Jackie Castle says there is no one like the Aussie girls. She sounds like a bit of fun!

Ans 13/9/18

Balmain

16.6.18

Dear Norm, Your welcome letter to hand. So you think I am on the downward path for stealing peaches. You don’t know me. What, that is nothing. I even steal men’s hearts.

You seem to be going gay attending so many theatres, and oh what a gay time you are having with the girls, but I am glad to know that you think there is no one like the Aussie girls. We are dears aren’t we.

Well Norm, our Concert has passed off and was quite a success. We cleared £65, not too bad for two nights. I am enclosing one of the Programmes as I knew you would be interested. Oh we did look beauties with all our grease paint and limelight. You would never have known us, and Mr Manning was quite proud I can tell you. We will be repeating it soon for some other Patriotic Fund. Last Saturday I intended taking some snaps. But it rained, so we will have to postpone it till later. If you are a good boy you may get some, and if you are bot you won’t. Today is Anniversary Sunday and I , like the good girl I am went to early Communion. The church looked awfully pretty, being decorated with Arum lillies. Mr Rowsell sent them nearly all from Berry. I suppose you know that he is married now? He was an awful flirts, wasn’t he. The Archbishop will be preaching tonight so I hope it will be fine and there will be a good crowd.

As usual Wednesday is the Annual Bun Fight. I am helping Mrs Irwin on the Teacher’s table. What a blowout we will all have. Bet you would love to be here just to have a party. Of course I am also helping at the Children’s tea. Wouldn’t miss that for worlds, as I think it is the funniest thing imaginable. Will you ever forget their Concert after tea. I think it is too good to be missed.

Mrs Llewellyn is repeating “Bo Peep and Boy Blue” for the Wounded Soldiers Fund. I am not going in it. No good to me. The GFS (Girls Friendly Society) have been very kind and given her Tuesday night so now we meet in the Rectory. It is more comfortable these cold nights I can tell you.

Poor Mr Manning has a terrible cold. I don’t know how he will manage the service today. Up to us to get him a Curate I think.

Oh I must tell you that your poor mother has a rose arch over the front path, put there I suppose for when you and your lady love say Good-night. Wouldn’t you like to hit me. But it looks very nice all the same and your Mum and Dad are still both well. No more news from the old Church, no more weddings of note.

All the family here are well, also Eve and Fred and their small child, although he isn’t very small now.

Frank Grose has gone to France now. Perhaps he will be satisfied as he always wanted to be there. Jack was alright the last time e heard except for a hurt knee playing football.

Can’t rake up any more news now so will have to do the oyster act and close.

So long Norm, keep on smiling, we will be playing Jolly Miller, and Musical Men in the old schoolroom soon I hope.

From your old pal

Jackie Castle.

Jackie concerned with Norm's interest in Pommy girls, sad news and gossip.

Balmain

21.4.18

Dear Norm

Felt quite in the boom this mail, as I received two letters from you. People will think there is something doing, you writing so often. You’d better be careful of back. Say Norm, you are going gay, taking so much notice of the girls. We are quite prepared now to hear that you are going to marry a little Pommy Tart, as you take such an interest in them, Suppose you spend all your time riding in the buses to have a chip to the girls. You’re the limit Norm.

You’ll be sorry to hear that my father died last week. He had a paralysing stroke six weeks ago and there was no hope from the first. We really wouldn’t wish him back for he had such a bad time. Still we miss him very much, but we mustn’t complain only be thankful that we have had him with us so long. Mum is keeping up pretty well, but she has had a bad time of it.

Things are still the same as ever here. Winter is setting in now, wet and cold, but I don’t mind for I love the cold.

Last Wednesday was the Sunday School picnic, but of course I couldn’t go. They had a perfect day, lovely and sunny, and as it was the first picnic I have missed I have come to the conclusion that I must be the Jonah.

There has been a carnival at the Grove for the Voluntary workers this week end but they had awful weather. Hard luck wasn’t it, for they worked real hard.

Glad you liked the snaps I sent you. We are quite a crowd of Australian beauty aren’t we. You wanted to know who the other girl was with Dorrie and Lily. Well that is Kathie Price. You remember her don’t you. Miss M Fitzhardinge is having a concert in the Town Hall for the ‘Prisoners of War’ and Rectory fund, entitled “the story of the War”. All the old crowd are in it. I am Russia again so will tell you all about it when it comes off. I can see I will be counted out as Russia is out of the running. Our GFS is still going strong, with a faithful few. Glad you saw Jack while in England. I had a letter from him this mail, and he had Quinsy, and would be going into hospital to get his tonsils out, so we are living in hope that he will be out of this offensive, but I’m afraid there is not much hope.

Fred, Eva and the son and heir are quite OK. The baby will be quite a young man when you return so I can see you will have him for a pupil. Ettie is spending the morning gardening and making a general muck up of the garden. When all else fails she can go on the land.

Don’t feel in the humor to write a decent letter, better luck next time.

All here and the girls wish to be remembered to you and hope you are behaving yourself.

So long, cheer up, lots of luck and good wishes,

 From your old pal,

Jackie Castle.