#21

423 Sqdn.
RCAF.
April 11. 1944.

Dear Mother:

Parcel No. 5 arrived last week. That’s the one with the tomato juice, peaches etc. Thank you very much. I think I will save the peaches for some special occasion altho I cannot think when there would be such a thing around here—yesterday (Easter Monday) should have been the occasion I suppose. No. 2 has not arrived. We have done well in the hut lately with toasted cheese sandwiches, cake and coffee before going to bed.

Have done well in the mess also with eggs for breakfast three days in a row and an egg for supper tonight. I cannot understand this sudden but welcome influx of eggs.

Some time in October I took out a $100 bond to be paid for by monthly deductions from my pay. It should be fully paid at the end of this month but the thing is I cannot remember what instructions I gave for its delivery. (Very unlike me to do that.) It may be coming to you or the bank so will you keep an eye open for it.

I have quite a time looking after my bike. I lent it to a chap one night and found it the next day at the mess rather than at my billet. Another time a chap borrowed it, forgot what it looked like and returned with another having no idea where the change took place. I found it the following afternoon outside the engineering office. Today somebody took it without permission from the mess. When I got back to the billet I found it waiting there with a flat tire. Luckily I have a repair kit and had the machine serviceable in no time. I would like to know who the culprit was though.

My skipper got those photographs of the crew when he was on leave but not all of them unfortunately and the one with me in it is missing. However they are interesting shots and I will get the numbers so that you can write perhaps to Ottawa for copies.

We are now on double daylight saving. This was tough at first but I broke myself in gently by skipping breakfast and sleeping in half an hour longer than usual. But the evenings are wonderfully long and it is a pity there is nothing worthwhile to do. Perhaps I shall take up tennis again if I can find an opponent and if the balls will bounce at all.

It is going to be lovely around here soon. This place was formerly a fairly large estate and is quite like a park—not yet spoilt by its present inhabitants. Some flowers are blooming already. I don’t know what kind but when I was coming p the path from the slip I noticed a most delightful scent. The owner of the place used to be commodore of the yacht club so the obvious conclusion is there are sailing boats in the vicinity and perhaps I will get some sailing this summer.

At present the popular sport is softball and we have quite a league representing the various sections. I don’t think I will join the team as it was never one of my favorite games.

Still do the odd spot of P.T. but the incentive to go (if you remember what that was) is not so strong due to recent impositions.

I hope you are now quite recovered from your cold and not missing any more Red X meetings.

With love from Tony.

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]