Dear Ma, 17th April 1962

I have got on the big boat
at last I could not write sooner
for we did not stop for a week
and it is Saturday at Port Said, Egypt.

I am having a great time
you would think
we had won on the pools.
It has got powerful warm.

I’m running about
with only a pair
of trousers on
and a shirt.

My face has got all red
with the sun
and everybody
is all sunburned.

Have you got the card
I sent from London?
I saw the London palladium
not much to look at

the food is great
on the boat
and you can get anything
you ask for

I am in a cabin
with two Australians
and they are
the very best

The two Belfast boys
I fell in with
going over on the boat
are still with me.

They are starting to talk
English already
and if you heard them
you would have a quare laugh.

There are only eight
Irish boys and eight
or nine Scottish
all the rest are English.

There is a dance every night
and a picture every night.
I saw the Young Ones
the first night I was on board.

Tell my Da
to keep off the fags and beer
if he was on the boat
he could not keep off them

at one and six a packet
and beer and porter
at eightpence
a glass.

The boat is doing 409 miles
a day and the temperature
is 70 degrees
out in the sun.

That is all I have room for ma,
so look after my da
and Elizabeth
all the best.

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