Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 9 of 14

Written
20. 11. 41
Received.
3. 12. 41
Egypt 

VX38483 Gnr M. Billings, C Section
No. 45
5th Aust Hy A/A. Battery 2. Aust. A/A
Regt. A. I. F. Abroad 21. 11. 41

Darling,
Off again on the second chapter of that screed sent
on its way yesterday. Will leave out customary health and
weather chatter, as I feel sure the passing of another
day finds you as good as gold while I feel champion this
bracing morn. Even though I am on guard today which
means a sizeable chunk of shut-eye lost tonight, I remain
quite undismayed. Thus you see the reason why I commence
the correspondence at the bewitching hour of 9 a.m. Before
saying more, let me report the arrival of another wad of
papers from you and others which will relieve any tedious
hours likely to occur. Saw that Major Cameron was
handing the smug citizenry of Aust.  some curry amid the record
attendances and box office takings at the Cup and kindred
functions. That lad certainly hops into them and sounds like
a good sort of wartime Prime Minister. Also Smiths scathing
commentary on the junketing and luxury at Sid. Myer's daughter's
wedding was a pungent dish. In case of the non-delivery of
my No.44. I've sent you a parcel and a photo of my homely
visage earlier in the week so I fondly hope both the aforesaid
and this journey happily in your lap. On second thoughts I'm
handing you another copy of the photo so if both arrive, you
can give one to someone else

2/
That detailed travel-talk of Cairo and environs will have to
wait awhile as first I must tabulate my notes so as to put
in everything worth mentioning so will fire this with a few
things for which I couldn't find space in No. 44. Five of your
snaps including the bridal group are to hand and all of
them are swell. The two I raved about in a previous letter
remain my favorites and are always found in the window of my
pocket book. You surely grace the wedding group, the one
beauty in it as a matter of fact. June appears to be running to
fat but somehow those formal starchy dials found in
pictures of such functions never did appeal to my crude
disposition. Child of Nature, that's me! The snap of you at
the front door of your home is taken on a bad angle giving you
a slightly distorted appearance but for a really good example
of that fault, I refer you to the enclosed picture.  And how
do you like the coolie shirts they dish out here. Not quaite
Henry Bucks, eh? Its quite O.K about the Gillettes when you've
got such better things to send. These just a fill up, see. I
noticed you mention that my last G.E came in a plain envelope, thats O.K as
you can put them in one G.E cover and they seal them down
at base. I'm glad you abandoned the home-brewed sox
where as it would be the acme of foolishness to keep up that
kind of thing when your job will impose all the strain on
your fingers they can take. Anyhow when your

3/
parcel of fags and socks blow in, I'll be set for quite a time
as I wangled another pair from the Q. bloke yesterday.
Had the fortnightly issue from the A. c. 7. yesterday and the place
looks like a grocer shop but where grub is concerned we
dispose of it at an alarming rate. Harking back to your job,
I'm glad you are putting yourself first there and intend to
give it the go - by next winter if the going is too tough. And
from what you have told me and from what I can guess,
its no bed of roses particularly in a Melb.  winter. Glad
young Jack and you had a happy little celebration of your
birthday, now that his exams are over for a spell. Xmas
will probably see him functioning in a like capacity with great
gusto. One thing I was pleased to read in your latest
letters was the news of the arrival of some of my letters after
a minor drought. Well, you know by now what causes that.
Miss Psychic, I don't think an incoming mail has ever left me
bereft of at least one letter, you, my love have seen to that.
Must admit that some people I expected to hear from, must be
tormented by writer's cramp. By the way-how's Val
getting on after the Scarlet  Fever? Tell her how sorry I was
to head the news and wish her good health and good luck for
the festive season. I don't doubt your mate feels a bit
bucked now that John has vacated the

4/
Sandy Wastes, give her my love when next you visit her,
also Sylvia and A. Tess about whom I plead guilty to
having overlooked in previous letters.  After seeking a choice
bit of wood for quite awhile, I captured a natty pipe and
am going through the pangs of breaking it in so picture me
penning these lines wreathed in a haze of blue smoke.
Yes uncle Lionel is an old card, that lad used to be able
to do things with a decanter of whisky when I visited him.
at Wonthaggi. Seems like Sister Dorcas has tied herself
back to the baby factory much I detect to poor old
Mum's gloom. Hope your prediction of her return is a winner.
Had a drop of Aust grog in the canteen last night,
Carlton Special, you recall it perhaps. Somehow,  no
other beer tastes like ours but U.S. canned beer is by
no means to be despised. Joined you in the ranks of the
Blood Bank recently but up to date, no one has called for
a pint or two of my aristocratic corpuscles. In answer
to your inquiry regarding raiment, I don't require anything just
now but will of course call on you for anything I need.
Well, Puss, me sweet, time's up so will chase along sending
you all my love and good wishes.
Mick 

21 11  41

48    AIR. MAIL

Miss. K. Clarke,
548 Barkers Road.
East Hawthorn.
Victoria.     Australia

PASSED BY CENSOR
No. 3164 

Written
21.11.41
Received
4.12.41

VX38483 Gnr. M Billings. C Section,
No. 46
5th. Aust. Hy A/A Battery 2 Aust. A/A Regt.
A.I.F. Abroad 24. 11.41

Darling Kay,
As this is the opening lines of an attempt to
depict the City of Cairo and adjoining tourist attractions
and the impressions formed by the author during his
visits to some of them, let me issue a warning to you,
darling, that I'm no Jas. Fitzpatrick or H. V Morton
so prepare yourself for a heap of tripe. Anyhow, you've brought
it on yourself vide your request after my description of
Palestinian delectations for a like dose on lands subsequently
visited. So having got the foreword to this embryo volume
off my vast bosom, let us pass to this gripping story of
life in mysterious Egypt.
To attempt to keep things in proper sequence, shall
we commence at the start. Of course, I cannot reveal the
route taken from our camp to the Egyptian capital nor the
means of transport. Suffice it to say that it was drab
dusty and uninteresting, mostly desert, so you will agree 'enough
said'. On being deposited thereat, accommodation was sought
and obtained at the Hotel Extadey, situated in the heart of
the city and a very comfortable and clean hostelry it was
too. The tariff was 55 piastres a day about 14/- so one 

2/
felt really entitled for such a fee to a spot of comfort. Still after
pigging it around sand and what not for many months,
hot baths, well cooked viands, clean bed linen and such
like coupled with the escape from drill and discipline for 7
days alone constituted a goodly proportion of the pleasure.
The streets of Cairo are distinguished by the length and
color of their names, judge for yourself for here are some: Shana
(English 'Street') Emad el Dine, Fouad el Awal, Kasr el Nil,
Khedive I smail, Almida el Fanda. All Also the city has
many squares such as Soliman Pacha, Ibrahim Pacha,
Midan Opera. The city s area is much bigger than Melb.
quite well laid out, some very fine buildings and shops.
I must say I had a few narrow squeaks from getting knocked
over as I find it very hard to become used to looking to the
right instead of the left for oncoming traffic. Talking of traffic,
the number and quality of new cars on the street would amaze
you so with the ubiquitous gharry (truly a relic of the past) the
numerous bikes, all shapes and kinds of military vehicles,
trams & buses, the streets are a mass of movement. on
the footways. you have portly Egyptian magnates, berobed
Arabs and their veiled womenfolk, Service men of all arms
and countries in the British Forces all mingling to
make a motley yet picturesque assembly. 

5/ 3/
From the foregoing, perhaps you may be able to conjure up an
idea of this mighty metropolis. Let us now pass to some of the
more prominent buildings. First the Abdin Royal Palace, I
betook myself there one morning to witness the changing of
the Guard and talk about a funny spectacle. The palace in
general design resembles Buckingham Palace, well imagine the
Guards lolling about leaning on their muskets and yarning
to one another and you have an idea of the changing of Farouk's
boys. There are three swanky pubs, Shepheards of legendary
fame, The Continental Savoy, and the Semiramis on the Nile
bank in whole ultra-refined precincts we of the lowly ranks
may gaze upon bemedalled potentates of the dasher Army.
One feature of Cairo is the splendid clubs provided for
Service personnel particularly the N.Z. House which far surpasses
any of the A. I. F. turns in Palestine. Was having a tasty Sole
Meuniere there one evening and damned if the air raid
alarm didn't go with all lights hastily extinguished leaving me
groping around the plate frantically trying to avoid swallowing
the bones. War is a nuisance. You have to fall back on
fish and the like as in Egypt there are two meatless days a
week. The boozing hours are peculiar too. 12.30 to 2.30,
6.30 to midnight but I overcame that scheme by keeping
a bottle or two of lunch in my room.