42
Not the same old place

Dec 28/17

Dear Kid:

Sorry that I have not written you before to thank you for the boxes but we have been dreadfully busy for the last week.

I wrote Dad a long letter on the 23rd telling him of a trip I had just returned from. Was away for four days and had a damn good time although we spent two days on the road.

I received four parcels from Metcalf on the 23rd a box of this note paper from the Purvae[?} which will come in very handy; a box from Mrs Robinson 308 Robert St thru the Trinity Meth Pat. Soc which was certainly great; and two boxes from you - one with biscuits and potted meat & etc and the other parcel a dandy fruit cake of which I shall speak of again. I also have a letter from Metcalf saying that he had two more parcels for me which the post office would not accept until after Christmas on account of the rush so I expect they will be along too in a few days. However the first four could not have arrived at a better time and they certainly did good work while they lasted.

We got orders to move the day before Christmas. It means a lot of work to move a squadron and we are not settled yet. Half the squadron was away at the time so the ones who were left have to double up on any work to do and I spent Christmas as a ferry pilot flying machines to our new place.

Next day.

Was called out for a patrol just here [arrow to above paragraph] and decided to finish this when I came back as the mail does not go out 'till 6 p.m. We left the ground about 2 p.m. and about 3 p.m. my engine conked while over the lines. I had to glide west as far as I could to be sure of landing on our side and tried to make an aerodrome but fell about ¼ mile short of it. Got down in a ploughed field without breaking anything which I consider pretty lucky. Wen to the nearest 'drome and got a guard for my machine and phoned home and told them to send a lorry for the bus and a tender for me. Had tea at 29 Sqd. The tender came for me about 7.p.m. and as we were having our Christmas dinner last night (two days late) I was anxious to get back and did not wait for the lorry but left orders for the men to dismantle it and bring it back.

I did not want to miss the dinner as we have been fattening the turkeys for a month. However I was lucky and arrived just in time for the soup.
I was on for a patrol this morning but as my machine is not yet back I was washed out.

As we moved the day before Christmas we post-poned said Christmas untill until Thursday. The only sign of Christmas that we had on Christmas was your fruit cake. We had it for tea in the mess and it sure was great. Everybody certainly enjoyed it and they all asked me to thank the girl who had sent it. That is a fact kid for you provided the only Christmassie touch to real Christmas. However we made up for lost time last night and had a good time and the best man in the squadron Maj. Carter my flight C.O. got a D.S.O. last night so we had quite a wild time on the whole. He comes from N.B.

You will have to excuse the writing as we have not got a decent fire in the mess yet and my hands are kind of cold. I have not heard from the little [?] lately but I have not written him for a long time and will have to get busy.

I have a lot more to write yet but I think I had better post this now or I will never get it off as it is a week since I last wrote.
Sent you a cablegram last week from R.

Love to all

Gord

P.S.

Take care of yourself & Dad & Grannie. I can look out for myself allright.

G.