Letter to Janet Bogle, 27 March 1942

27/3/42

Dear Janet
I am sending a blossom in the hope that it may retain some of its scent: its external appearance of course will not be enhanced by a sea voyage. Not many of the flowers here seem to have any great scent – possibly on account of lack of water. There are roses, some of which look fair enough, but that’s all there is to them, compared with NZ blooms. Also there are hardly any birds here, which is of course directly due to the lack of water. So much for flora & fauna. I am very broad minded in my interests. I have been having quite a stirring time lately with various works – of which I shall blow at length some future date – but cannot tell you now. There have been several changes of one sort & another as no doubt is to be expected. No lack of work and no sign of that running out either. I have been recently at a sort of country estate where we are putting in some camp quarters and it is quite the most attractive place I have come across here, with open spaces, lawns and huge English trees. I hope you are having a satisfactory time whatever you are at at the moment and keeping an eye on your poor mamma. She no doubt is [?] in reorganising her farm, when not struggling with bridge accounts! Well –
Much love to you all
Dad