21. Have you no sugar at all there?

Elsinore

27 Spring St

December 15 . 17

My dear darling Norman,
Another letter although it is not Sunday. I just received the last of your yesterday. I got the card from Halifax on Wednesday then your other two cards on Thursday morning and two letters Thursday morning and two letters Thursday evening. So you see how they come. Mrs MacKay? got her letters on Wednesday. I was two days behind.

Well old boy I was glad to hear from you and know you were well and having a good time. You should have more of my letters before you wrote last. I have written every Sunday since you left. I hope you get them all. There were two mails lost in the Halifax disaster, one coming and one going, so some may have gone in that way. That was a terrible disaster wasn't it? A good job your boat had left there or it might have been blown to pieces.

Well Norm, how do you like doing without sugar? Have you no sugar at all there? I guess the big fellows have it. I thought you were there to be treated as on Officer - do you have to pay for your meals or how do you do? Have you any butter? I think I will send you a parcel, some butter, sugar, cake and Xmas pudding. It doesn't matter if it is after Xmas, it will go down all the same. and perhaps a few sweets to sweeten you up.  I suppose you have seen nothing of Ruth Bucknell yet. They have never sent me her address yet.

Winnie McClean? is to be married tomorrow. Jack is to be in tomorrow evening and they will be married at night by the Wesleyan Minister at his manse. I told Winnie she should be ashamed of herself. She ought to have been married at her own church. They are going to Manly for a week and then going to stop with her mother. They have taken the front balcony room of course. Jack will be away most of the time and it is better for Marnie to be with her Mother, she could not live alone. I don't know when the other one will be married. I suppose some time.

Oh Norman we had such a lovely organist last Sunday, a Miss Wilkinson. She used to play in the Cathedral. She played the Death March something lovely, it was a very sad service but very nice all through. Mr and Mrs Tring and Daphne were there both at morning and evening services. Mrs Tring seems to feel Stan's death very much. Mrs Cox and Mrs Borthwick are going to unveil their boy's photos on Sunday next. That will be five in the Church.

Well Norman, I am sending you a draft for 10 pound on the Bank of NSW. I could not go over to town so I sent it from here. I paid 1shilling 2 pence for the stamp so you will have nothing to pay on it. Don't go short of anything my boy. Let me know what you want and I will send it to you. I have the duplicate. I will send in a few weeks time so both of them won't be lost surely. I think I will register it. I have to go up to the Post Office.

Mr Gooud came in last night for a while and read your letters to me. He seemed very down. The boys here are getting terrible at throwing stones the last 4 evenings. They have been throwing them here and have been brocken one of the windows on the verandah yesterday. They have been down at Mr Briklogg?( indistinct) the same. So Mr B, Mr Manning and your Pa are going to write to the Police Office about it. I believe Ethel Emerys' husband is coming home, you remember him. Jimmy, that was here that evening you and he went for a walk around. You may have seen him in London. He has been wounded I believe. Mrs Noble says you could always see the list over there of the wounded and where they are. I suppose they put up the list. I sent a Balmain paper last week, might send another this week.

Now my dear son I must draw to a close. Xmas is near and so is your birthday but it is no Xmas to me. I wish you many, many happy returns of the day and that you may be with me for your next birthday. Dad sends best love. Illma and her family are well as we both are with best love to my dear son,
from his loving Mother.

20. Did you hear of the destruction at Halifax?

Elsinore

Dec 8th 1917

My Dearest Norman,

A can't say another Sunday, for this is Saturday night. I letter write tonight for fear someone comes in tomorrow and than I can't do it and perhaps miss the mail. We are to have the memorial service tomorrow on Stanley Tring. Mrs Tring is not coming back to play till after Xmas. She says she couldn't play the mas music. Sadie Cowell played last Sunday but could not play tomorrow on account of her brother, so there is a Miss Williamson coming. I think she has been there before. I know the  name, do you? I suppose she will play every Sunday now till Mrs Tring comes back. I did not call to see Mr Tring but sent a card. Young Booth is killed too, do you know him? I don't think I know him. They live in Glossop Street.

I see by the paper they have been raiding London again. Did you see any of it? I hope you kept undercover. I suppose you will be voting over there. Some of the soldiers are at it now. Yes or No in France. I wander if it will be carried this time? There are great meetings here about it, everyone is speaking.

Mr Gooud won the sailing race last Saturday, it was Stan Tring's Medal. Mr Gooud is so glad. He will have it made in a brooch for Mrs Tring. 

Did you hear of the destruction at Halifax? What a blessing none of the troop ships were there. It is  a shame to see a town and nice buildings like that wrecked. I suppose you know most of the buildings there. You will see by the paper about it. I will send the Balmain Observer this week too, with an account of our Bazaar. We made over 50 pound, not too bad is it? You will see by it also about Stan Thing and the Bazaar and all. I will enclose it in this letter. That is the safest way. I believe the English mail will be on Monday week. Oh how I will watch for a letter from my dear boy and hope I won't be disappointed. Last mail Mr Gooud got his letter a day before me. He came in and read his letter for me and I had none, it is just as the bags come in and are sorted. I got your diary first. I suppose on account of it being registered and the other parcels days after and Mr Manning got his the day after that, so you see how they come.

Well my dear son, where are you now? I hope you don't go to France. I would rather you go to be with Meg? Tusdale? if you could. The Secretary from Melbourne sent me a lot of letters from some of the secretaries that wrote to them. In a printed form, I suppose they will be having one from you soon with an account of your doings. Mrs Gillanders? told me they would be sending me things like photos. Mr Gooud said he would read them one of these days. They would be interesting.

Eileen went home yesterday, she seemed much better. I will be going to business next Monday. Illma is coming down for a day or two before Xmas. It is near now dear Norman and your birthday. I don't forget it. I only sent you a birthday card. I would not like to risk anything valuable for fear the boat is sunk so I think is is better to wait till you come back.

Mrs Palmer was down the other night. She brought your letter for me to read so I read your diary for her and Mrs Chapman. They said it was very nice indeed and I was to remember them to you. She also had one from Charlie saying how he met you but had not had much time to spend with you but would see you again.
Now is the weather in London very cold? How do you do with washing and mending? I have not got Elsie Bucwell's address yet, but you might hear of her singing somewhere. I forget her married name now. She would be pleased to see you.

The place looks lovely here now Norm after all the rain we have had and the country is beautiful so I must come to an end. Your pa has just cut the lawn and it looks so nice. Pa sends best love to you and hopes you get his letter.
Goodnight my own darling son from your loving and affectionate
Mother.

19. What sort are the English girls?

Elsinore

Dec 2 1917

My dear darling Norman,

Another Sunday and another letter. This is the 17th letter I have written.  I hope you get them all. Well my dear son, how are you getting along? alright I hope. I wonder where you are now. Your diary is moist interesting Norman. I have read it over 4 times and a lot of others have read it and more want to. Are you keeping another diary or not? It would be nice if you did. I am sure it would be interesting, but perhaps you have not time now.

I guess you are glad to get our letters dear Norm. Mr Gooud was here the first day I wrote, so I got him to address my letter and the next I got Dad to address. Do you get the papers? I am sure you are having a great time in London. What sort are the English girls? Not like our Australians I guess and what sort were the nurses you had over with you. They were brave to go all that way were they not?

Well Norman we have had a little bit of excitement the last two day over this Bazaar. I think we done pretty well. I don;t know how much we took last night but the night before we took over 20 pounds. Mr and Mars Cakebread were out. Mrs C opened the Bazaar. Mr C was asking me all about you. I think he said he had a couple of letters from you. I can't remember things now my memory is getting so bad. We had two very pleasant nights. Such a lot there too. Not always the way everything is left to one or two. I am sure poor Charly Orr won't want another in a hurry for he and your poor dad had all to do. Putting up the flags that had strings of them from the school to the Church and they looked very nice. Mrs Irwin as usual too the leading part and had a lot to do and all the teachers took their part well. We had a gift sweets evening on Monday Ada Dadd got up for her stall (I take it that they got together to do some sweets cooking?) but as usual St John's weather - raining all the time but Norman it has been raining here for nearly 2 months. I never remember a November like this has been. So cold and wet. This is December and it is more like winter, raining away today. I think it will finish up with a big flood. They have had floods in Albury and Wagga and other places. It would be terrible if it came one now. Poor George would lose all his labours again. He has a nice crop of potatoes and different things now and they would all be spoiled if there came a flood but we must trust in God. He doeth all things well.

I think they are going to have their Picnic the end of February or the first of March. Dear Norman you know those lollies you had, well I had a look at them last week and they have gone all soft, so I told Mr Gooud about them and Ada Dadd. I told Ada she might as well sell them. She said she would have wanted the but she said she had such a lot of lollies given to her but if she wanted any more she would get them, but she did not come over for them. She had plenty to do, so they might last now to the Picnic. 

Clarry Orr makes a good Secretary, he done well for the Bazaar.

Well Norm, Eileen is here. She has been in bed for a couple of weeks and the Doctor said to send her up the mountains for a change and if not then send her to Sydney. So Illma sent her down here for a week or so. She is fine now. Illma is coming down herself for a day or two. 

Aidie? Cowell is playing for them today. Mr and Mrs Thring? couldn't or wouldn't be expected to come for you know they have lost poor Stan. He was killed some time this month. They got word last Wednesday. Oh Norm it is terrible so many of our boys are getting killed. There will be none of the left soon. I hear dear Bob Bidder and Meg? Hancock are coming home. They have been sick poor fellows. I feel for the lot of them. Mrs Sharp told me to tell you her boy has enlisted, don't know when he will be going. Mrs Porter told me to remember her to you when writing and Mrs Cox wants you to give word to give Charlie's things to some of the poor fellows over there but to send them back. She doesn't want that. She thought you might be the best to do it. That is the pencils you took you need not trouble about. Tas? Vale, you know they got word that he was killed.

Well my dear boy goodnight and excuse my bad writing. I have a sore finger. Pa wrote last week. I hope you get it. Sends bet love and Eileen and same for my darling boy from his loving mother.

Dot write of the doings of some people nearer home.

99 Louisa Rd

Long nose point

Balmain

1.12.17

Dear Norm

It was great to hear that you had arrived safe and sound in London for in these times of submarine warfare you never know what the ships next move will be. You seem to have had a lovely trip and it makes a great difference if every one is agreeable and willing to fall in with all arrangements. Just imagine you having all kinds of sports on board. It must be interesting  and certainly does help to while away the time.

I am glad you have some nice Sisters on board for now Norm (although I says it myself) they do throw a light on the subject Don't they?

You were very lucky to have gone via the Panama Canal but oh to arrive in London and find you can only have 1/3 worth? work?. but I think occasionally I should visit 2 places a night. Of course I don't intend putting ideas into your head but it was merely my first thought on reading your card. That is one thing that  feel sure that I would like to live in London for is that you can always see a Grand Opera for out here (as you know) it is only an occasional treat and then you can't always afford to go too much. I love them and "Aida" is a very pretty little thing but my favourites are "Lucia" and "La Traviata". But from what I hear climatic conditions would be somewhat get you down after Dear old Ausy as Charlie used to say but the latest is that we are not going to have any fine weather till after Xmas and from all appearances of the last fortnight and tonight's promises he will not be far wrong. 

On Thursday they had the St Andrews festival and the rendering was beautiful. I can say it for this time I was in the congregation and fully appreciated it. They had it on the Eve of the day this time as Friday was Red Cross Day. There were hardly any stalls but mostly buttons were sold and up till now have over 50,000 Pounds. It is simply marvelous the way the people roll up with the money but it seems to me they want the men and they are going to have a great tussle over this referendum. I am afraid as we seem to be infested with the I.W.W (Industrial Workers of the World) element out here, but I will ring off Politics and try and give you some of the doings of some people nearer home.

Last night the Bazaar was opened by Mrs Cakehouse accompanied by Mr C in full dress uniform and he looked great. He said he was acting as Mrs C's Aide-de-Camp. The stalls looked very pretty and very full and made the holders feel very proud. Young Clarie Orr has done wonderfully well and the donations he has had given him was remarkable these times, nearly every place he wrote to was forthcoming and liberally at that. Mrs Irwin had the refreshments, Ada the Sweets, Mrs Manning Fancy, Nina Produce and Miscellaneous. It all looked very nice and reflects great credit on all concerned. They took over 20 pound last night and I suppose will tell will tell you at the end of this letter today's takings. I went up last night and popped in this afternoon but stayed away bright to write letters as there is a mail out first thing Monday morning. What do you think. I won the candle lighting. I lit 34 with one match. I don't know myself how I did it but there it is. Harry Allen arranged the competitions and is back at the church since his wife died. Eva and Fred Woodward were over with their little son 6 weeks old and he is such a good little chap and never murmured. Reg Hancock is coming home and expects to arrive here about Xmas time as his lungs are weak and the Doctor does not think he will stand another winter in England. Bob Bydder is also on his way home.

The Rectory is looking well now and the roes have been very nice. Mr Manning deserves to have a nice place as he looks after it well. I was talking to your Mother quite a while last night and is very bright at the fact of getting your letters and it is good when mail day comes around. As Young Charlie would say 'mail day is Pay Day' these times. I was up at "Warriwee" on the North Shore line staying last week and it was lovely. I would have liked three months of it, I felt so well.

Well Norm I must close now. Hoping you are well and happy in your new work and trust that you will continue to be so until you return to Dear old Australia with very best wishes from all at 99 and Good luck,

from one of the crowd, Dot.

PS

They realised 50 pound Ada just told me. Don't you think itis very good for a Sunday school Bazaar.

Russell is to be married next month and has been given the parish of Berry. CG said he will not believe it till he is at the alter as it is about the 7th time but this seems to me OK.