Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 10 - Part 3 of 18

4/
Very nice you have got into the swing of a
spot of entertaining and visiting.  After  
su a lengthy spell of the drudgery and
solitude connected with the great coming
I bet the lighter side has a great appeal
and the universal approbation directed at
Richard would fill you with pleasure.
The improving weather is a big asset to
both of you too and I compliment you
on the good use you are making of it.
In fact, I'm very grateful for having such
a beaut wife and as for Richard being
like you, I only hope he inherits other
of your sterling qualities beside your looks.
My interest in his whims and pranks
in no way diminishes, how wonderful
he must be to be with all the time.
It is a great deprivation to be away now
I can tell you; to miss young life unfolding
itself is surely a severe loss. Ah well, 
it has to be that way I guess.

5/
Your report on your visit to the quack was
has given me much food for thought
and firstly I was very pleased to see
he deems you both well enough to cease
visiting him.  As for the other subject
I feel that as it is such an intimate
business we can let it stand seeing a
third party has to see my letters.  In
any case, until we are together again
the problem does not arise so I'll defer
further discussion until that day comes
much closer.  However as your screeds
are rarely censored, I would prefer to
learn a bit more of his words of
wu wisdom.  It seems to me that
whether our individual opinions agree
with his or not, it would invite disaster
to ignore expert advice and really we
need not worry at all if sanity prevails.
 I now look forward to your studio
masterpiece and as you have asked

6/ 
my advice on the vital question of your
hair do, here it is for what little it is
worth. It appears fairly short and neat
in the snap and I always liked it
a bit boyish to reflect your personality
so that's about all the help I can give you.
I'm afraid my reply to your query about
the parcels is 'nothing to hand yet'
but I'm still hoping to recover them.
The lack of a sleeping suit hardly causes
me to feel cold, you don't know our island
but they are excellent for after dinner lounging.
Sorry the mail to you is spasmodic but
I'm sure better times are coming. You
said it, it's fine popping off to sleep
knowing there's little chance of a rude
disturbance, that other joint cost me
many hours of good snoozing. Thanks
for your shopping endeavors on my behalf
don't get out of your stride for those things
just take your time and all will be well.

7/
By now, my later needs will have reached
you, they aren't many so firing them up
will not prove much of a bother I hope.
Pleased you have heard from R Katie
Rowling, how rotten for Gran to be sick
and ^ how worrying for them. Glad she got over
it, at her age illness is no joke.
The news has cut out
now, my pretty, so I needs must toddle.
Very bucked that my family make
such fine progress and close loving
you both very intensely. Kiss Richard
for me and tell him Dad thinks
he’s a champ. Lots of happiness
to you both. Love to Ada, Bill and
Red and please thank the latter for
printing the snaps, they're fine.
Chin Chin precious
Dad 

tmHill 

AIR MAIL
29. 8.43

Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria
  
AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
2543 
tmHill 
 

THE SAILORS and SOLDIERS' CHURCH 
OF ENGLAND HELP SOCIETY 
FOUNDED 1915 

VX38483 Pte. M.  
Billings, District 
Accounts Office 
New Guinea 
31.8.43 
  
My Darling, 
How sweet of you, my 
pet to write me two more letters  
which came along today, those  
of numbered 28 & 30. In each, I  
see you report the arrival of one  
from me so that's fine. Oh  
what an awful growler you are  
leaning into everything and everybody 
but me.  Why my immunity, can  
it be that even in your gloomy  
moments you think I'm still a bit  
of alright? Still I reckon it's a  
good thing to blow off steam now 
and then and your woes are not  
without justification. I find it tough  
too keeping the stiff upper lip when  
prospects of being together seem 

2/ 
so far away but soon the question  
springs to mind 'what's the use' 
and one is left to cling to hopes  
spiced with a dash of faith that 
it will work out O.K. 
No wonder you're howling  
crooked on the parcels not turning  
up, but I am too but I believe 
my change of abode messed up 
chances of delivery temporarily.  
Anyhow I've written to the Base  
Post Office about it so that may  
hurry them up a bit.  There's  
no question that faulty packing  
and incorrect addressing are  
way responsible for the delay.  I'm  
sure they are in circulation still,  
communications are difficult up  
here in certain places I suppose.   
You appear to be under a misunderstanding 
about your letters,  
with very few exceptions they are  

3/ 
all to hand.  I checked up a while  
back and quoted those that had  
gone astray in a letter, only about  
three went west.  Planes crash  
at times you know. 
Enough of postal problems  
for now, much more important  
things to discuss, e.g. Mum  
and Richard.  I'm always hoping  
you two never look back and its  
bonzer to read how you both  
thrive.  Apropos the faux pas of  
mine I stand rebuked for taking  
such a liberty and shall refrain 
from any repetition.  At the same  
time my angel and principally  
because I'm an argumentative  
bird at any time.  I don't think  
you state the background of your  
objection quite correctly.  First its  
news to this fella that you weren't  
keen on his name, I can't just  
PLEASE USE OTHER SIDE

4/ 
recall you voicing opposition and  
distaste for the name. Secondly  
our compact was quite clear cut,  
if a girl the privilege was yours  
solely, if a boy it rested with me.   
It worked out that the little beaut  
was a boy and having regard to  
my agreement to refrain from nicknames  
as diminutives I've studiously  
avoided such and a single fall from  
grace has proved my undoing.   
My intention not to offend again is  
reinforced by your partiality for the  
name.  It occurs to me though  
that the matter may be outside  
our control in a few years because  
the boy himself may object as  
strenuously to the full title as  
his father does to being called  
Michael and again his associates  
may possibly not understand or 
appreciate his parent's wishes  

5/ 
or possible, give a damn about them.   
I must confess that being so far  
removed from the domestic circle  
such niceties have not the force  
they would have perhaps in happier  
surroundings but that is beside  
the point.  Now having sown the  
seed for a healthy argument I  
will pause and look forward to  
some forthright comment from you. 
Would that I were  
there to demolish the appetising  
fare you pop into the oven,  
perhaps the food would make me  
too argumentative seeing I can  
raise a feeble one on beef and 
 beans.  Treat tonight had rabbit  
and a potato followed by peaches,  
and what with little exercise and  
a huge appetite I'm waxing very  
fat but I'm too busy to work  
in physical jerks etc.