#7 I. T. S.
Saskatoon, Sask.
Oct 14, 1942

Dear Mother:

Well it looks as if we are here for two weeks anyway. The system for Q flight has been changed and I don’t think it is the easy life it used to be. Some of us have been attached to #1 Sqdn and those ones go to classes this week and the rest of us do the dirty work. Next week we turn about. I was lucky enough not to get any of the mess jobs such as waiter but I have got a rotten job which will last all week. It is helping to clean the storm windows for all the buildings and there are hundreds of these windows. It is very monotonous and as we don’t work very hard it is also rather cold. Three of the flights have really good jobs driving cars or trucks and about six are S. P.s which is comparatively. Some more went off to town to guard a Hurricane which is to be on display for some time.

Advantages that we have are no roll call or parades, no inspections (I have not touched my buttons since I have arrived) and a twelve o’clock pass every night.

I just traded an apple for a cigarette and as it was a very good apple I asked where it came. Result. I find that Hughes-Games stays in the same room as I. There are two others from Kelowna in his flight altho I don’t think I know them. I met ex-Kelowna Max Oakes yesterday. Also the four people at #4 S. F. T. S. that I know are here now.

We have a new cook at the station and it seems to have made quite a difference. For instance we have bread and jam and cocoa late at night, ketchup occasionally, and they say they had chicken one night.

When in Vancouver I went out to the airport but a ride seemed out of the question. The weather was poor and there was no flying that day but they say it is rather hard to get flips anyway nowadays.

The day before I left Bill Hudson enlisted as a private in the artillery. Just about that time Charlie Craster was commissioned at Gordon Head. He is also in the artillery and Bill fervently hopes fate doesn’t put them in the same platoon.

The last night was spent at the Cave—six of us, mostly from the boarding house. The place was as packed as if it was Saturday night so we didn’t dance very much.

On Saturday afternoon it simply poured which was very ungrateful of Vancouver.

The mail system has been changed here so you can forget about Squadrons and flights—but Not the LAC part.

With love from
Tony.

[Note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]