Dear Ma, 7th May 1962
still going strong
the weather
is getting warmer
every day
it is 85 degrees
and one of the crew
told me it will go to 110
going over the equator.
I washed my vest
and trunks this morning
and the sweat was running
down my face
even the pen
I am writing with
is slipping down my hand
with the sweat.
We had a great day at Port Said
on Saturday all the men
in wee rowing boats came up
the side of the ship selling things
Everything was very cheap
I got a pair of brown suede shoes
for a pound,
very good they are too.
He asked me two
but you always get
a lot less
they get very mad sometimes
On Sunday
we went down the Suez canal
and it was all desert
on each side.
Half way down
we saw men working
and the dirt of them
was powerful.
They were carrying sand
and clay in baskets on top
of their heads and dumping it
over the edge of the canal.
They walk up and down
a big bank filling and emptying all day
I would not have believed it
unless I saw it.
One of them took all his rags off
and jumped into the water
and tried to swim for the boat
but he could not do it.
All the girls were standing on the rail
when he jumped in and they all yelled
for he had nothing on.
They were wild men.
Hope my da is all right
in this weather;
his face would be
as red as a beetroot.
I got a birthday card
from Florence on Monday morning.
I did not think she could post a letter
to the boat she must have asked somebody.
Last night
a whole lot of people
got wee small beds
and slept on the deck.
I did not go up as you
have to be up at six thirty
so the crew can wash
the deck for seven.
The clock is two hours
in front of you home
if they put it on any more
we will soon be a day in front.
Two of the boys
I am aboard with
took sick this morning.
It must be the heat.
I am the very best,
eating like a horse
all the English say
it puts them off their food
and they sit and nibble
at a wee bit of pan loaf.
They must be half starved.
Think that is all I have to write about.
I will write again
when we reach another port
for that is the only time
you can post.
You must write again.