Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 5 - Part 9 of 12

Brisbane 16.1.43. 
  
Darling Kay. 
Well,  Sweet, herewith my first effusion  
since my return to the grim institution and first and  
foremost is my concern for your health.  I do hope the  
recent nuisance has gone for keeps and that you are now  
going along swimmingly and feel jolly well.  I eagerly  
await your first screed to learn all of your doings.   
Needless to say, I'm missing you like hell but hope  
the acutiness of the separation will lessen as time  
goes along.  The duration of the leave was just long  
enough to permit a chap to settle down like a husband  
and I found the experience delightful.  The bit of cooking  
cleaning and cooking did not discompose me one whit,  
I enjoyed doing the chores, particularly as it was for  
you.  The running and tearing about we would have  
had had you not been bedridden was not hard  
to miss and the spree just with you was ideal,  
believe me.  So, cheer up, dove and look after yourself  
and drink up your milk, you rascal.   
From this sector, there's little to  
report having just started to find my legs.  The trip  
back was lousy, particularly from Sydney onwards,  
moist sultry weather that made the crowded train  
stinken hot and after tea on Wed. night, no grub for  
20 hours.  At last, we arrive back to the same old 
joint to find things little altered.  The rain had been 

2/
torrential while we were away and the weather is  
now as hot as hell and the skeeters in abundance  
at night.  The grass is 3 feet high and they lurk there  
by day and blitz us at night like swarms of stukas. 
I saw Mrs. Rowling in the street  
yesterday and she wanted to know all about you.   
Told her you were okey. doke and she sent you love  
and good lock from Reg and herself.  I'll drop in  
on her next leave day.  When I arrived back, there  
were three letters from you waiting for me as well  
as one each from John and Syd.  Yours of course were 
pre-leave ones so there's no need to comment on  
those.  John and Syd were O.K, I was pleased to  
know.  I meant to give you that cheque when I  
was down but overlooked it in the rush.  Here  
it is now, darling, to pay into your account for your  
hospital and physician's fees. I hope it will suffice  
but if need be, shall raise a loan.   So don't worry  
about dough and just plug away like a good un. 
Well, sweet piddlekins, that's about  
the verse and chorus today so shall have an interval  
until tomorrow.  Sweet dreams, precious and  
all my love to you, now and ever. 
Micky  
  
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

AIR.MAIL 16.1.43 
  
Mrs. M. Billings. 
548 Barker's Road, 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria.

MB. 
  
PR00610 
Australian War Memorial

Brisbane. 16.1.43. 

Darling Wife,
Off again for today's cheerio to you,  
sweetheart beginning with salutations and loving 
wishes for your good health and spirits. Today ushered 
in your first letter since I returned and I was 
thrilled to hear from you and to know you are keeping 
sweet and lovely. Your description of your efforts and 
plans to banish [[Dame Care?]] sounded jolly practical 
and quite in keeping with [[Dois?]] injunction to live the 
leisured life. I bet its nice to be able to dismiss 
the Manpower dictum to work or else, particularly 
as you have a big private job of your own teed 
up. I take a bow for your flattering tributes to 
my devotion while I was down. Think nothing of 
it, bundle, it was a pleasure to serve you. I 
believe that July will bring forth a blessing that 
will leave me in your debt forever so a slight gesture 
from my side is was appropriate as well as timely.  
I'm only regretful I had to leave and could 
not see out the journey and lighten the load for 
you but I console myself that you are more than 
equal to the task and you are among your own 
kin for advice and help if required.
Not much to report from this outpost, 
today has been hot as 'hades' but all sunshine which 
is not so bad. Got my net properly rigged up

2/
last night and slept like a top after a cow of 
a night the previous evening from the winged 
hordes. Went to the R.A.P this morning and had 
my ears cleaned out and lost a swag of wax 
mixed with railway soot. Then some drill and 
this afternoon a blitz on the garden which looked 
like the jungle after recent rain. Solid afternoon's 
work, I can tell you. Get leave on Monday 
but dunno what to do yet. I'll drop in on 
the Rowling family and finish the day at a 
movie I suppose. There's plenty doing around here 
just now with drills, courses and practices coming 
thick and fast. Listen to this, while I was away 
they sprung a fake alarm on the lads and 
only landed ten of them AWL. Just as well 
it waited until we departed as they all got 
indefinite C.B. 
Well, honey chile, that's about 
today's fill so shall close my [[Orato?]] and  
make my lowly pallet. (How are the mighty 
fallen!) I wish you joy and a tranquil 
existence, sweet piddlekins, plus quarts of milk. 
My love to your mother, Ada, Bill and Red 
and for you words fail me but if I were 
with you, I bet you would get an impression 
I was a R bit keen on you. A big kiss from 
Micky 
  
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

16.1.43
Mrs. M. Billings. 
548 Barker's Road, 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria

Brisbane. 18.1.43
  
Darling Kay, 
Thankie kindly, precious for your second  
and third letters received and oh so different in  
tone, you naughty girl. So sorry to hear of your fit  
of blues but don't fret, now and then you’re sure to  
feel a bit peaked. Very glad you are feeling  
physically good, that is jolly good reading and 
if you feel fit, the black moods won't last long. 
I bet you look [[swifter?]] in your new dress. I can 
picture you in it quite clearly, sweetheart. These things 
do run away with ones coupons, my dear. 
I hope my letters are reaching you  
this is the fourth since I returned so I'm not 
doing so badly for such a lout. Not much news  
from here as usual. Yesterday was on guard 
which I'm pleased is over and today am on 
leave. This morn I had to go out with a truck 
to get a load of firewood, damn hard yakker 
for my softened body in this hot weather. And 
is it hot? Fortunately the rain and sultry weather 
have been absent and its just typical Aussie 
weather, no clouds and a blazing sun. I shall 
content myself with a visit to the pictures today. 
"Reap the Wild Wind" looks to be the choice. 
The leave party left Saturday so should hit their 
home town today, the Reids consequently have