Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 12 - Part 3 of 16

4/
Deanna Durbin in 'Hers to hold'
was the big attraction and was 
quite a good show too.
Now let's cast an eye over 
your letters. Sure to be plenty of 
material for a good gossip with 
you. I see Old Sal has been 
giving you the once over too but 
you seem to be holding your own 
against the penetrating rays. The 
hot weather is all O'K in its
proper place but perpetual 
Summer is right on the bugle. 
Hardly the weather to break in
a pair of new shoes either, no 
wonder your tootsies kicked up a 
bit of a fuss. Did they stink 
too? I'm very pleased that Sylvia 
and J.D. have got away to a flying
start, looks I like Richard & 
you were born  under the wrong  
star or something. Still all 
boiled down its a case of 

5
what you lose on the swings  you
gain on the roundabouts. Lifes 
like that though and confirms the 
belief that however hard, God 
never tries you beyond human 
endurance. I strongly disagree 
with you that John is better looking
than our bloke; quite impossible 
my dear girl. His superior has 
yet to be born. Of course, I have
 not seen him but I base my 
contention on these sound facts:-

1. Your praise
2. My conceit
3. Your snaps

Without doubt, he's the
apple of your eye and you infect me 
with great enthusiasm about him. 
Jolly good too for I can have a 
share in the wealth of joy and 
pleasure every one seems to derive 
from the wee angel. I'm ever 
so pleased he finds life lots of

6/
fun for I'd hate you to be saddled 
with a nipper that worried you 
instead of delighting you. Sorry 
you still have to continue feeding 
him yourself as it must be more 
than usually exhausting in the
hot weather. You know best
however and as you put it the 
risk of flyborne infection and such 
like interference with his grub
impels you to supply him from a 
source you can be sure is not 
contaminated. You poor mothers, 
bringing up a baby is fraught
with so many difficulties and 
war time doesn't tend to decrease 
them.
I see a third of the first 
month has slipped by so we're
off to the start of the last lap of 
our separation and I even 
let my mind enjoy the luxury 
of counting the chickens. I 
don't know how long I shall 

7/
be able to stay put in Melbourne
but first things first, let a bloke
get down first and have him a 
chunk of leave. first. The heads
will decide future movements 
in any case. I know I don't bank
on anything more than 24 days
leave but I know that the 
prospects of an extension of time 
are quite far. I hope your hunch 
of something wonderful coming our 
way this year is fully borne out. 
Quite on the cards too for I'll bet 
a million to a brick the doings this
year will make all others look 
insignificant by comparison, the 
preliminaries are really over now. 
No doubt about it, a fellow gets out
of touch with things. I had to think 
hard before I could remember who 
June Markham was, well, well, 
another heir to the kingdom, 
what special brand of jungle 

8/
juice are you girls taking thats 
giving you this urge to populate. 
Well, I'm all for it, I always
believed that was the true meaning
of the white Australia policy. 
What show is [[Tom?]] Markham in, 
do you know if he's up this way.
Prepare for a G.E. screed
within the next few days. I've had
on on the agenda all the week but 
have not felt quite up to doing it 
justice. Now and again I get what I 
believe are mild bouts of malaria 
that make me listless and aching
for a couple of days. [[Atabrin?]] keeps 
it in check inasmuch as it departs 
after a day or two. Feel quite 
chirpy again so onward and 
onward. Cheerio for the nonce, 
darling and I love you (aw
shucks) you know.. a big kiss to 
you both. Micky

AIR MAIL.  9.1.44

Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

Church of England Federated War Work Council Australia
12/1/1944

VX38483  Cpl  M. Billings
Dist. Accounts Office
New Guinea

Darling Kay,
Yep, the mail is doing 
much better for us of late for to 
cap your satisfaction of landing a 
screed from P M, I have bagged 
two today from you, those of 5th & 
6th Jan both replete with much 
newsy matter. Very pleased as per
usual that Snookums and yourself
are coasting along nicely.  I see you
made the trip to Arthur's joint and
gulped a sociable cup of char with
such good hosts.  I' ve only just met
his wife a few years ago, in fact, it
was on the occasion of the debacle of
at Aunt Lili's place you will remember.
[[Pity?]] and little chap gave vent to a 
loud howl but the tooth must be
fraying the poor mites temper.  I'm
sure that's the reason why he has
not increased his weight as much

Church of England Federated War Work Council Australia

2/
usual, the soreness for one thing
would tend to put him off his oats
and with very hot weather to add
to his misery, he just doesn't feel
right at his top.  You wait until he
can gain & display a peg or two and
he'll go along fine.  Don't let it
worry you, sweet, you know he
can't be perfection all the time.
F How rotten for the sweet cherub to
cut his poor plump fingers, he may
be more wary about grabbing at things
now.  Like you, I will be mighty
pleased when he can settle down
again, for it seems all wrong for
a bubbling lad like him to face 
pain and he is such a great fella
isn't he?  Glad you managed to get
in and see that picture, it was a 
classic all right.  Seeing Richard
blissfully snoozed through it I can't see
that there's any harm in you treating
yourself to an occasional visit.  The 
atmosphere does get a bit rank but

Church of England Federated War Work Council Australia

3/
now and again it should not do him
any harm.  You must consider yourself
occasionally, [[pinhead ?]]and a peek
at a show like Random Harvest is as
good for you as anything that's going
these times.  I see quite eye to eye with
you about making the lad's well-being your
first consideration but not at the expense
of you own recreational needs altogether.
Sorry I couldn't do anything to help
you out on that other matter but it's
right out of the question, I'd have a
crack at it if I was in the race at all.
Has old Flackam down the road gone
sour on you.  Serves you right for
learning such vile habits during your
sinful youth but as one [[dwa?ee]] to
another, I have a sneaking sorrow for
you in your predicament.  Your health
report was extra good reading, that's
about the best one up to date and
I yearn mightily to cross swords with
you and see just how husky and
lissome the body beautiful is.