Sunday 15 Sept.

Dearest Susan, Tonia and Cameron,

Well, here I am on the midnight shift at the Ops Centre. I have to do one shift a week now, for awhile until Bruce Archibald finishes a special job with the Greeks. Oh well, I guess I can sleep tomorrow. Funny thing is that we expect the third major round of fighting to start early tomorrow, if it is going to start at all. The Turks sent four aircraft over yesterday for photo-reconnaissance (first time since the last war) but everything appears quiet tonight and I doubt that anything will happen. The Turks have been bringing refugees down to Nicosia all night (over 1000 vehicles so far) in preparation for the exchange which starts tomorrow.

My job has quieted down a bit lately – mostly little problems. I now have quite a lot of friends on both sides and have even got a few invitations to their houses (haven't accepted yet) Did have lunch with the head of the Red Cross on the Turkish side today, at the SARAY hotel – took 3½ hours. We do a lot of work for and with them. The head of the Turkish Electricity Board, Mr Raïf, cannot get baby food for his baby, so I took him a case from a Greek shop yesterday. He has done a number of personal favors for me.

I've received two letters from you this past week. Thank you. I'm glad Tonia is enjoying school, although I'm not sure you should have given in to her demand to go with the other two kids. However, I don't suppose it will warp her for life. I sure miss watching the kids grow up... I look at their picture regularly but they have probably already changed.

Quite a pay raise for us...$270 per month, which puts it over $20,000 per year. I have a feeling will put it to good use. Starts with 15 Oct. paycheck.

I understand they announced on TV that 2000 will stay until March. Although we hardly know anything these days, it is very unlikely will stay till then...in fact, if only 2000 stays, RHQ will likely come home. But in any case, we have been told 1 Dec and no one has said anything different. Needless to say, the morale has dropped, especially with the guys who came in April. I know several guys who only got back from Egypt in May, and are now here until..???

The evening movies have been rather poor of late. I’ve played softball twice and we are trying to form a soccer team to play the Brits, Danes, etc. I spend quite a bit of my “spare” time on the terrace, sipping gin collins with the juke box (officers mess own...free) playing some rather old hit tunes. It helps to preserve my sanity. If only we could take a whole day off...I’d love to sleep in just once.

Here I am at the end of this dumb form. Keep busy and keep your spirits up, group. I think of you constantly.

With all my love,
Kenn