having decent warmish weather in London for this time of the year & I fear after January we'll have filthy weather, so I think it will be grand to be out of London when that happens & I want a little warm sunshine & Vitamin D. I went gadding into all the big shops' winter sports' departments looking at ski suits etc. I'm having a super time really - besides if I get a reasonable amount of work between now & mid-February I shall be able to go out to Switzerland without breaking into my present nest egg - loud cheers -
Did you have a super Xmas kids? & did the cash reach you safely? With all these Air-liners crashing into the various harbours I wonder we get any mail these days - I spent hours getting cards & etc. off to get out in time - today I had 6 letters & 3 hankies - not bad so early in the month. Had a lovely letter from Papa & Gran Walsh - the old dears - a very fine letter & snap from Lynette - she seems to be growing up very sanely & nicely - Patsy Walsh never puts her pen to paper to her poor old maid sister in England - you are a lazy young devil, my pet - do write some day soon - try and send some snaps of all your doings.
I had a very cheery letter from Nellie, posted at Fremantle - she hasn't written since she landed but apparently they had a grand trip home - except for the limited ship space. I'm now anxious to hear her reaction to being back - I still feel I've more I want to see before I get home - so I'll stay put for a bit - I have all my life to live in my Australia so I'll just see all before I come home for keeps.
Things are pretty grim in Europe - as usual heaven knows how we are going to avoid war with things as they are with Germany & Italy - it amazes me how the ordinary man in the street is against Chamberlain's "Commercial Travellers" policy as they call it - even workmen on the streets & things like that are all very much against this peace at any price policy - heaven knows what is going to happen - but I can assure you that any more compromise & Chamberlain (poor old chap) will find open-voiced hostility - even tho life is sweet & most people are willing to fight for all the decent things Britain stands for rather than give in to gangsters like Hitler & Musso - you have no idea how pathetic it is to see these poor little Jewish kids arriving in England - separated from their parents -probably forever - coming to a strange land - imagine the anguish of their parents - having to part with them - really it is an appalling state of affairs in this year of grace - I'm enclosing a few bits & pieces of various events - I like the bit of C.B. Fry's about Pepper - also seeing how well Stan & Don played in the match against The Rest - did you see them in action Ces & Dad? Something well worth seeing - our two champs in action. McCabe is such an artist when he gets going bless him - I would like to dash out to my beloved Sydney Cricket Ground & see them in action - there really is no cricket ground anywhere - to me - with the same atmosphere as our Sydney one.
Have you landed back in Coffs yet Mill? I do hope the new teeth are in working order ere this. They can be an awful curse - one's own or otherwise - how did you like leaving Peter Graham Smith behind? He must be very sweet - I would love to see him in his surf suit & sou' wester. Tell Alma she should take lots of snaps of him when he is growing so fast - they change so quickly when they are getting on for one.
My mind doesn't register very well - `tis 5am & I'm filling in time until I sponge the old boy - I'm never very bright in the wee morning hours - my head keeps drooping & the pen goes all astray - but tis just a letter to tell you I'm OK -loving everything as usual - even work - you see each night means something towards Switzerland AND snow - I don't spose we'll have any sign of any snow this Xmas - it is amazingly warm - touch wood - so Xmas Day here will be just negative - not too hot, not too cold - just dull - however I don't mind.
My best love to you all my pets - do write soon & tell me all your activities now & before Xmas.
Love,
Doe
Both Gran & Papa Walsh told me in their letters how popular Wal was in Lismore & how very easily he makes friends & the right kind too - he certainly is a lamb - I'd love to see him at his best - amongst all these new folk - he is so completely unselfconscious - a great asset.