28-2-43

Dear Mum – This has been quite a successful month all in all. Several back-date letters from you have arrived, another from Joan, my first one from Thos, book-parcel from Mrs Bassett, and clothing-parcel from England. I have been much puzzled to know what is happening to poor George these days. He appears to have been in camp, to have been sick, to have been in Tirau, and all sorts of things, but perhaps I will be able to piece the whole thing together one of these days. In an earlier letter I mentioned sending some cartoons home for a Belgian pal of mine here, and here are the instructions in case the first bunch go missing: just post them to either the Free Lance or the Weekly News – whichever seems best – with a letter explaining where they come from, and asking the paper to pay into his banking account. Perhaps my old pal Hazel Maud could arrange it, or Joan would. He’s a good chap – is helping me with my French, and I’d like to help him in return. For the rest, we are continuing to get along O.K. here, but I’m afraid there’s not much real news. Look after yourself, Mum. Love to yourself, Hazel and co. from Arnold G.