40 I think people are tired of getting married

Ans 30/6/18

Elsinore

27 Spring St

May 4^th 1918

My dear darling ducky face Norm,

Another letter but not another Sunday yet. This is Saturday night, but if I don’t write tonight I may not have a chance tomorrow for I don’t know who might pop in. I have had Pearl Emery all the week. She left today to go to a friend in Burwood and I am not sorry. I have been out all the week with her. We went to Mrs McClee one day, to town the next day, to Manly the next day and out to Abbotsford with a cousin of mine yesterday. So I think I’ve done very well, but it does me good to go out, though I feel very tired. 

Aunt Maggie is very well, was saying she had a letter from you. She told me to tell you she has not heard from Foster for months and she has sent him parcels and money and doesn’t know whether he has got them or not. She thought you might find out something about him, she sent the parcels through the Red Cross. Did you get his address. I sent it in one of my letters, but will send it in this letter in case you did not get it. 

You must surely have got one of my parcels before this and our photos. What do you think of them. I am getting one enlarged and you sit in it beside me. The artist said he could make a good job of it. He has to have it done this week, but I have not been for it yet. I got Claud’s enlarged for Illma and it was very nice. She thinks a lot of it. Claud is here tonight. He has to go on tomorrow and the train does not come down early enough on Sunday, so he is stopping here tonight to be early in the morning.I like him or Eileen coming like that it is company for me. 

Pa is over at the Church at a wedding. There are very few weddings now. I think people are tired of getting married. Mr Gooud is away on his holidays yet. I think he will be home tonight. He had three weeks. Mr Manning was up at Woy Woy for a couple of days perhaps Cha came home with him today. Mr M sent us a few little fish he caught down there they were very nice. I heard the other  might Matey Elliott girl had given him up. The person did not know whether it was time or not but she heard so. That was Mrs Elliott of Turner Street. Her boy has been up 2 or 3 times but cannot pass. He passed in Balmain but was turned down at the Barracks and he was so upset about it. He was disguised with Matey. He said he would go himself.[this section is a bit confusing]

We had a good welcome home on last Monday night to the returned boys in the school. Dear Norm, it was very nice but there were not many of them there. Some were away in the country and different places, but it passed off very well. Bob Adcock was here on Thursday night with a notice for your Father to put up in the Church about the tea meeting. He is always early, isn’t he. He went to see the YMCA that time and they were to let him know, but he has heard nothing since. Archie Beard was hear last night. He is stopping ashore for a while, I think fitting up ships. I will put Foster’s address here

Air MaChanie[?]

AA F Harvison

69^th Squadron

AFC    A IF

Abroad

I don’t know if that address is right or not. I think it ought to have the name of some place on it, don’t you but that is the address they gave me.

Dear Norman our expence is beginning here now. We had to get a new cistern for the WC this week. The other was done leaking evere where The Cistern cost 2.10.0  I don’t know what the plumber is going to charge. That is our first expense, except painting it, but I suppose the likes of the cistern must be done. Other things you might leave for a while. [it must be late, her writing is full of errors]

We are not getting many eggs now. Our fowls are all moulting and the young pullets are not laying yet. Eggs are 3/- a doz now, the most I have ever got for eggs. Of course they will be dear when you have not any for sale.

Now  my darling son I must come to a close. I will send you a parcel by one of the Secretarys soon. I hope you are well and having nice weather now. We have had a whole week of beautiful weather but there is a change due and which may bring rain. I hope not. Illma, George and all are well, as we all are. Your Dad sends best love. He has not got his letter yet and sending my dear son with heaps of love your

Ever loving Mother with kisses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 [you may have noticed that there are no question marks. Maria never used them. If there are any, I have put them in to make it easier to read 😊]