Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 6 - Part 3 of 14

4/ 
It's very refreshing to know you feel fit enough 
to pop around and see your cobbers now 
and again. That's the worst of the heat. You 
don't know whether its wise to go out yet being 
cooped up inside is not good to you either. 
By your letter of the 30th Jan. I see the beautiful 
cool change blew in with loud cheers, particularly 
as you had a date with the quack. Great news it 
was to know he thought you progressed well. The 
little chap is taking his time making his presence 
felt, perhaps he's too polite to start hoofing a 
lady. A gent like his old man, that's what 
it is. Look, your letter reminded me of a  
thing I overlooked. I meant to leave you my  
coupons so shall mail them next letter. I've had 
to use a few but what's left may help you a 
bit. I'm pleased the preparations for his 
lordship's arrival entail a fair bit of work as 
being kept occupied is the best thing for you 
now and you are certainly keeping right up to  
schedule. Will you please mail the identity 
disks to me, the comb I give you as a present. 
I hadn't even missed them.

5/ 
I hope the slave-drivers here give me time 
to drop Mum a letter tonight as I'm a bit 
late with her screed this week. This is 
your visiting day there so at this time you're  
probably ensconced there. I bet you've grabbed 
the best seat and are eagerly waiting for  
an onslaught on to the grog grub, you 
guts. 
Well, mate, I don't think there is 
any more I can cackle about now so shall 
bring this effusion to a close (about time 
for my banquet too I see). Cheerio, my  
sweetheart, may God bless you and give 
you all sorts of happy things. Your devoted 
lad sends you a gigantic kiss and every 
atom of love. Sweet dreams, Mummy. 
Micky

7.2.43
Mrs M Billings  
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria

9.2.43 
Darling Kay, 
Good morning to you, most 
beautiful lady and may the day to follow 
be one of peace and happiness for you so 
than when the velvety summer twilight envelopes 
 you in evenings soft embrace, you will ascend 
to your reposeful bower tranquil in mind if 
weary in body. Watered down to plain English 
I wish you everything that is good. Thank you, 
my sweet for your letters of 4th & 5th Feb to hand 
today and my eyes were gladdened to behold  
your assurances of physical well-being blended 
with a modicum of content. Do you know, marriage 
and your baby have wrought  big change in 
your letters, a calmness and a maturity pervades 
them now so different from the spasms of 
bitterness flashing out now and then in letters I 
got when I was far away. That deadening 
frustration that we suffered has gone for ever now 
and gives us faith to await the future though 
the present is far from complete for us. So 
keep writing, my love, as your letters are a  
balm to this unit of H.M. Forces.

2/ 
With your letters came one from Jock 
O' the Bay and he is as right as rain again 
and brighter than he's sounded for many a day. 
I'm sending it along to Mum so you'll probably 
hear all about it. Regarding the cryti cryptic 
utterances of my previous letters of the reason for a 
gap in my letters, I can now tell you I was 
away on full manoeuvres and communication  
to the outside world was forbidden until the 
O.K. was given. A few who couldn't keep a secret 
and who were traced to their surprise got their 
pants kicked, pretty hard too owing to the big 
leakage of information prevalent today. We 
covered quite a fair bit of some of the best country 
up here and in between managed a good surf 
on one day. The change was most welcome as 
the life here is like most safe jobs, rather stale. 
The old time bustle and scurry was quite a turn 
and we haven't got very rusty as it turned out. 
Today leave is resumed and I am on the list to 
go walkabout. However its nigh on 2 weeks since 
pay day and the coffers are just about empty 
so have had  to procure a captain to finance 
a visit to the theatre. Very glad your cool

3/ 
change persisted, giving refreshment to the heat 
jaded populace. We have one ourselves today 
in a minor key, quite a rarity up here. 
While I remember will you post that old torn shirt 
to me as I believe our store has got some new 
ones and I want to be in on it quickly. 
So glad further letters from me still roll in and 
that you like 'em as well as ever. Well, it looks  
as though your dowry is on the horizon at last. 
Just as well as I don't know how you are able to 
get all those things for Richard out of your army 
pittance. I must admit I find my inability 
to help much rather galling but as you recently 
quoted 'no man can serve two masters'; even  
though my present one doesn't pay so well I 
can't change 'horses in midstream'. The 
Dairy Board haven't wrote since I got back 
so it looks  as though that well has dried up. 
I'm lucky my wife is made of the right stuff 
and a not sitting helplessly trusting to luck. 
You deserve to have the loveliest laddy in 
the world. Well, treasure, thats about 
all the contents for today's budget so

4/ 
shall go and put myself in a fit condition 
to move among the dandies of the world 
outside. Cheerio, Mummy dearest for just  
a little while. Pappy sends oodles of good 
wishes and torrents of love. Give your 
mother, Ada, Brie & Red my love. 
Yours always, 
Micky 
  
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

9.2.43
Mrs M Billings  
548 Barkins Road. 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria

10.2.43 
Darling Kay, 
How dare you treat your faithful 
husband in such scurvy fashion by not having 
a letter for him today. See, that's how you 
gals spoil your vis-a-vis, they expect constant 
attendance whether in person or by proxy. I 
hope you don't take the above seriously, its just  
more nonsense from Mad Micky as a variation 
from the staid phrases in which I fear to preface 
many of my letters. Your output of correspondence 
despite your many preoccupations has been great 
and I'm flat out to be in the race at all. Well, 
how are you, treasure? Still fighting the good  
fight, I bet and bashing the tripe out of your  
diverse activities and feeling pretty fit into the 
bargain. Its so nice now pet to get your 
beaut. letters each telling me you're going great 
guns; you can guess how tickled I am to know 
youre going strongly. The time flies and  
 before we know where we are, the wee chap 
will be well and truly with us. My most 
earnest prayer is that I'll be a witness 
or nearly so anyway, when his nibs embarks