Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 13 - Part 7 of 11

3/
on the tooth, there's nothing to 
be worried about. . He fine ahead
O.K. that funny little guy.
Suppose you are full of
plans for your first move and
subsequent efforts to infuse into
the joint that elusive flavour
that is defined as home. Well now
its on, I'm fair panting to get
down to grab me a goodly measure
of its charms and comforts, not
to mention coyly, those of it's
occupants. One thing, Army life
is so devoid of the essentials that
make life less of a bother than it
is, that the sweetheart, the wife
the bairn and the home are
properly appreciated when a chap
is fortunate enough to get amongst
them. Well. if you approve and
mother does too, the plan is
O.K for women are the hardest
proposition to please in such

4/
matters. I'm not taking a shot at
you, old bean, its just as well
you are for they would probably foist off
any old crib off on to the old
man if he had the choosing.
It will be goodo if folks will
bunk in with you for a while
until your noble protector moves
in. However, I think your windy
scares are a bit of a turn for
I never thought you the type to
scare too easily, you hellcat. Its
your imagination running away
with you, the place is so remote
you'll be lucky to have anyone
near the place. Pity your radio
is cronk, any hope of getting it
fixed or did you manage to
get it going again. Just settle
in and bide a little while longer
and sweetheart, we'll get our
money's worth out of the shack
Whooee, it will be grouse.

5/ 
Back again to the old routine now
daylight saving has cut out. All
for it myself up here, seemed
to have much more time f to
yourself then. Now its dark after
tea which is now earlier and the
night seems terribly long for
there's precious little fun and
games on and no place to go.
If it were as in the good old
times, a chap would be lounging
on the porch of the local,
leisurely sipping a 'coldy' and
gossiping with the jolly planters.
Getting a fair bit of fresh fruit
now, always seems to be a case
of Jonathans in the mess. Sick
to death of tinned stuff, in
fact any grub out of a tin but a
chap must keep up the strength.
Told in you in my last letter
about whacking up your
allotment by a couple of bob.

6/
this will confirm it so that
will increase your cheque by
28/- a pay. Hope it will suffice
until I get down anyway, but
in any case, there’s no more other
to source of wealth to tap except
that piece taped out for our
long range plan and I would be
very loth to bust into that for
anything bad emergencies. Let
it go for now, will iron it out
successfully. One other matter,
my insurance should be renewed
in March but I've heard nothing
of it. Would you ask Mum about
it and if she knows nothing about it,
ask her to enquire from Chas.
Ta Sweet. Goodnight once
more, will whizz along another
Sunday. A big kiss for the
toothy scamp and as well
all my love to you, little
Mother
Micky

31.3 44
AIR MAIL

Mrs. C. H Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria 

AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
2543

VX 38483 Sgt. M. Billings
Dist Accounts Office
New Guinea. 2. 4. 44

Darling,
How are you, sweet? Goodo, huh or
just so-so. Had yours of the 27th yesterday so
am grateful for it and the respectable length or
this would peter out very smartly for lack of
something to write about. Hope the short time
elapsing between the dates of writing and receipt
keep up.
Contrary young devil, young Richard,
not doing the right thing by the plate and
bed but apart from a standstill in the matter
of weight, his development and progress remain
unimpaired, must feel there are more amusing
things to do than eating. Still, he's not
losing a solitary ounce and there can't be much
at fault with a tiny dynamo like that. Time to
do the biscuit when he's on the dull and
listless stunt. Although I've never met the
blighter, I reckon he's very sound keeping on his
toes so well, for the change over from the type
of nourishment he's had from birth to the more
advanced diet would be rather revolutionary to his
internal apparatus. Very glad you feel Ok
too. You will need to if your purposeful

2/
determination to transfer the prospective H.Q into a
palace. I can picture a fierce medley of brooms, pans
buckets and things when you move in. Now don't
go busting yourself and try to get it all done in a
trice but then, patience was never a strong point
with you so I may as well shut up. Still, if I come
home and find you tuckered out, even though the
place is like a new pin, there'll be a blue. You
see that although we have been married but
nearly two years, we've hardly had much time
living as man and wife so as the song has it
'It's You I'm After' and if you are the darling
bundle of 1942, the bundle of Brisbane beauty, well
I probably won't even notice where the house is
or how many rooms it has. I observe a strict
priority in the order 1/ you 2/ Richard, the
rest of things in the perspective the three of us put them.
Don't get to thinking your fine acquisition leaves me
cold but after a long time for clear reflection, I
insist on a proper sense of proportion, and things
living are much better to love than inanimate
possessions. One thing about your flat I notice
you sedulously refuse to discuss beyond the bare
announcement, to wit the rent. I think I can dope
that out this way. When planning your life after
marriage I bet you never imagined you would fork
out 47/6 a week for rent and when you were

3/ 
confronted with that sum for a shop cum-house,
mmm; quoth you to yourself, 'This is plenty tough
and Pa will think it highway robbery too so I will'
Soft pedal on that aspect and concentrate on the
place's amenities as an offset. It is iniquitous too
but they have got you just where they want you these
days, its fiesta for the blackmarketeers, and
profiteers, the swine but we'll have our day to
have and while I'm in the Army we should have
enough to keep the flag flag flying. It's a bad show
though, they bring the menfolk well away and then
toss their wives to the wolves. I'm afraid the AIF
did a far better job for their outfit than it does
and will do for them. Ah well, enough of
controversy, no good getting steamed up and if I
find my darling Kay sweet & lovable and Richard as
good as he sounds, I'll toss in New Guinea, the
rent and charge them against experience. Got a
foothold on April now and May brings my total
to twelve months. I shall start pestering the
big shots then about a change of scenery but like
all delectable visions, it will take a while to get
some action. Still and all, it it can't be very
far off. Hope your move is not fraught with any
irritations although you haven't so much to transfer
as yet. Am looking forward to your first
impressions as the tenant in occupation.

4/ 
I see Dorcas has already arrived on the scene,
building up for her turn. But why the pour Dorc
angle when she is terribly bucked about it. Don't you
know this is the open season for suffering and
a Salutary dose of pain and childbirth is the only
class known that is productive of any good, Frankly
I'll grow quite callous of the bodily miseries of the
frail mankind, Seen too much of the mess and
sampled one or two varieties, it either goes away
or bumps you off and except for those you love
and who love you, who gives a hoot. Gee, I'm still
making a hell of a lot of digressions, let’s keep to
to the subject.
I wouldn't feel badly about having to
big buy a few things necessary to have some comfort
particularly when they are items of a capital
nature, provided you have the coin, of course. We'll
always have to have a home so there's little odds
in getting a few stocks now instead of later. Its
things that we'll have no later use for that are the
bane for they eat into our slender resources and
give no permanent return.
Very interested in your synopsis of
the Torronga Road scheme. You all certainly
explored the prospects but barring an unlikely docility
on the part of the occupiers, the machinery to
toss 'em out is very protracted and cumbersome,

5/ 
It Seems hardly worth while to pursue the matter
the array of ‘cants’ and ‘ifs’ is formidable and one
thing I have often thought about, is that whatever way
it turns, some embarrassment must be caused your
mother and I won't have her peace disturbed on our
account.
By the way, that Xmas Book for your mother
will be O.K. The order was duly received in Melb. but
the demand for the book far outran the supply so 
there's a waiting list until more are published.
Sunday today and a lazy day is
havin being had by all. Slept like a top last
night for a wonder, the chaps tell me I usually
toss and yell out half the night. Can't be my
conscience for I can't find any sin to get in here.
Quite virtuously I can say I have hardly tasted
grog for a year nor gone out with women, good or
bad, what a model husband you have but I
incongruous as the association is, I look forward
to renewing my acquaintance with both soon.
shame on you picking a place so far from a tavern,
I'll be worn out travelling between them.
With those heavy pleasantries, I now
prepare for the coming banquet, well first lave the
body with a pail of water. Cheers. Sweetheart and give the 
imp Father's Special greeting. For you, precious, I
just want to say I love you to bits. Daddy Micky