Elsinore
27 Spring Street
Balmain
22nd march 1918
My dear darling Norman,
I received another letter from you this week but i received a letter from you three weeks ago. this one is dated 30 dec and the other was some tie in January. I sent it up to Illma so can't see the date. Never mind, there are all letters from my dear boy. The last one you said you had a touch of cold, but I hope it was not much. Keep your warm clothes on and look after yourself and don't be getting cold. Well Norm you say you received a telegraph from me and Pa. I have sent you papers every week since you left, always two and sometimes 3 or 4 a week. I have sent you a few Melbourne papers too. I don't know where the letters and papers go to. I know there are some of yours I haven't got yet. You must have got a lot of letters by that mail and answered a lot. All the girls seem to have got letters from you. I have just Mr Manning's letter. He gave it to me to read saying he had such a nice letter from you and just when I finished that in walks Mr Gooude with his letter so I had that to read.
Well my dear boy we have gay times in Balmain this last week or two and this week has been lively. We have the big show on at the Grove I told you about in my last letter and then we had a big Bazaar in at the Town Hall. Our new Governor opened it yesterday and his Lady with him. They both seemed very nice and I am sure will be very popular. He went around every stall and bought something, even the vegetables. He bought a lot of beans and they stopped ll the afternoon and seemed to enjoy themselves. The Bazaar is in aid of the wounded soldiers. Pa is down at the Grove tonight minding the Cricket Patches (she clearly writes patches not pitches!) They have them roped in but still they walk over them, so they will have three men over to look after them. He will be there all next week too. Holy week and there are services on every night, always the way isn't it?
Cecil Millar came back yesterday. He is stopping up at Willie Gildings place. Me Manning went up to see him today but he was out at the Hospital. They say his shoulder is all shot away; his arm is useless. It couldn't be poor Stan to come back. I believe Matty Elliott is not going after all. They were to have gone yesterday but he didn't go. He was on his final leave last week and I believe his mother was awful. They had to send for the Doctor for her so the poor boy was really distracted. He was in with Mr Manning for a couple of hours one night. Didn't know what to do. So I heard he bought himself out for his Mother's sake of course. I don't know the truth of it yet, but I think he will be sorry yet for it. He is the talk of everyone. He will be ashamed to show out. I am sure she did not love her son more than I did, but I hid it all and kept smiling for his sake for I knew he would like the trips and I think she will be sorry for it yet.
Kack Storey went as a Private. They had too many Officers and couldn't give them all Commissions, so Jack said he didm't care. He would go as a private and so he went and is sailing the seas now. I think he was going by the 'Nessie', not sure. Think it was one of those boats. He has your address and is going to see you when he goes over. He has got fat since he went into camp.
Well Norm, I have given your money 5.0.0 away. Just gave Mr Manning 1.0.0 for the choir as he was going into Church and asked him to give it to Miss Bawden. I gave Mr manning his for the rectory and my own talent bag. I had only 12s in it and gave 10s of that myself. You know he gave some of us bags with 4s in them, to buy something with, sell that and get something more and so on, but I couldn't do it so I put 10s in it and gave it back to him. We are to give them in this month. I won't take one again.
Mr Gooude was here last night so I gave him the 1.0.0 for the Sunday School and 10s for the Club and told him to give it to the treasurer and now I only have Mrs Berkleys? tonight 1.10.0. I know it is a week before Easter but I may be away next Sunday. I was thinking of going up to Illma's next Saturday. I don't know, I may go only I don't like going by train holiday times, it is so crowded. Mrs Bring? said they would write to you and get the Secretary to write. Cecil is in the Choir today. I wonder now how Mrs Bring feels..it couldn't be poor Stan. He said he was coming in to see me. I see Mr beard there too. They must have come in the morning, early. I know Winnie was expecting jack in. I told you in a former letter they were married. I think he will be leaving the boat this trip. I don't know if Archie Beard is or not.
Well Norm, i think your diary has been around the country now. Mr ward had it last week. This week the Castles and back had it and I don't know who is to have it next week. They all say it is most interesting. Mrs Ward says it is lovely. When you come back you must type it all off. (Hah, wish he had typed all these letters up!! It is taking ages...I am now really curious about the diary..) I put a cover on it to protect it. Mr Manning thinks your letter is a very nice one. He says he must write to you.
Well now dear Norman, I must say goodbye, take care of yourself and get to bed early and up early in the mornings for I suppose you are getting nice spring weather now. They say it is lovely there in the spring.
I forgot to tell we bought 2 garden seats from Mrs Lewis. You know Mr Lewis the Blacksmith, where Pa used to work. He made most of the forms for the school. Well he died a few weeks ago, so we bought a couple of the forms for the verandah. Pa told Mr Manning for they might think we took them out of the school! Mr Gooude is coming over to tea so I must tell him. We got the two for 1.5.0; one is 4' long and the other 6', so we will have plenty of seats now. If we haven't got the gas box, we have a nice seat. Pa has made a nice gate for the side of the verandah and it looks alright. He keeps the lawn nice now and the place looks well.
I began this Friday night and only finishing now. Mr Gooude will soon be coming in so must finish. George, Illma and all in their care are well. and so are we. Pa sends best love to you and so do I. Heaps of love and kisses from your loving and affectionate Mother.
Dear Norm, I nearly forgot to tell you poor .......Goodsir is dead. Mrs Goodsir will be in a state won't she?
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