Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 10 - Part 16 of 18

5
pay as much attention to you in the snaps
as Richard and the last batch reveal
the tell tale marks of sleepless nights
and that, for an inveterate spine basher
as you is definitely on the bugle.
However you know all that and I'm sure
you won't be satisfied until you are
right back at your top. Your  damn
lucky to be able to frolic around with
the nip, what fun and joy you must
have. Believe you me there's nothing
much worse than having such a beaut
son and be unable to participate in
the sunshine that radiates from him.
Yes, so the first anniversary of his
conception has gone by, I pray I don't
miss being on hand for his first
birthday. Should have a good chance
of being there before that day.

6/
The beady eyes grow misty as I
read your touching recollections of those
glorious months in Brisbane. Shall
get to grips with the G.E. letter soon and
talk about those days and nights
and others too. It would be strange
if we did not miss each other acutely,
you We are so much on in love that
separation is more to us than to
most people.
The news about Fean &
Swanee (I thought he was a goner)
is magnificent. Quite apart from the
family's personal joy, those worthies were
comrades in many an escapade in the
days we enjoyed so much. For Shiela
though I'm very happy that his
steadfast faith gets some reward and a
promise of happiness when the Shamble

7/
is over.
Two parcels for me yesterday
whacko! One from you and a cake
from someone, the writing on the
cover looks like Sheilas. Yours contained
lots of writing paper, envelopes, peaches,
pills and powder. Thanks so much
darling. You are most kind to your
Micky.
The news from here is about
the same. Feel very well except for
a slight heat rash on the [[?]]
I suppose I'm acclimatized now for the
heat and I mean heat has ceased to
worry me. Managed a quick swim before
tea tonight which does me good.
Cheerio now precious, I long
to be with you to tell you and show
you how much I love you. Big kiss 
for Richard.  Dad

tmHill
Pr00610
Australian 
War Memorial 

11.10.43
Air Mail

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

Vx 38483.Cpl M. Gillings
District Accounts Office
New Guinea 14.10.43

My Darling,
At last here is the long
promised G.E. letter and tis pleased
I am to be after getting it started.
It so happens so that I am on duty at
the office tonight and have spent the
last hour or so perusing you letters
to find out if I had forgotten
anything and to prepare an agenda
of subjects fitted for such an auspicious
occasion. Before immersing myself in
these questions, I'll briefly touch on the
mundane matters. No letters from you
for 4 days so that's terrible but we
can take it. Hope you are faring better.
I am quite well, have plenty of work
so there are no complaints on that score.

2/
Weather has been beastly hot but a
tropical thunderstorm after tea cleared
the air and theres a fair breeze now.
Hope Richard and you are both hale
and hearty too, I' m confident that you
are. Entertainment report:- Swimming
daily after work thanks to day light
Saving, pictures viewed 'Rio-Rita'
- fairly good. Reveille with Beverly
on tomorrow night, sounds screwy
but you have to take a chance.
 Having disposed of that, lets pass
to the subjects in whose benefit a
G.E. letter is being penned. Perhaps
not a choice one for a beginning but
you referred to your intention to take
the little chap to the quack shortly
for shall we say 'that certain operation'.
I don't know if you want my comments

3/
about it but I'm positive its a t
necessary for him. If its left until
later in life it is a nasty business
to have done. Due to some whim
I suppose, I was not done at all
and in these hot climates suffer
much irritation as a consequence.
It will upset the little bloke for a few
days but later benefits more than offset
those that
Pat had a day off earlier
in the week and called to see me.
He has quite regained his composure
but eagerly awaits his return home.
From what he said it won't be very
long now until you see him. Showed
me all his snaps and he and I are
as one in desire to see our folks.
particularly the wife and bairn(s)

4/
By the way. how are the
finances? In a sound state I take
it having regard to the prudent
management you have shown up to
date. Anyhow let's know how you are
fixed. For my part I'm still poor in
worldly wealth but surrounded by
riches of the kind that count. Not
going without much though so don't
feel sorry for me. When I get my
corporal's pay I shall be a
comparative Croesus. or nearly anyway.
My bank Statement to Sep 30 tells me
Richard's Trust Fund totals £13 odd
that is if his aged parents don't
collar it to save them from the
work' us. My present intention when
the increased pay comes through
is to leave it accumulate at least

5/
for a time and if you should require
some part it can easily be remitted
from here. Let me know your ideas
on the matter as your well-being is
the paramount consideration. I can
see you have the makings of a Scrooge
snatching the pennies from your infant
son and locking them up in a nasty
musty vault. The money box idea
is swell because I'm very adept
with a knife. Hee. Hee!
This letter would not be
complete without a page or two devoted
to our lovemaking raptures in Brisbane.
I intend to reminisce much further
back than that, right back to our
seven day wonder honey moon.
Although it seemed to pass in a flash
the world stood still for us many times

6/   gauche
I'll pass by the wedding itself and
just refer to the warby transport
arrangements we were handed en route
to Mornington. I'll never forget
you when for the first time you were
confronted with the prospect of spending
a night with a man who incidentally.
was your husband. The realisation
had suddenly burst upon you of your
new estate and I hardly think I
exaggerate in saying you were a
little timorous. Still it would have
been a bad time to discover you had
married a satyr. I'll confess my
savoir faire was not 100% but your
tentative efforts to disrobe perceived I
might tell you by surreptitious glances
helped me maintain my composure.
However after champagne (a brilliant