10.

Wednesday Evening 21^st April

Dear Mother and Family,

Yesterday 3 letters came from you, written during January, the latest being 30^th, and I devoured their contents voraciously (?)

Thanks a lot for the birthday wishes and the canteen order, and I guess the parcels will be along later, as recently one Christmas parcel came from Mrs Carter posted half way through October – so there’s hope for all parcels during any time up to 6 or 7 months.

Incidentally, Mum, the Saturday Evening Post is not very much in evidence here (I don’t think they import many for casual sale only to order), and you mentioned that they were still arriving, so when they’ve been read at home could you send some now and then, over here – doesn’t matter about continuity because I’ll read the serials by the synopses. Thanks a lot.

2.

And if a renewal of subscription comes along, don’t hesitate to use my Savings account.

Glad to hear you finally received those photos from Melbourne – they certainly took their time about it, and thanks for those snaps of Nigger and Lloyd.

That Bank Book of mine is over here with me I have discovered, but seeing you have that little slip of paper pasted in the Bank’s ledger, I guess it’s not worth the risk of losing the book, to send it home.

Now that we’re working again I’m saving money, seeing that life is not just a perpetual holiday and later on as the balance swells a bit, I may cable home £20 or 30 because it will be better there and also

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could be more useful if the need arose.

For the last week or so we’ve been doing nearly all night flying in perfect weather almost like an extended twilight which actually isn’t really good night flying practice.  It should be a bit murky for that.

And the days were just perfect; long sunny warm days just like spring weather at home.  Clarrie Gardner and I did a cross country a few days ago stripped to the waist with our tunics and shirts tossed down the back of the plane and even received a slight tinge of sunburn.

Last Sunday on leave Dot McDonald (ie: my new found friend) and I explored Newbury on a perfect afternoon and evening (it’s light here now till 9:30 or quarter to ten) and saw in our travels some beautiful

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countryside, including two old building, Shaw House, where Charles 1^st had a bit of a quarrel with Cromwell, and also Donnington Castle, very old and very crumbly.  Had a jolly good day in all.

And now, Mum, it appears that its 20 past 11 so I’ll close now and include in this letter notes to Margaret, John (Malcolm Campbell) and Sainto.  All the very best to all at home and lots of love.

From Sid XXXX

PS: I’m writing to Nigger separately

Sid