Dear Pennie,
Can't write on this, it squeaks.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
Same to you, as I wrote to the other kids.
Lots of love, Nan
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
England - London - 24.8.1957
Dear Pennie,
Can't write on this, it squeaks.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
Same to you, as I wrote to the other kids.
Lots of love, Nan
Monday, July 30, 2012
France - Paris - 22.8.1957
Hotel Ronceray, Boulevard Montmartre, Paris - 22.8.1957
Dear Pennie,
La Madeleine is a very famous church, don't ask me why! Except that is is rather beautiful. My hotel is fairly close to it. You just should see my bath! The plug hole is right in the middle of the bath and there is a very long chain on the plug, with an aluminum ball attached to the other end which floats with you.
Lots of love, Nan
Hotel Ronceray, Boulevard Montmartre, Paris - 22.8.1957
Dear Merry,
It is great fun to eat in these places right on the footpath because you can see all the people pass by. It's not so good when it rains though.
Lots of love, Nan
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Switzerland - Neuchatel - 19.8.1957
Dear Rosemary,
This is only a short note to say 'Howdy'. Please give my love to the 'small fry' and also to Rip. This is another adventure of the 'hat'. 'see far right in this photo'. It is in Neuchatel by the Lake wall the first time we arrived here. I didn't know I'd got them in till I got the picture printed. Well there's no news except that I return to school tonight (no laughing please!!) Write soon.
Tons of love to all. Tons and tons of love XXXXXXXX Susie-Anna.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Switzerland - Berne - 17.8.1957
Dear Pennie,
Hope you like this beautiful cow. We always wonder how they manage to carry such huge bells. I think this particular sort is their Sunday best, they have smaller ones for everyday use.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
These are the baby bears who were too young for us to see when we were here last time. We are paying them a visit tomorrow, I hope. Wouldn't they make darling pets? I hope Minder Bear* likes them.
Love Nan
* 'Minder Bear' was Meredith's teddy bear who looked after when she was in Hospital at 3 years of age.
Doesn't this installment of 'The Adventures of the Hat' just say you! You can't say I don't try hard to keep you amused. Can't help wondering if anything is wrong, you've spoilt me with being such a regular correspondent. We have just been back in London two ( ???? )
Had a wonderful few weeks. I might state that the dirty looking stuff we are sitting on is all part of the Glacier, but constant walking upon has made it that colour. Our foot stools are chunks of ice. It's so slippery that the gent who isn't a bear has to help his clients up . Susy got a good report from school. ( ???? )
Love, Nan
Friday, July 27, 2012
Belgium - Brussels - 11.8.1957
Dear Pennie,
Had a beautiful trip here, right down the side of Holland. Saw lots of wind mills, acres and acres of flowers growing and crossed over many canals and rivers. We hired a taxi this afternoon and drove around Brussels and saw the Kings Palace, and we were lucky enough to be there in time to see the Changing of the Guard. Susy took some colour photos of that, so you'll be able to see them when we come home.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
I mean to ask the hall porter the story about this man and his funny clothes, but I forgot and I've eaten too much dinner to go down stairs again. Many of the shop windows have dolls dressed just as he is.
Lots of love, G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
This old woman is making lace. We didn't see her, but I did see some girls making it in another country. Tell Mummy I will write to her from Zurich, where we will be in a few days.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Pen, This is Fun! Only just a little way up so can see everything. Nan
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Netherlands - Amsterdam - 18.8.1957
Dear Pennie,
Susy is pestering me to buy her a pair of clogs. We saw a boy with clogs on riding a bicycle, which looked a bit awkward. Amsterdam is a very beautiful place and we are very sorry we are leaving tomorrow.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
Holland has lots of wind mills, lots of canals and lots of bicycles. It is very good for bicycle riding in Amsterdam because the roads are all perfectly flat, except where they go over the bridges across the canals.
Lots of love, G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
I hope you like the little Dutch Children. I know you would like the yumshish cakes we get to eat here. We have just come back from the airport after seeing Susy's Aunt Mill off to Australia and there was television there for us to watch while we waited.
Lots of love, Nan
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Austria - Innsbruck - 16.7.1957
Dear Pennie,
Wouldn't it be awful if the rope broke! We couldn't get a bathroom to ourselves in this hotel, so we have to pay 3/- per bath! They keep the bath rooms locked so we can't just hop in and have one. Give Mummy's elbow a jolt please.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
I hope you kids are all well, because Mummy hasn't written to me for ages, which makes me think something is wrong. We arrived here last night, after all day in the train. Sometimes we went up such steep hills that the floor was like this ( very sloped ) Then, we ran on cogs. Daddy can tell you about cog rainways.
Lots of love, G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
There dancers seem to be enjoying themselves, don't they? Hurry up and send me another letter. I will send you another card from Germany next week.
Lots of love, Nan
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Italy - Interlaken - 12.7.1957
Dear Penny,
I wish you could have seen Susy and me riding in this sledge today. A woman ran behind us, holding onto the handles you can see, to steer it. Half way along the track, the dogs all sad down and refused to go any further. Susy says it was because they thought I was too heavy! However, the man told them how brave and wonderful they were (in French) and they got up and finished the trip. It was great fun.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
We stopped at the station today where thee marmosets live. Aren't they pets? Yesterday night we went to a play and saw lots of real live cows, goats and horses on the stage. It wasn't a usual stage, but a part of a forest. The cows and goats wore big bells on their necks and they sounded very good.
Lots of love, Nan
Monday, July 23, 2012
Italy - Lake Maggiore - 10.7.1957
Dear Pen,
Susy says I'm not writing a very newsy postcard, but she doesn't offer to write them for me! Had a fine trip here on the 'Blue Arrow'. They played some yodelling records during the journey. We came through a 12 mile long tunnel, the longest in the world.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
Have you still got the card I sent you from Stressa the last time I was here? It was here that the emu tried to bite my finger.
Lots of love, Nan
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Switzerland - Interlaken - 8.7.1957
Dear Pennie,
Everything in the picture, except the Swiss flag, is ice! We hope to be there tomorrow. On Wednesday, we are going by train for the day to Stresa, which is in Italy. The train is called 'The Blue Arrow'. I think I sent you all cards when I was in Stresa last time.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
We will be riding in this train tomorrow and will be 11,333 feet up in the air! I collected Susy from school on Saturday and for the first hour she kept explaining things to me in French! I thought she had forgotten how to speak English.
Lots of love, G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
Isn't this a fine house? I have seen a lot like this in Switzerland. There is a big thunder storm at the moment. We could jump into the river from our bedroom window if we wanted to, but I don't think we will. It would frighten all the white swans.
Lots of love, Nan
Saturday, July 21, 2012
England - Wells, Somerset - 24.6.1957
Salamander Cafe, Bath. England - 24.6.1957
Dear Pen,
These swans are just a little way from our hotel at Wells. Coming to bath today we passed through towns with the oddest names such as Stoke-under-Ham, Midsomer-Norton, Straton-on-Foss and Peasedown-St John and Combe Hay.
Lots of love, Nan
Salamander Cafe, Bath. England - 24.6.1957
Dear Timmy,
We are really staying at Wells, where the man in thepicture strikes the hours. We were driven to Bath for the day we have come here for coffee and because it's raining. We visited Roman Baths and drank mineral water which tasted horrid.
Lots of love G.A.N
Dear Merry,
The swans were so greedy, pulling the bell rope all the day, that now the rope is only let down to where they can reach it twice a day. They have learnt which are the times to swim that part of the moat.
Lots of love, Nan
Below: From Google Maps showing the trip from Wells to Bath through towns called Midsomer Norton, Peasdown St John and Combe Hay.
Friday, July 20, 2012
England - Wells, Somerset - 21.6.1957
Wells, Somerset. England - 21.6.1957
Dear Pennie,
We visited Woburn Abbey today. It is the place belonging to the Duke of Bedford and is very lovely. The glass-ware you can see I liked very much. We saw a huge 4 - poster bed Charles 1st slept in, hundreds of years later Queen Victoria slept in it when she used to stay at the Abbey. I went to the races yesterday at Ascot and I won some money. The Queen's horse came first and I won quite a lot on it. I saw the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexander and the Queen Mother. I also saw Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Todd.'
Lots of love, Nan
Wells, Somerset. England - 21.6.1957
Dear Merry,
I seem to be sending you a lot of deer cards, don't I? I saw lots of the great great grandchildren of these deer today and I drove through the same park. I also saw some little ponies kids could ride on and a Llama they could ride on too. We are going to a place called Wells tomorrow. Ask Pen to find it on the map of England.
Lots of love, Nan
Thursday, July 19, 2012
England - London - 19.6.1957
Dear Merry Rodd,
This is a special card for you because Mama tells me you have been sick. You are a dope, aren't you. We met the biggest pigs in Cornwall, I have ever seen. They were pink and really and truly as big as Bambi was. When I called 'pig, pig' to them they just turned up their noses at me but when a Cornish man squeaked a funny squeak they all came running like billy-oh. I also made friends with lots of calves, three different sorts of dogs and two cats. We came home today in a train called 'King Richard 111' all the trains here have very tasty names. I hope I will see the Queen tomorros when I go to the races. I will tell you all about it if I do. Hurry up and get well.
Lots of love, Nan
Read all about the 'King' steam trains HERE.
England - Penzance, Cornwall - 18.6.1957
Dear Pennie,
We are surrounded by fishing boats and seagulls and of course , sea. We are having scones and honey and Cornish Cream for afternoon tea.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
We are sitting in the 'Lobster Pot', just about to have afternoon tea, so haven't got time to write more.
Lots of love G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
Haven't got time to tell you any news, except that it is low tide here and all the seagulls are making a terrible noise as they dig for their tea in the sand.
Lots of love, Nan
Below: Mousehole from Google Maps today.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
England - Falmouth, Cornwall - 15.6.1957
Dear Pennie,
This is a beautiful place. I can see the English Channel from my window. We went to St Ives yesterday and I think I am going to have a flat there. There are fine beaches, with the first real sand we have seen since we left Australia. Hurry up and write to me.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Timmy,
We haven't had any of these to eat yet, but we have eaten Cornish ice cream, which is made from butter and is really delicious. We had a long car drive yesterday and stopped to look at the Atlantic Ocean at a place called Hills Mouth. We talked to a sea-gull with one leg, poor bird. The gulls are very much bigger than most of our Australian ones. If we go to Mousehole on Tuesday I will sent more cards from there.
Lots of love G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
I used to know this prayer when I was a little girl like you, We are going for a bus trip tomorrow to a place called The Lizard. Look on the map and see if you can find it. Ask Mummy to tell you the rythme about - St Ives. We went there yesterday and saw almost millions of cats. They play on the beach, which seems a funny thing for cats to do.
Love from, Nan
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
England - London - 5.6.1957
Dear Pennie,
The palace is where the Queen lives when she is in London. She must have been at home when this picture was taken, because you can see the Royal Standard flying.
My address is now :- c/o Miss Pitcairn, 5 Regents Park Road, Gloucester Gate. NW1. I have a lovely big room a gas ring and a gas fire, so I will be very comfortable. I am saving sixpences for the gas.
Lots of love, Nan
From Google Maps, 5 Regents Park Road, London.
Dear Timmy,
This is a most awful place to try to cross the street! I am frightened every time I have to do it. The funny looking cars with no front-door on one side are the London Taxis. The luggage is put in the bit where the door isn't. They used to have old ladies selling violets on the steps near the statue but they don't do it now because there is too much traffic for people to cross over to buy from them.
G.A.N.
Dear Merry,
When Susy was in London with me we saw these soldiers and horses. The horses have their hooves polished a lot better than I ever polish my shoes! The soldiers sit as still as still and don't seem to mind all the people staring at them.
Lots of love, Nan
From Google Maps today...
Monday, July 16, 2012
France - Paris - 28.5.1957
Dear Bud,
Another installment of 'Operation Chapeau!' If you look carefully behind the woman who is next to me, you will see a small portion of Mill's hat and shoulder. Surely you must be nearly home by now. Hope I find a letter from you in London. Have missed them a lot. Do hope the holiday was grand fun. Dying to hear about it. This is the last leg of our trip, London 5pm tomorrow. Will send my London address next day, so wait till you get it before writing. Tell you all the news then.
Love Nan
Sunday, July 15, 2012
France - Paris - 25.5.1957
Dear Pennie,
Mummy will be able to tell you what the words mean. Tell her I don't know what I would have done without the shawl she gave me. I am wearing it now. We fly to England on Wednesday, so our trip is nearly finished. We had a wonderful time in the boat on the Rhine. The traffic on the river is just terrific. It is controlled by big flags from the shore. I do hope the Army hasn't lost any of the cards while you were away. Am so looking forward to your next letter.
Lots of love, Nan
Dear Merry,
We have just come back from eating our dinner on the foot path! In Paris, all the eating places have tables and chairs out on the foot path and it is fun to sit and eat and watch the people go by. In Germany the boys and girls go to school only in the morning but Sunday is the only day they have for a holiday. Hurry up and write to me again, I have missed all the letters so much.
Lots of love, Nan
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