42. Street beside the house is being ashfelted and a trip to Ourimbah

Elsinore

27 Spring Street

February 15^th 1918

Note: This letter has two pages missing and wasn’t entered on the blog in order. We are back to February, 1918. Ourimbah is on the train line north of Gosford.

My dear darling Norman,

Again I take up my pen to write a few lines to my dear boy. I have nothing to answer this time for I have had no letters. It appears that the last mail was left in America. It appears that the snow storm was too bad. Couldn’t load it. I believe there is one to be in tomorrow so we will live in hopes of getting 2 or 3 letters.

Well Norm I have had my long appointed visit to my old friend up at Ourimbah, you know where you and I were to go. Her daughter Rose came down on Thursday to take me up as I wouldn’t go alone. So we went up on Saturday and had a nice trip up. Her father was there to meet us and we had about a mile to drive to their home. They have a very nice home and the place looks beautiful. Grass up to your knees everywhere. They go in for vegetables and have a spring orchid planted out and are doing allright. They milk a couple of cows for their own uses. One son………

.pages 2 and 3 are missing………

Page 4…….one of his. Have you got it yet.  Have you got one of Doug Cowells and Dode's. I must get one of the wedding group. She was to give to you. I always forget about it.

Well Norman the place looks lovely now everywhere green and grass to your knees. They are doing our street now, you know. Thomas street they have done down to our gate, but I have not been here for the last 3 weeks. I wish they would finish it. They had to go to some other work that that the storms did and of course all last week was wet. , so put them further behind. I suppose we will have to keep our share of the ashfelting of the footpath, but I don’t think they are going to do the footpath at present. Mr Goodsir told me they had not the money enough to finish it off yet. That looks bad doesn’t it.

Well now Norm, my darling boy. I must finish up. There is a mail going tomorrow so must post it. I don’t think Norm you should have to stamp your letters. That one from Meg Lonsdale sent wasn’t stamped just written on top with AIF. I am pretty sure you should not have to stamp all your letters. Dad send best love to you and hope you are happy and good night my dear son, with best love and kisses from your loving and affectionate Mother.