a friend writes about the first picnic she has missed....

re'cd by ANS 26/7/18

“Viola”

14 Gipps St

Drummoyne

5/5/18

Dear Norman,

I suppose you have given up hope of receiving a letter from this address, but now that I have made a start, perhaps I can make up for last time. It was very kind of you to think of us by sending cards – especially our large son. That is a treat in store for you when you come home. Of course it is of no use to try to tell you what a gem he is; you have only to remember what his parents are like and then guess what he is like. Everyone says he is like his pa, but I have to have a look in somewhere, so I think he has his mother’s good qualities. “nuff said”.

Well Norm, I read your diary [I wonder where the Diary ended up?] and it was very interesting indeed and saw that you always remembered poor old St John’s. Never mind it is very nice to have a book like that to look back on and remember and talk about your trip back home.

Several of the boys that have returned have said that they met you in London, and you seem to be quite a big hit amongst them. You seem to be having a fine time over there and seeing as much as you can. It must be lovely to meet such a lot of the old boys and I suppose it makes you feel that you are not such a long way from home, when you have a good old chat with them. Gladys gives us your letters to read so you see we hear all about your doings etc.

I suppose before you receive this, you have heard about our poor old Dad passing away. We miss him very much, but still when we look around and see so many young lives being sacrificed through this dreadful war, so young, and Dad had lived to 72 years of age, and had led a good and happy life, and he did not suffer for long and had a peaceful end, we ought to be thankful that we had him with us so long and so able to remember what a good Father he was, and always ready for a joke. I know you will remember him and quite understand how we miss him.

Dad was buried just two days before our Sunday School Picnic, so of course we were absent from that great event. I think it is the first picnic I have ……………………..…….page 4 is missing………