Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 5 - Part 5 of 12

PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

East Brisbane 4.6.42 
My Darling, 
And so to press for another of your old mans 
cheerio series.  As always, may I enquire after the State 
of your health and Spirits and trust both are pretty 
good.  The ups giving the downs are a bit of a hiding. 
Funny guy, huh?  Father hisself is quite well, thank 
you and under the influence of Queenslands sunny clime,  
not on too bad terms with things in general.  Musn't 
let the old morale get low,, always the flag has been 
to keep a ' flying.  To cut out the airy persiflage and 
get on to other topics, first thank you, darling for your 
letters Nos 15 & 16 to hand today and I must say I 
haven't  been awaiting them almost with bated breath. 
Firstly to know my [[wise chapping?]] out your trip last 
Sunday reached you in time and Secondly I'm awfully 
glad a friend came forth and up to a point took your 
mind off our huge disappointment.  Your philosophical and 
fighting reaction to the wallop does you credit, little girl 
and looking at it from your standpoint, I feel a lot 
comforted as I know how disappointed you must have

2/ 
been all on your lonesome.  As you say, we ought to be 
used to getting the dirty end of the stick by now and 
just take what happiness we can get when we get it. 
My fat carcase is now all agog at  waiting for your 
reply to my latest brainchild, the chance of you coming 
up here for a while.  In this letter I won't go into any 
pipe dreams but like Buddha shall wait patiently 
until your reply blows in.  If its at all possible I have 
a hunch you will be like our old friend "Barkis" 
You can stake your last jack, 
precious, I shall write you as often as I can.  I always 
have and there is more reason than ever to keep 
doing So.  Never forget, I love you like hell in every way 
and I Shan't let you lament about the constancy of your 
old man.  If you could guess my thoughts Since I had 
to leave you, as maybe you have done. 
I don't think there's much hope of my 
getting down to Sydney for a long time yet.  This damn 
life of having to line up for everything restricts a chap 
properly but maybe before the lid is clamped down 
you can reach me.  Movements are too uncertain to do 
much wait that long if theres another way out

3/ 
I had a gnawing fear that the D.F.O would 
muck you about and apparently they were well 
founded.  Its a damn pest, and as I said yesterday, 
I'll be pleased when they start paying you.  With a 
malignant sneer, I forsee Some more schimmozzle 
if you come up here but I think if you come up 
here will do no more as I have a plan.  I get 
quite a chortle when I picture you shouting out 
snappy retorts at a fat ancient Sergeant.  The allotment 
at Melb. had first to be paid to you at Camberwell 
P.O.  the C'wealth Bank had nothing to do with it 
there.  It was only when you went to Sydney that I 
instructed that it be paid to your account at the bank at Sydney 
Shire, gain comfort youre not in the army all the time 
and pity us poor mugs what live under that system. 
I'm only sorry I'm not in a position to give them a 
flea in their ear.  I'm not the type that suffers 
fools gladly. 
Have been hard at it navying are days today 
my softened hands sport 3 fat blisters tonight.  Still 
this is a good dump and if (1) you can come up 
(2)  leave is forthcoming, I shall positively 

4/ 
jump out of my pants.  Its becoming my magnificent 
obsession as you may have deduced by now. 
Your remarks regarding the crul cruelty 
and futility of war are great stuff, have you been  
reading them gory war books again, my pretty.  You're 
my all unconscious humorist and so serious. 
Sorry, pet, for poking mullock at you, you are  
really a gem of purest ray serene I just had a  
squint at the Golden Treasury. 
Well, have to be up at 6 a m 
So must make up my four-poster,  turn down 
the coverlets and snooze like a pig.  Cheerio 
little Mother and all the very best that's going. 
I love you  I love you  I love you so there 
Sweet Dreams 
Father 
  
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
 
4.6.42 
  
Mrs Michael Billings. 
Flat 1, The Gordon. 
117 Macleay St, 
Potts Point.  Sydney.  N.S.W. 

PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

East Brisbane 4 5.6.42. 
Darling Wife, 
Commencing today's effusion, let me again  
wish you buoyant health and good cheer and trust my 
wishes are facts.  Now let me see what choice morsels 
of gossips I have for milady's delectation today.  The time 
is 6 p.m. (1800 hours to you, mug) and Pop has spent 
today heaving sandbags about getting himself very grubby 
in the process, even found sand in me navel after 
operations had concluded.  However having had a cold 
tub and a brisk rub down followed by a steaming bath 
fire and a cup of char, all is in order once more. 
The weather to date has been quite warm and one has 
been able to do a bit of mild Suntanning.   Making  
great headway with the work and leave from 6 p.m. to  
midnight has commenced already.  Unfortunately, I've 
drawn Sunday and I s'pose it will be rather dull 
in Brisbane.  Your presence would be particularly 
delicious but will manage to Struggle along buoyed by 
hopes that you'll be along another day.  I'm not positive 
but I heard that Several H.Q blokes wives had already 
blown in up here So my hopes are raised a little.

2/ 
Still nuff said until I hear from you which should  
be any day now.  I might mention that my wheeze is 
hardly unique amongst us, if it is O.K as regards  
travel and accommodation. a small exodus looks 
a possibility.  If you come along at the toot and get 
to Brisbane without being able to give me details, a 
wire to here should do the trick.  I know, from the 
tenor of your recent letters that you're hardly averse to 
seeing me. 
Thankie kindly for two letters to 
hand this day, contents duly assimilated and 
leaving the usual good taste in the mouth.  No. 12 
was one and has apparently been cruising about 
for a few days.  So you had a lovely letter from me 
didyer?  Glad to hear my humble efforts fall on 
good ground but if you were here in person, my 
noblest epistles would seem like Pegs Paper in 
comparison.  That was the letter telling me of the 
nuptials of one Skinny Taylor and Fatty Casey 
and rather belatedly I grandly produced my cheque 
book, scribbled a felicitous note from us, filled in 
a pourboire for £ 2.2.0 and will post it by first 
messenger from here tomorrow. 

3/ 
Very pleased people are being so hospitable to you 
at Sydney.  I'm so glad as time passes very pleasantly 
when in the company of good companions than 
having to mope about a flat.  When next you see 
Iris and Bob, please convey to them my kindest 
regards.  I suppose that of our populations who are 
lucky enough to be able to live something like their 
normal lives should extend the glad hand to those 
less fortunate but a hell of a lot are so immersed in 
their narrow groove that thinking of others never 
dawns upon them.  Well, I hope Rose and Jack have 
a great day although having seen one another So 
often, I don't reckon he they will get such a kick out 
of it as we did.  I've made the cheque payable to  
Jack as I hardly think it would be correct to send 
it to Rose, not that my sense of etiquette is right 
up to date, I fear. 
Now lets see what else we have to  
consider.  Can't think of anything just now so perhaps I've 
finished this letter.  Must have so toodle-oo my 
precious and all my love and a big kiss 
from that mighty intellect.   
Micky