39 No one thought it wise, but she bought a lucky Bond

    

recd 8/6/18  Noted on letter by ANS

Ansd 9/6/18

Elsinore

27 Spring St

Balmain April 29 1918

My dear darling ducky face Norman,

I am pleased to tell you received a nice little letter this week and the two books you sent. I got the books on Tuesday and the letter on Thursday evening. Did you send them in the same mail. I believe there will be another mail in next week. I hope I have some more letters. Write every week and post them, the same as I do and they will catch the 1^st mail. Your last letter dated Feb 26, nearly 7 weeks ago. I am glad my dear boy your cold is better. Did you take the Cough medicine I put in your trunk. I am glad you are settled in your new place now and your hours are a bit shorter, You have more time to yourself. What did you say to Queen Mary when you saw her. (did you tell her I was asking about her). How did you come to get in the King’s stables. I suppose they are very nice.

I hope dear Norman that you have got one of the parcels before this. I know one of the mail boats went down going home about 3^rd or 5^th December with all the mails and parcel but don’t think there were any of mine on her. As soon as I hear that got one I will send you more. I will send it with one of the secretaries next time I think. Mr Gillanders told me to, he said they would be nicer.

Well Norman we have had a busy time here this last week or two. You know the Sunday School picnic was held on Wednesday 17April and oh Norman it was a glorious day. A beautiful sunrise, warm and calm tho it was late in the season to have it and the people did turn out. I did not go. Mrs Cowell and I were down at Cronulla for a few days. Came home Tuesday night so I had to wash Wednesday ………I wouldn’t have gone. I didn’t go to the last one when you were here and another thing. I didn’t believe in them having one now and as the war so bad. Mr Manning thought best and a lot were against it, but it was carried all the same..but I think it turned out well. Of course they didn’t go to all the expense you did last time. No printing and all that. I think they only had toys for the little children, none for the bigger ones and they had the concert on Saturday night last and they are going to repeat it next Monday night, for the rectory fund. I believe it was very good. I won’t be here for it. I am going up to Illma’s on Monday and of course last Saturday I was writing to you and it was too late when I had finished to go in and we had our Vestry meeting on Thursday night and it was very good. They proposed Mr Goode and Bob Adcock for the Wardens and Bob and Mr Whitlaw{?}got in. Poor Day is out of it and Mr Goode. I can’t make it out, how he didn’t get in. I am sure he didn’t like it. So in giving thanks to them all when they had done, Day Cowell got and said there was another who deserved thanks and that was the Verger Mr Barwick and Mr Manning said yes and his wife’s name was coupled with it so they gave us a good clap. [the preceding section was very difficult to decipher ..writing extra difficult ..a bit emotional}

They have decided to have the tea in June and a sale of work later on, so I suppose we will be having a busy time but it is not much I can do to help them. I have taken up another 10.0.0 bond Norm. I wanted to take it up for you but they said they wanted your signature and you might have a lot of trouble to get your bond without so I thought I would take one up myself. Mrs Cowell and I went in to Hordens (you know they and Farmers are giving a phone[?] and …….each in prizes for all that takes a 10.0.0 bond) so Mrs Cowell and I went in to get one so we have our prize tickets now. The first prize is a thousand.[?] My number is 29356. The drawing is to take place in the town hall May the 10^th. Of course we have 5 months to pay up our 10.0.0. No one thinks I was wise in doing so. I know it all helps the soldiers.

Mrs Thring has gone to Hobart for a holiday and Dode is playing the organ for her. She was playing this afternoon for a wedding. I did not send Winnies wedding cake in a letter dear Norman.  I sent it in one of the parcels and sent you a pair of socks. Got plenty yet. Do you darn them at all. You must learn to darn you know. Now my dear darling son, I must come to an end. Pa has never got your letter yet and he sends love to you and accept a larger share from your ever loving Mother, with kisses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

32 My memory is getting bad

Elsinore

27 Spring Street

February 23 1918

My darling Norman,

2 big fat letters this mail and one photo card. So nice to get the letters dear boy and to know you are well. I think I might get 3 or 4 letters every mail if you write every week for we have to wait 3 or 4 weeks for them.

Where are all my letters gone if you have not received them? Do your letters go with the soldiers’ mail or are they different? The young girl at the Post Office told Miss Holman they were but I don’t think so. I think when there is a mail going they send all the letters by it. I know your letters always come with the soldiers’ letters but they are so long delivering them. Now the last mail arrived on the Sunday and I did not get your letter till the Tuesday evening and then another Wednesday morning and the photo Wednesday evening. Pa got tired waiting and watching for them. I think the photo is very good. I asked Mr Manning to pick you out and he thought the one sitting at the table with his back turned first. So I said look near the girls and you might find him. So he saw you at once.

Don’t you write to Mr and Mrs Norris? I know he has written 2 or 3 times to you. The first letter he gave to me to address to you. Have you got that one yet? I hope you have got the draft before this, it is time you had it. I couldn’t remember what I put in your letters. My memory is getting so bad. (Maria is 67 when writing this) I don’t remember what you say in your letters after I read them. I was telling Mrs Atkins one night you had seen her son and she said you couldn’t for he had gone from England before you arrived. Then she said she had a letter from him. So when I came in and reread your letter I found she was right. What about George Noble?  Mrs Noble was asking me if you had said anything about him in your last letter. She says he is not going back to France. I think they are going to find him something to do in England. Have you seen Meg? Lonsdale? How far are you from Salisbury Plains? Mr Manning just came in to your Pa the notices for tomorrow. He says Mr Thomas is coming in the morning and Rev Cranswick is the preacher at night. Mr and Mrs M are going off to Epping tonight.

Norman it is a glorious night tonight. Moonlight and not so cold. We might have some fine weather now, for we have had nothing yet but rain and wind lately. We have had no summer yet. There were 2 or 3 hot days a month or two ago. I suppose you have had some cold weather since you wrote last, but it will be getting a little warmer after this month. Then you will be having spring in England. That is the time they say it is lovely over there.

C Gooude is fine. He was here for tea last Sunday night and felt well; he has looked bad lately, but I getting better now and Winnie Waite? Was here. I told Pa she was married. She also stopped by for tea and she looks well. Mr McLean and Gladys were up after…I don’t have many visitors and I don’t want them. I can’t be bothered with them now. I think Auntie Kate is coming down at Easter for a while.

Have you received your photos yet and what do you think of them? If you had been in the group I would have had an enlargement of it, but I don’t think I will now. Claud’s photo is good isn’t it? He was here last night. Came in to have his teeth out at Mc Manners? So I went up with him after tea and it was a beast to draw but Claude says he never felt him. I suppose I will be having Illma up next, and the George. They seem to think such a lot of Mc Manners now. How have you been getting along with your teeth and one thing you forgot dear Norman was your glasses. Have you wanted them at all?

I told you in a former letter about Bob Adcock. We never see him at all now. He never comes to Church. I suppose he goes with his girls and Archie Beard is on the same boat yet. That is the one Jack Waite is on. He wanted to get on a transport and have a trip home but couldn’t manage it.

Well my dear I am near the end of my paper now, so must finish up. I suppose you are glad you are to stay where you are which is the best place. Of course you know where you are and it is better to stop where you are known. Pa sends you his best love. Have you got his letter yet? (He has written once and this is mum’s 32^nd letter) Then goodnight my dear darling boy. May god bless you and take care of you and bring you back safely to your loving mother.

30 The blessed rats are taking all our chickens

Elsinore

27 Spring St

February 2 1918

labelled as letter # 27 (but she has lost count!)

My dearest Norman,

Another letter, although I don't see any mails advertised, but i will post and it will catch the first mail going. That is what you want to do, be sure  and write every week; if it is only a couple of lines, then I will get 3 or 4 every mail. If there is a ling time between them, as the last, just a month a long time to wait for letters isn't it? I don't know how it is but Mr Gooud and Mrs Mackay always seem to get their letters a day before i get mine. I suppose they just just get into the bag that is opened. One day I got one of your letters 3 days after the mail came in. 

I think dear Norman that I have got all that you sent to me. I got the souvenir book from Halifax, also another small book with birds eye view of the canal (Panama) and the little ships going through and a pack of cards, handkerchiefs and other little things. I think the hankies are very pretty.

I had a letter from the Secretary from Melbourne this week saying the 'Anchise' would be in Sydney in a couple of days. I don't think they can want transports very badly for I am sure she arrived in Melbourne nearly a month ago. She may have been in dock there I suppose. I will be hearing something from that office now. 

Well my dear son, I suppose you have had lots of my letters by now..all the gossip of the town. Do you see the women out at their gates gossiping like they do here? Well not here, but down at Mort Street they used to. 

I have had Bert and Eileen here last night. They came yesterday. Bert went up to Macleans and had two teeth out, he thinks. They were the two front teeth, so he looks funny without them. I suppose later he ill have to get some more in. He is growing a fine boy. 

Norm, I was thinking if you gave the Church 1.10.0 the boys club 10p it would b better. Mr Gooude says th Church is badly in need of help. Mr Manning was telling Pa the other day they would have to cut down on things, but he said they couldn't do without the verger. That was one thing, I think they will have to reduce his on salary. We got over the harvest festival all right and Mr Walker's cows got the corn stalks after and our fowls the corn, so they ought to lay now. Eggs are going up a bit here now. I never knew them so cheap at Xmas time as they were this Xmas. They were only 1p but they are now up to 2 shillings now.They will be getting near your London prices. I do wish I could send you some. They would be lovely. I think I will try a few in a tin some day when I am sending something.

The Beck girls and Castles were telling Ines today they had letters from you. I sent you Clarry's address in a letter and will get ......from Aunt Maggie. I have not got Margie Bucknell's yet. You know her married name is Mrs Padley. You might find out I believe that she sings yet at some of the music halls. He brothers go to see her when they are in England. I believe that one of them came home last week with only one eye.

Just been talking to Mr Gooude. He is going to Mrs Cox for tea. He is coming here next Sunday. Poor old George. Yes I see the mails coming here are lost in that boat between 15th and 25th of last month. I suppose some of yours are gone in her. Mr Gooud was saying they all had letters from Stan King last mail; it is very sad isn't it? I believe Daphne is engaged to some Doctor who had ben attending her mother when she was ill. She will be somebody won't she?

Well now my darling Son, I must conclude; I have no more news.

Illma and all her family are well. She got two letters from you last mail. Did you write to her? I sent my to with Eileen for her to read and Pa ends best love and accept heaps of love and kisses from your ever loving Mother.

Oh, I must tell you the blessed rats are taking all our chickens and they are nearly all grown. Pa must poison them.