2 May 44

Dear Jean:
How the days whisk by. Tuesday, and the mail both yesterday and today was disappointing, bringing no letter from you. Probably it will come along tomorrow. However, I'd better get this off or the week will be too far gone. Not much exciting since my last. Its work work work, as it should be, but there isnt much to write about that. It is going better all the time, and even more interesting too, because we are learning more about it all the time. Of course there are the bad moments, when nobody seems to be able to do a thing right, even myself.
Did not get over to Morris's on the week end, Ecila expected to be away for a couple of days, and I don't like to let Mrs M fuss about getting a meal or tea, when she is alone. Also had some work to do, the kind which has to be done on a Sunday, when things are quiet. I make it a point of letting my boys have the Sunday off, they need one day a week off the work, and the work is the kind that suffers quickly if the crew got fagged. It calls for great concentration, and care, and their wits must be bright and sharp or the work suffers.

Weve been getting a bit of sunbathing though, often have been able to get in ½ hour after lunch, and on Sunday over an hour. Certainly makes a difference. I seem to tan quickly this year, perhaps the last years is still partly there. I suppose you and Mary have been having some sunny days too. May should be a fine month there.

Bert Hammond and I had dinner together Sunday evening at the little inn where we sometimes go. It was nice to get away, it is only about 20 minutes away on the bike. Bert is still with Lyle Trorey's coy, and I guess he gets a bit fed up occasionally. Lyle is not an easy man to live with, and I should never select him for a boss. Next week end I am thinking seriously of going down to Haywards, will stay just one night, if the weather holds, it should be lovely there.

I may not have mentioned before that Bert Hayward bought a fine piece of water-front property at Mill Bay, near the Solarium it is about 30 acres, has a small sand beach, and some rock, it is partly cleared, but has some acreage of timber. There is a house on it, but not a good house. I know the spot pretty well, and have seen air photographs of it which Bill Hall got for Bert. It has a southern exposure, being on the north side of Mill Bay. Since the war, and even before I have always thought I should like to have a bit of country property, not too much, but something easy to get at, and yet where I could afford to have more than just one acre. I asked Bert some time ago what he would take for his place. He said if he sold it he would give me the first chance and would take what he paid for it in 1937. I think it is $5000. He also stipulated that if I didn't keep it, for myself, and sold it at a profit, he would want ½ the gain. Dad Hall was looking after it for him, and now I believe John Rodd is taking on the power of attorney. I'm curious to know what you think of us taking on such a proposition. I've always thought I'd prefer to retire on a country place, rather than live in town, and if so would want more room than 1 acre. This place of Berts has a number of very attractive features, as you can see. Bert Hammond, who knows that district well says he would jump at the offer, even as an investment, on Hayward's terms. I havent mad any definite response to his proposition, of course, as you would have to be consulted. In the meantime, Hayward has a chance to lease it for 3 years, and was considerate enough to phone me the other day to see what I thought. I said that if John Rodd had found a good tenant for him who would look after the place, that he should by all means lease it for that time. I don't see us getting out of the army and back home for a year, and I told Bert that it would take a year after that before I know what course my life was likely to take, so even if we did wish to take it then, w would not be inconvenienced by a year on the lease. So tell me your reaction to this particular proposition, and to my general idea of acquiring a desirable piece of country property sometime. There has been some talk of rehabilitation for soldiers who have Industrial employment, but who want small rural homesites. If there is such a thing I'd be very keen to take advantage of it.

Have the enlargement of the group picture, but must get a proper sized envelope for sending it. Well dear, this is rather a lop-sided letter.

All my love to you and Mary

GER