Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 12 - Part 6 of 16

22.1.1944

VX 38483 Sgt. M. Billings  
Dist. Accounts Office 
New Guinea 

Darling Kay, 
Its awful to read 
constantly that you are being disappointed 
in your mail expectations. 
Hang them, I'm writing often enough 
so can’t understand what’s amiss 
with the delivery. I hope by the time 
this reaches you several of its predecessors 
will have reached you for 
absence of words from one’s sole 
love is not easy to endure. I’m  
not be to do much to brighten your  
lonely days and when that little I  
can do fails to materialise I feel  
woefully inadequate. I’ve been more  
fortunate for I had yours of the  
15th today to break the silence. 
The mail position of late has been 
most unsatisfactory and it seems  
to be worse going in the reverse  
direction. I posted a G.E. away to

2/
you two days ago to  and a little 
vainly, I think the contents will 
please you. Your previous kind 
reception to my efforts encourage me 
to feel that those letters arent futile 
by any means. Shall pop off another 
next week. Sorry that Master  
Richard is not thriving quite so 
well as you wish but after all, pet,  
he is gaining. Maybe he got a bit 
ahead early in the piece and has 
slowinged up slightly to balance 
things. I have a hunch  the heat 
and approaching teeth have a lot 
to do with it. Male ignorance but 
you must admit it’s reasonable. Talking 
about teeth, I wouldn’t be a bit  
surprised if your trouble is not 
caused by a calcium deficiency. You 
must remember you’ve been nursing 
a baby for 7 months and as you 
have to supply that essential to the 
bairn as well as provide for yourself ,  
my theory sounds plausible. You see

3/ 
what happens when he ditches you 
for the solids. When that day comes 
you will find yourself possessed  
of a lot more vitality and vigor. 
So don’t worry your curly thatch
just yet, these minor setbacks and 
ailments are all part of the weaning 
cycle. Mind you I haven’t much any 
knowledge about such things but I’m  
sure it’s all due to natural causes 
and there’s nothing wrong with 
either of you that a bit more time 
won’t cure. That all sounds a bit 
impersonal, particularly as both of 
you are missing out on the Spine 
bashing but you know anyhow I 
don’t feel that way at all for I 
want nothing more than for you 
both to have things as easy for you 
as possible. 
Nice for you to see your 
little sister after so long particularly 
aft to find her looking very well. 
She had a bad run of outs for

4/ 
a very long time. However there’s 
nothing like the sweet bush to  
act as a healing agent.  Nature's kind 
to those who become her subjects. 
Fancy old George having such a  
hoary complaint like rheumatism. 
Don't sound much like a chap who 
was so fond of the violent sports not 
so long ago.  We must be aging or 
has he been on the plonk?  Very  
nice of them to invite us to pay a 
visit.  and  I think its a good wheeze 
and we should be make it easily 
enough.  I would like you to get away 
from the city and get some fresh 
air into you after battling through 
a strenuous year. As you are  
waiting to hear from me before 
committing yourself, I give the idea 
my unqualified blessing for for  
my part the prospect of a quiet bludge 
in dear old Gippsland sounds 
very attractive.  I think your plans 
to dispose of the pram when the 

5/ 
nipper outgrows it is as usual sound  
for an inferior article will only 
depreciate all the time more so  
 in idleness and as far as space 
is concerned I often wonder how the 
hell you have managed to cram 
yourself and , the lad and all 
your traps into that one room. 
God knows what it will be like 
when that great oaf of a husband 
of yours moves in with his junk. 
Another bundle of papers 
from you has arrived so thanks 
that provides my weekend reading. 
After my hectic endeavors of this 
week I let down my plaits on 
Sunday.   Not much else in the way 
 of news, the pictures last night 
were good.  The Major & the Minor 
with Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland. 
Very funny show, that girl is some 
comedienne.  Strella Wilson & Edwin 
Styles gave a show last Thursday but  
I was on duty so missed it.

6/ 
I had a letter from John written 
from Townsville so it appears he's 
coming across the water for a  
second dose.  He was very bored 
on that place but the benefit of 
his spell was apparent in the tone 
of his letter. 
So that brings another 
letter to a close. I go now to  
seek solace in a powerful snooze 
although its so hot getting off is 
a hard task. Cheerio, my 
darling Puss, every scrap of my 
love and heaps of kisses to 
my two precious ones. 
Dad

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES         
PASSED BY CENSOR 
2548 
AIR MAIL  
22.1.44
  
Mrs M Billings  
548 Barkers Road,  
East Hawthorn  
Victoria 

VX38483. Sgt M Billings
Dist. Accounts Office New
Guinea, 25.1.44 
  
My Darling,  
Once again, pray accept 
my fondest greetings to you and  
the boy Richard. Very sorry I  
cannot report the arrival of a wad 
of letters from you but since the  
solitary one of the 15th there 
have been no more. I fear our  
once if rigid mail service has  
deteriorated for keeps and our  
morale with it too. I have now  
adopted the role of Micawber but 
it seems all too rare when some- 
thing in the shape of letters from  
you turns up. Maddening when  
I know you are often sitting up 
late at night to write them to  
me. Enough of whinging for tonight,  
tomorrow may be a different day.  
By the way, the parcel of list 
books is on its way so keep

your eyes open for the calico covered 
parcel. You were stay saying that 
when and if my kitbag reaches  
you, you would leave the picking  
of the lock until my arrival. I 
admire your scruples but you 
must realise that the junk inside  
has been cooped up in them for 
nearly a year and naturally the 
contents must be getting a bit 
musty. So please play burglar 
and let the sweet air in and 
save at least two good shirts 
I left in it. Do as Daddy asks  
and be a good girl. The arrival  
of your next letter will be a godsend 
for I feel literally starved for  
some 'good guts' of the family. The 
little bloke hasn't been the best 
lately so I look forward to 
the 'flash' that he has a 'toof'. 
As for you, you have been a  
bit skimpy of late regarding