Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 8 - Part 1 of 11

20-04-1943

Darling Kay,
I hope darling fortune 
is smiling upon you in the matter of
mail more often than it does to
me as your most welcome epistles
have not met my eye for four
whole days. That seems to be
ages but at least it will be good
practice for the time when a
longer period elapses between visits
from the mail service. Still I
must admit I've fared pretty well
up to date and at least the span
is only temporary. Today, your
cake arrived but have not cleaned
it up yet. The toothsome delicacy
wont last long though when the
lid comes off. I hope to be able
to mail the tin back to you,
it depends on developments that
appear to be around very soon now.
Let me inquire first
of you, your health and spirits

are of which I trust are on a par with
those manifested in your last screed.
I'm afraid theres not a good deal to
talk about today as the day is very
hot and I feel a bit woolly in the
nut. I'm feeling fine however and
have just cleaned up a plonkus of
washing while the opportunity occurred.
I miss the copper though and the
system in fashion here is the rub
and scrub variety. It will be swell
when a chap can put on some nice
new laundered duds again and look
like a civilised man instead of a
superior sort of convict.
Its good to hear you
are approaching the completion of
the young bloke's wardrobe. You have
judged it nicely and the things
must be a sweet little collection.
If it did turn out to be a double
event, it sure would complicate

3/
things for you. I do hope your
initial effort is on more modest
lines and shall be in a fever to
get your letter after your next visit
to the medico. The big day is
drawing near now and it is a
cow to go away when a few more
weeks would probably neither be
here nor there to the bigshots.
I had a letter from
Chas. consenting to stand as godfather
for us and will reply later on.
He has requested that the christening
not be held on a Saturday as he
has to go to the golf club that day
to officiate as Secretary & Licensee.
You can talk over the details with
him and fix arrangements up O.K.
Cheers now, my 
lovely one, I gotta run along to
mess. I hope the love I feel for you,
that actuates this letter, reaches you
speedily. Heaps of kisses bundle. Micky

20.4.43

Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

21.4.19443

My darling,
A shaft of bright light has
appeared through the murk. Your letter
No 1 coming to the rescue last night
when I had given up hope and was
thinking of taking to drink. There
appears to be one or two previous ones
still in transit so now the drought
has broken, maybe they'll turn up
today. So glad two of mine reached
you and I can imagine your feelings
after you had prepared yourself for
a wait. Still idling around
here and its getting on my quince
a bit although the camp is not too
bad and the grub is fairly good.
Weather is mighty hot by day but
night brings along a chilly time and
to me just the right time for a
devoted husband to come home
and do a spot of loving with his
Sweetheart to warm up the
chilly bones of both parties.

2/

do you think I shall be a bad influence
on the babe and spoil him. Listen,
the greater portion of my petting and
cuddling efforts are already earmarked
for his mummy and as the son of a
soldier he will have to learn the
lesson of discipline and give his doting
parents a fair go. Perhaps that sounds
unfilial but I feel that when the
chain that holds me from you is
broken, my yearning for you will
shove other considerations into second
place. You will be the most wonderful
pair a chap ever had to look forward
to and with you both I shall have
a beaut time. I hope he's a better
looking bloke that his old man,
if it's a Barbara I want her to
be like you in every way as then
you could be sure she's started
life on the right leg. Its fun
speculating whether it will be a
boy or girl but not such fun

3/

thinking it may be a double event.
I hope that does not eventuate as it
would entail far too much of everything
from you. You've done a great job up
to now and twins would mean
a huge burden piled on your brave
shoulders. With your husband away
and with but a small room to
live in, the task is hard enough and
I reckon you will be spared to that
extent.
Your bright picture of our
happiness and joy after its over make
my heart bound. It will be great
and I'm impatient for it to start,
the prospect is so tempting. Pray
hard it won't be so far off, pet
and that will hasten the day.
Ta- ta for another day, heart's 
desire and I'm keepin on
filled with love for you and Richard.
My fiercest kiss for you.
Micky

21.4.43

Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial