Dear Ma 25th April 1962
still going yet
we are a brave bit out
now not a a brave bit down
like Dick said.
At Aden we went ashore
but it was night time
it did not matter much
for all the shops were open.
Everything was very cheap.
I bought three shirts,
two short shirts
for five bob each
and a white one for ten
a sun hat
it is a very good one for four
a pair of shorts for seven.
Three of us got a taxi
for a bit of a ride
through the town
what a ride
the driver took us
six miles
to another town
and it was stinking.
A whole lot of dirty men
laying about the streets
begging and goats
in the middle of the road.
it was something
you would see in the pictures.
Tomorrow we will get ashore
at Colombo.
Do you remember the boy
I was telling you about
who was talking English
when were were a day or two out
well he got engaged
to a big blond on the boat
he was going with her three days
a real head case.
After tomorrow
it will be eight days
before we get to another port
which is Fremantle Australia
I will have another two weeks
or more before I get to Sydney.
You could send me a letter
to Fremantle if you like.
I did not know you
could send letters
to the boat till I got
a birthday card from Florence.
You must write again.