Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 11 - Part 14 of 24

2/ 
as those days. The location is near 
the spot where I recuperated from  
malaria a few months ago. It is  
beautifully cool here and it is a 
treat to snooze under a blanket 
again. The trip up here is a  
treat, the scenery and views are  
magnificent as the bus toils its  
way up a narrow mountain road. 
I expect the spell to be very beneficial  
as well as making the job a bit  
easier to control.   
And now let's see what you
have to say, my pretty.  Glad the 
letters were rolling in OK prior to 
the crisis.  Seeing the G.E letters 
received such acclaim, I shall pen 
another when I return from this  
jaunt. Of course the  star turn of  
your letters was the three snaps 
and I can tell you I was looking  
forward to them. They were 
well worth waiting for, the respective  
studies being well chosen. The 
growth and development of Richard

3/ 
are most marked and I am so  
proud to be the father of such a  
snorter kid.  He's a beaut alright 
 with such a cheerful expression.   
It's not hard to see that he's a  
happy little chap. The pictures 
of you weren't so hot but as you 
assumed a secondary role in favor 
of the lad, it's hardly surprising. 
I hope the next batch consist of 
one of you without the young scene  
stealer. Mother certainly has aged, 
poor dear, but that's another thing 
not to be wondered at.  Thanks so 
much pet, they were like water 
to a man dying of thirst.   
Too bad, the rigors of  
summer travel are so severe. I 
hope you can manage a few 
outings all the same. With his  
poundage now, its no wonder 
your back feels the strain,  Thanks 
very much for the cures you are 
sending up, the spots have been

4/ 
arrested so your preparation will put 
the kybosh on it properly and you 
never know it may break out again. 
The other tack will have to be good 
to beat the rash as our joint is   
like an oven lately day & night. 
Just the price of those things, dear.   
You just don't buy any more of those 
things.  You will finish  in the poor 
house.  I'll fix up that business 
of the color patch as soon as I get 
back to the unit.  I overlooked 
it before.  I get your slant on the 
matter O.K. and it will come in  
handy later on.   
The personal matters in 
your letters I shall defer until I 
get immersed in a G.E effort. 
So goodnight, sweetheart, all my 
love to you and give Master 
Richard a big kiss from his 
old man. 
Micky 

AERead 

29.11.43 
AIR MAIL 
  
Mrs. M. Billings 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria  
  
AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
2447 
AERead

VX38483. Cpl. M. Billings 
District Accounts Office 
New Guinea, 5.12.43. 
  
Darling Kay,   
Well here I am back at 
the ranch and anxious to get a page 
or two away to you. I sent you a 
letter from up there which you will 
probably receive before this one. First 
my solicitude for Richard & you impel 
me to trust that you are both in 
prime shape, no coughs colds etc to 
trouble your existence. I am O.K. the 
change to a cool spot was not hard to 
take I can tell you.  Great was my  
pleasure when I returned to find 
three letters from you, all free of grim 
forebodings.  They were those of 24, 25 
& 26 Nov: you must have been in a
stew the latter was dated 26 Sept.

2/ 
  
I hope your fears have long since been 
brought to nought as I'm sure the   
hold-up has finished at your end  
too. Just one of the periodical stoppages  
that seem to happen occasionally and  
will occur again I suppose.  Your nerves  
certainly cannot be in a very sound 
state, don't anticipate your troubles  
they're bad enough when it happens 
nothing to be gained by getting in  
early. You needn't be worried about 
me. life is as free from hazard as  
though I were in Melbourne. There  
hasn't been any hate in this place  
for many a month and the war  
seems to have left this zone for keeps  
thanks to the efforts of the fightin'  
men. The game stinks when the  
spectators get hurt.  Well one of the

3/ 
  
screeds had three more snaps in it 
and as usual they came in for many 
a look-see.  Swell snaps too of the  
cherub but I still wait in vain for  
a good one of you.  Maybe a bit later 
eh?  Anyhow the little bloke looks 
a sight for sore eyes, bashing the 
spine like an expert and putting on 
his turn like a seasoned performer. 
Although there's not much of you to behold 
you look pretty sound and very chic 
in your snowy apparel.  I can well 
believe he's nearing 17lb for he's a very  
sturdy chap but not flabby. Truly a 
delightful chappie, an asset to any proud 
brace of parents.  Haven't had much  
of a chance to do the several things 
mentioned in your letter but will get  
a G.E. letter away to you very early

4/ 
  
this week and clean 'em all up including 
the color patch.  The parcel with the  
skin medicaments has arrived O.K, thanks 
a lot but I must say the 9/11 worth 
of stamps on the cover caused the rash 
to itch abominably.  I must be an 
alarmist 'cos I really am not suffering 
much but after that expense the itch 
will just have to go away.  Very handy 
another windfall from unk, let 'em 
all come for when the shindy finishes 
up it will cost us a pretty penny. 
Not that that worries me what I 
can't lay my paws on I shall borrow. 
Getting the goods themselves may present 
a bigger problem at the start anyway. 
I'll elaborate plenty on that theme 
in the G.E.  An unexpected irritation 
interruption has left me with less.

5/ 
  
time at my disposal.  Thought Norm  
Harris would be showing up soon 
down there, long time since he's had 
leave.  I bet Richard is in his element 
now he's ensconced in a cot, quite a  
young man now done with infantile 
things like bassinets.  The delivery of 
the xmas book was very smart, they 
are not bad literary works and as 
well have a satisfactory historical 
interest.  You gave me a good idea, I 
think its not too late to get one for 
your mother, will see what I can do  
tomorrow and let you know how I  
fare in the next letter.  Don't worry 
about not being able to get a studio 
picture of Richard, the snaps of him 
are marvellous and more animated 
and intimate than they could ever be. 

6/ 
  
I'm hopeful of a letter from you 
tomorrow, the service is not as good  
as it used to be so will have to 
adjust ourselves to waiting a day or 
two longer.   
Not much news from here 
but I guess you're used to that by now. 
Christmas approaches, bad show I 
won't be spending it with you.  Got 
a hunch it will be different in 1944 
somewhere.  Hope so, that would be  
a bit of alright.   
I'll have to ask you to 
hold the line for another day, lights 
out and all that kind of twaddle, 
dontcherknow.  Cheerio sweetheart, 
kiss the angel for me and I'm 
loving you all day and every day. 
Micky 

TMHill