Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 4 - Part 14 of 14

N.S.W.
25 5 42
Darling Wife
Thanks a lot for your letters Nos 7 & 8
to hand yesterday and as pleased as Punch to know
you are well and comfortable in your pent house.
Please refrain from describing those succulent delicacies
upon which you are keeping body and soul together as
the temptation to become a deserter raises a further
problem in my sweet untroubled life. To cut out the
light chatter for a moment, I have sent in to the
battery office, your new address and an instruction
to pay the allotment to your account at the Head Office
of the Commonwealth Bank, Sydney. I think they are
in Martin Place. I presume that before you left Melb. 
you had your account transferred to Sydney. As the new
particulars will have to go through Melbourne, I daresay
a couple of weeks will elapse before they start to cough up.
Let's know if you are running short and I'll dig up a
pound or two. In regard to that allotment, let's know
if you change your address as I must keep our pay bloke
advised. You understand and that such things makes for
delay but having it paid into a bank account should
minimise it.

2/
Having been a good boy and done a night job,
I'm off to Newcastle a this afternoon and shall give
you a ring. Hope I catch you home. I shall get the
train times and book you a room at one of the pubs
and shortly, lo and behold, we should get a peek at one
another. Whacko. Only snag is to find out when I next
shall have leave there but it will probably work out O.K.
Until I find out the train schedule I don't know
whether I shall be able to get to the station to meet you
but if it reaches here at a reasonable hour, I should be
able to make it. I don't think its much use booking
you for more than 2 days as on only one of them
shall I have leave and I shall endeavor to break
out on the other in the night. You can do that once
in a while but not often and if I get landed
shall only cruel myself for future leave. Under local
command orders we are supposed to get 5 days every
2 months and that's what I'm wanting for as I could
put the whole time in at your place. This flying
visit business has its limitations and I don't fancy
sacrificing the substance for the shadow although
a run up here occasionally is a sound idea.

3/
As a matter of fact, the ideal would be to put you up in
a flat here and you can find a congenial job but from
the few enquiries I've been able to make such accommodation
in a place like Newcastle is today is almost a myth
and now rationing is in on such a large scale. Jobs
except in National Service must be hard to come by
and of course the spectre of once you're in a job you
can't toss it in rises up to deter you. However, an if you
have any spare time here perhaps you could find out
more than I am able to. I can only rely on hearsay
mostly. And then we may move on at any tick of
the clock and I hardly think you'd care to be stranded
in Newcastle. You have to be born a Novocastrian
to go for it in a big way
Now, listen, if you don't get regular letters
from me, don't get tied in a knot as it will certainly
mean we've departed these regions and that just can't
be helped. You may as well be reconciled to the fact
that until this struggle ends, the chances are that
our meetings will be few and far between so will just
have to feel lonely and miserable at times with a
few rainbow periods to break it down a bit.

4/
Don't think I don't appreciate your solicitude, darling
but as such trials are inevitable when your husband
is virtually a prisoner, you won't do either yourself or
me any good by living on hopes that will go west
pretty often. You I can well appreciate your feelings
at having to leave all your folks and cobbers in
Melbourne and I'm hoping ever so much that things
pan out as well as possible while you are in NSW.
Well precious, as I'm many miles 
from the Metropolis just now and the morn
wears on, I must pack my bedding and bag and
look around for a ride in to H.Q. Mustn't miss out
today. I've too much to do. So, Muggins, precious
cheerio for today and am looking forward very
hungrily to holding you in my arms once more.
All my love and God bless you, Sweetheart.
Micky 

25.5.42
Mrs. Michael Billings
Flat 1 The Gordon
17 Macleay St.
Potts Point
Sydney. NSW 

N.S.W.  26.5.42
Precious Kay.
Well after our welcome and
entertaining chat of last evening, here's  
our 'ero out in the mulga once more,
more or less bludging I must confess.
Not that I have any objection as leisure
means an opportunity to pop off a note
to the little woman. Today, the weather
is not good, very grey and gloomy with
steady rain and consequently most of us
have retired to the tents. Well, my pet
everything seems to be teed up for a
little spell of heaven next Sunday and
the week can't pass quick enough for me.
I reckon I could do a fair job in a spot
of loving and I make bold to say
that your response would be more than
lukewarm. Unfortunately, the story of
an early move persists but I shall

2/
refuse to give it credence until the proper
quarters confirm it. There is something
of the sort in the air but as long as
they lay off until your visit is over
it will be O.K. After getting everything
arranged, I will be mad if they
trick us now. So pet just throw
enough duds in your valise for a
couple of days, make that train and
a goodly time will be had by all.
After dining last night, I
went to a movie just to fill in the
night. Fantasia was on and I don't
know when I've liked a show so
much. A veritable feast of beautiful
music and orchestral wizardry. Have
you seen it? I'm sorry I shan't be
too flush when you get up here but
we'll be O.K. at it won't cost you a

3/
great deal anyway. Let's know how you
are holding and if need be, I can
slap down a cheque to you. I shall be
glad when your allotment starts operating,
one thing there should be a fair poultice
when it does as it was dated from
1st May.
Can't think of any more
to write just now, the prospect
seeing you soon overrides all else.
Shall drop you a line tomorrow and
tell you if anything else crops up. Just
now I've got my fingers crossed. So
I shall close now, my little one
and send you such a long passionate
kiss which you shall return personally.
Sweet dreams, darling and how I
love you. Cheerio
Micky

24. 5. 42

Mrs. Michael Billings
Flat 1. The Gordon
117 Macleay St.
Potts Point
Sydney
N.S.W 

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Australian
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