12. it will be a poor Xmas for us all

Elsinore

Spring St, Balmain

October 28 1917

My own dear son,

Another Sunday and another letter, and not a line from you yet. I see there will be an English and American Mail in tomorrow, so I may get one by that but I don't think there would be time ; that would not be 4 weeks since you landed. However we will hope for the best. I do ling for a letter from you my dear boy and know how you are and where you are but I expect you are jolly and well.

Mr Gooud says he never saw such a jolly happy boy as you were but that is the best way when you can be it. I got another couple of letters for you from the Alexander Hospital and took them over to Mr Manning. I took them over to Mr Manning before and he promised to take some more of those pictures like you got one ......... but I don't think he has done so. Mrs Manning and ........ went up the mountains yesterday for the weekend.

My visitors are gone to Chatswood for their weekend. I wish they were gone alltogether for I can't be bothered with anyone in the house now and Illma is waiting till they go to bring Bert down for a while. You know he has been ill and the change will do him good. Bert is a good little boy. 

Well Norman, I don't think we will have the painting done now for the weather is getting too hot. We will see next week. It is very hot today. I suppose it is cold over your way. Do your feel it very much? I am afraid they will have another winter at war yet. They have had a lot of rain in France lately. Are you having any your way?  Have you seen any of the boys over there yet? I suppose they were surprised to see you. Well Norman, Xmas is near now. It will be a poor Xmas for us all. The first Xmas you have ever been away and I hope , the last.

I think they will have compulsory service here. They are to have meetings about it next week. I don't think there are any exemptions, only Ministers and School teachers - no only sons this time. 

Our garden looks nice now Norman. Such a lot of roses out. Mr Gooud came and got a nice white one last Sunday. I don't know if I told you Mr Harvey Allen's wife was dead. Mr Gooud and .... went to the funeral. It was very sad for him, poor man. Mrs Cowell's daughter has moved from where she was and taken Mrs Yates? house at Cronulla for 6 months, but I don't think she likes it now. The place they were in was sold and the people wanted to get into it; so they had to leave. The worst of being in rented houses.

Well now dear Norman, I'll come to an end. Will enclose your Uncle Bob's letter. Pa is well, going up to Illmas's next week for a day or two. Good night my darling son with best love and kisses from your loving Mother.