Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 7 - Part 3 of 12

Australian
War Memorial

20.3.43.
Darling Kay,
Once more that sensation of pleasure as your 
letter of 13th March made its appearance today after a washout
of three days. I hope you are faring better than me but it 
seems certain that the mail is being held up some place
as yours has taken a week to get here. Well, we are used to
pinpricks so shan’t conduct a postmortem into the delinquencies
of the postal service except to comment that it is a very bad
show. Perhaps the airmail offers better results so when I can
get the stamps, that's my future program. Tomorrow Sunday
there's no mail so Monday should yield a good harvest.
Its good to know you are in the pink and more or less
reconciled to our plans getting a knock on the head. I
agree it was a nasty knock but all is not lost yet maybe.
T'is a worthy object for some steady prayers although it is
asking a lot the way things tend. Seems strange to read of
you becoming a sun worshipper but you've no idea what you've
been missing. Too right there are vitamins galore in
sunlight, from personal experience I can testify to the lift it
gives you. It will be a cow having to sweat like a pig in
long pants and shirts, believe me. Will give that airmail
service some hurry-up, if it continues to be maintained at
its present level. Its as good or better than what we are
getting now. As regards writing when the big event draws nigh
don't fatigue or over exert yourself as sitting up and writing
will make you cramped and uncomfortable. So it will be

2/
quite in order to cut down the length first and while the pressure is
on, just forget about them and concentrate on yourself and your
welfare. Poor kid, I know how difficult it all is and I want you
to do everything to mitigate your burden. A few weeks afterwards
and you'll bloom like a rose and I would give anything to
be there to inhale deeply of its fragrance and to watch you
caring for the little rosebud. I've always claimed that there's
no more beautiful sight on this earth than a young mother and
you will bear out my contention if I'm any judge.
Jolly decent of Bill to contribute such a
useful gift for the young hopeful, people are so decent and
helpful. If he makes it, you can be sure it will be a sound
job. As you recently remarked, he will be king of the castle
but with you he won't get to be a tyrant. With the bassinet and
your trimmings, he (or she) will look mighty regal.
I popped in and had tea with
the old folks yesterday and found them fine. Had a chat
with Gran through the kitchen window and she joined
with the others in wishing you well and sending love.
Bob Sutton enquires after your health and wishes you the very
best.
So once more, cherub, I come to my
daily pause, the words are not flowing out too easily so
shall pop off and hope tomorrow treats me better in that
respect. Chin, chin, my precious and may every blessing
be yours. Accept my offering of scads of love and kisses.
Micky

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

AIR MAIL
20.3.43

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

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

21. 3. 43
Darling Kay,
Have just returned from our special Sunday
banquet where the tables simply groaned under a load
of good things, and I feel rather expansive and on good terms
with the universe. That mood being rather hard to
muster up, I bethought me that it was a fortunate
occasion to pen a stanza or two to the girl, I've left
behind me. So let us to the task, as Winston put
it. A very pleasant task, I assure you, to be able to
sit me down and have a good mag with my cobber
and know she won't waste any time giving me her angle
on the multitude of subjects we have in common. Before
the war. I reckoned writing letters was a horrible bore
and the few I received never raised my pulse beat by a
single throb. But after all this time, a chap wouldn't be
in the race without them. Most of my change of heart,
is caused by the high standard your letters have
attained, not the commonplaces I was used to glancing
at but regular, fun, frank and lucid sentences that
typified the darling author. Your letters are so much
you and I happen to love that party immensely so
by simple arithmetic you can gauge my delight when one
turns up. Another chapter in your life unfolds itself
to me and I then just want to discuss this point,
laugh with xxx you and xxxx  another, and live & love
with you and the whole bang lot. Its really easy

2/
to write you as you do not handicap your style with
considerations of self-consciousness, false modesty and
other things that tend to make letters so trite. You
just breathe yourself on to the pages and their contents
leave me full of understanding of the various facets
of your life. A very longwinded way of telling you
that your letters fill me with pleasure, sweetheart and
if you entertain any qualms about their worth, just
forget it and buy another bottle of ink. I often wish
I could, like you, have kept the letters I've had from
you and when the days of peace return, bring them
home and compare our compositions. Think how
lovely it would be to trace our joint relationship,
at first the hesitant tentative lines each seeking
in them for that vital something we guessed was
there, then on to the days we were parted and
behold the promises, pledges and praises passing
between us as the fullness of our love became apparent.
A break in the written chain as the fervent words at
last could be whispered personally. A beautiful pause
in the postal parade, one that proves to the hilt
that the words oft written were not figments of fancy.
At last, we were driven from our heaven to undergo
another episode in our lives to be told by written word
many a sweet memory, well founded intentions for our
future when this chapter concludes and finally the
engrossing details of the happenings of she who was

3/
first loved but who now signs and infuses into each
word the titles of lover, wife and soon, mother.
Therefore, I think I am on solid ground in declaring
that the s words that have passed between us would
mould themselves into a historical document of what
is surely the most eventful part of our earthly spell.
Today is a barren day for
mail but if the mucking-about is finished, I should
regale my lonely being in several tomorrow. Its
rather paradoxical perhaps but separation from you
far from diminishing my love, intensifies it. If this
keeps up, I'm afraid that your husband when he comes
home will prove a handful for you to manage as
the sight of you would inevitably unloose the pent-up
feelings. Maybe you'll feel the same way about me
(maybe my eye!) and it's a beaut comforting thought
too, to realise that you're the centre of such a love
that's got the lot. Just let them get this blasted
mess over and we'll be on top of the world. I had
a generous slice of what life is like with you, my
precious, and no wonder I get impatient to
shelter myself under your spreading mantle again.
What more could anyone want? A home, a wife,
a lover and a child, the whole set-up is perfect
and after a serving a sentence in the darkness, you
bet your life I'll fairly wallow in its charm.
Even now, the vision splendid sends a tingle through

4
me. And it will be like that too, because you are
well endowed for each of your roles and I’ll do my
utmost to back you up. When you know that you
will go back to something fine and lasting, you can
retain you sanity and wait, albeit  impatiently, for
that you've prayed for, cried for and sweated for.
I hope this reads coherent to
you as today, my pen has steered an impetuous
course and run ahead of my thoughts. Anyhow,
I don't care as I'm an open book to you and I know
the Sentiments expressed will find a true mark.
Gee, you're beaut, Kay!  Do you know if I were with
you, I would have an attack of the sillies and
pull faces and so on and only the imminence of,
Master Richard would save you from having
being picked up and dumped on the bed, getting
your curls rumpled and other pranks of my
boisterous nature. Them's were the days. you
lovely scamp.
Well (significant word) I can't
let this letter be cluttered up with alleged news, anyhow
there isn't any so shan’t manufacture any. With
a gay salute, bundle dear, I bow myself out for
another day and leave filled with a thing
like a pain, it must be love. I kiss you from from
your curly thatch to your clammy feet. All the best
to the young sir.
Yours ever Micky

PR00610
Australian 
War Memorial 

AIR. MAIL
21.3.43

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