the huns advance seems to have arrested and his ranks depleted.....

Lincoln Rd,

Campsie

20.5.18

Dear Old Norm,

Well, how goes it Norm. We hope you are in the best of health, and if you are we know you are just the same old stick as ever. You are, no doubt, in the England summer know. The news from the front does not read too good over here, there has been a stern tussle alright, but the huns advance seems to have arrested and his ranks depleted. You are first hand, however, and know the situation, and what you want is news from here.

We are still at the Bungalow as you note the lawns looking beautiful, yours especially – with a gorgeous showing of Chrysanthemums (is that right) and Roses. It’s some work, however, keeping the ranch in order. Dode is at present sitting on the rug in front of our gas fire in the Drawing room- you know the spot, reading the ‘Lone Star Ranger” – not a word. She has just finished a month on the organ at St John’s. Mrs King has been away to Tasmania and Dode has been the boss of the organ. She manages very well, although to me that says it. She’s always talking about “old Norm. I often say well  ”Why didn’t you marry the man”. Anyhow she’s just the same old stick and joins with me in our regard for our old Cobber. 

The picnic has come out fine. I helper young Orr as much as I was able to. He came to the shop a couple of times and I went through the procedure, but I was unable to get down to the Picnic. We have been exceedingly busy and I have not known whether I was on hands or feet at times. However, everything turned out alright – a fine day and a fairly good crowd. Of course my beloved wife was there as usual, but she says it was because I was not there but, she says it was fun and there you have it in a nutshell.

What do you think of Bobbie Adcock pooling in for the Church Wardenship again. It was very funny, although everybody does not know it. I was down at Gardiners and asked Bob if he was going to the Vestry Meeting – (he lives at Drummoyne now) Oh, I don’t think says our friend Robert. Well, I says you might come over and keep me company (we were staying in Balmain while Dode was at the organ) Anyhow he said he would come and was to wait for me, - but “me” did not arrive til 9,30 and in the meantime they had pooled Bob into the Wardenship! Of course he didn’t go ‘lemonice’ (Australian). Anyhow he’s hot and strong on the Tea Meeting.

Norm, I want to thank you for that book of views at Douglas. They were very interesting and kind of you to think of me.

I often have a talk with your Ma and Dad. They are looking well. Your Mother and mine are quite old pals as you know.

I spoke to old “Cakey” in town today. He’s just the same old stick. We are at present starting a fortnight’s holiday, later than usual, and we are going to Katoomba for a while, to the caves I hope and then down South Coast to Gerringong. 

Will write later. Best regards, Norm old boy and sincere wishes for your welfare, from your old Cobbers, Dode and Doug xxx

PS. C.G. [Charlie Gooude] is just the same as ever. He went off for a while but has picked up again now. Harry Allen is back at Sunday School – quite like old times.

Dot writes about her holiday, drives in Ausy landscape, rabbits and fancy dress parties

99 Louisa Road,

Long Nose Point

Balmain

21.4.18

Dear Norm,

I was very glad to hear by your letter this mail that you and Joe had met. Yes, it must be great for the boys to go into a place like YMCA and see a familiar face. From Joe’s letter this mail he is very thankful for what you have done for him and as indeed we are. I did think that was a beautiful card you sent, and I was up at Bundanoon having a holiday at the time and they sent it up to me and I showed it to people up there. One lady was very touched by it and I found since that she had lost her husband at the war. Yes Norm, wherever you go these days you meet someone who has suffered by this cruel war. Just fancy you being on rations, but I don’t think I could ever fancy myself tackling the frog, much as they try to convince us of the delicacy of them.

Well Norm, I came home from my holiday yesterday and have had a thorough change and a finer lot of people I have never met. Nina was up with me for the first week and she said she had had a great time. One man, a Mr Chancellor who by the way is a YMCA man and a superintendent of the Chatswood Sunday School. I asked him if he knew you, but could not remember you. He was a wonderful man all round Norm, as for organizing. He arranged something every night and he was a wonderfully broadminded man, but true to his convictions and is just the kind of man you want now adays. We had a fancy dress evening one night. It was all arranged in a couple of hours and it was wonderful the way some of them made characters out of practically nothing. I could not help thinking of you Norm. One man went as a Red Cross nurse and he came and borrowed my white shoes (which reminded me of the time you came) as he wanted to be all in white and what do you think? They fitted him! But he has a little foot for a man and I well----have a good hold on Australia as dad says. We all had our photographs taken and I will try to send you one and see if you can pick him and I out.

I went on a 60mile drive through Moss Vale, Sutton Forest, Fitzroy Falls and Belmore Falls and to me it is indescribable and I am quite sure you do not meant to go out of dear old Ausy (as the boys say). One English lad was with us and she said it was the nearest approach she has seen to English scenery since she has come out. The leaves were just lovely, the trees in some parts overlapping and then come to the falls and have driven right on top of them was great. One man we met up there was a friend of dear old Mrs Cakebread and says he is coming over to have a look at the church one night and see us in our surplices. Well, Norm I must hang off my holiday or I would never stop. These days you might say are not for holidays but still we are all closed in 50 weeks in the year and we must for health reasons get out for 2 weeks.

I missed the picnic, the first that I can remember but they had a great day. Ada says that it is the most perfect day they had had and she was sure that financially it would be a great success. She is going to write and tell you all about it. They had the Annual Meeting and Bobbie Adcock has been elected Churchwarden in place of Mr Day. It is grand to think of Bob coming back into action again. He has already asked Ada to take a table for the tea meeting so means business. He is just the one we need to keep the ball a rolling. CG has gone for his holidays to Tamworth. I am glad he has gone inland this year for every year he goes to Woy Woy and being so near the water it is no change for him and he is not looking at all well of late. I think he has been working too hard at office. It is annual meeting time and very busy as I suppose I shall realize tomorrow.

They are going to give an all round welcome home from the parish to 17 boys next Monday.It was proposed to give a welcome to 3 or 4 of our boys, but Mr Manning thought it would be better to make it a parish welcome and to include the boys on the honour roll who have come home. I shall probably tell you their names and all about it later on.

Well Norm, I think I have told you all this time. I forgot to tell you that when I went on the motor drive the rabbits came out in thousands as we were coming home. There were 8 of us and the chauffeur and I sat in front and was assistant and blew the horn as we rounded the corners and he showed me how to drive. As we came round the corner he said to us look now and you will see 2 black rabbits and we all laughed and sure enough they were there and then further up he said there’s a white one up here somewhere. And he no sooner said it than he showed up and ran across the road. Talk about how they almost came in front of the car and said How do you do! As it became dark we put our light on and the light showed them in twos and threes all along the road. It was quite picturesque. Bess is still up there for another week and wish I was but shall have to be satisfied and consider ourselves lucky these times.

Mrs King has gone to Tasmania for three weeks and Dode is playing and Ada said she managed very well. Norm I must close this time and Hope you are still happy in your new work and do sincerely Hope and trust that things will soon be brighter for you all in the food line and this terrible submarine business will be stopped for it seems the biggest fight of all.

With our very best wishes from all at 99

From yours sincerely, One of the kind, Dot.