1946

BAMBOULA, 12 Sept 46

Dear George,

Many thanks for your letter of 6 Sept, just arrived. As I am in rather a hurry to get this off I will try to keep to essentials in this letter. Dealing with the points raised in your letter first:

WIND JACKET - just what I wanted STRAIGHTSCOPE - I want a viewer for prints 2 1/4 inch sq to put on a table in a good light SOCKS - If khaki difficult any colour will do so long as they are strong STABLES - I will do what I can about the floor

Now my news. I have received an unsolicited and unwelcome request from the Government to undertake the Directorship of a course of commercial instruction for 100 ex-service men if the present director should prove unsuitable or should resign. It became on Jan 22. It would put me to inconvenience and expense but I feel that I should do what I can subject to fulfilling obligations to you. I am also aware to refuse a request by the Government. It is a mistake to refuse as for the ex-service men I have told them that in any event I would ask you to telegraph the Government here until your return and that I would be agreeable to find someone to replace me when you would be back on Jan 22 if required. I have made it clear that I would much prefer them to find some other person. The idea of your telegraphing is so that if necessary they may give the single word "Agree" is sufficient. My other news is that I got a kidney attack on the way in to Limassol on Saturday and went to hospital instead of to the bank. After two days they let me out and I am to be X-rayed in a day or two to see whether an operation is necessary or whether nature is to be left to do its best. It is all rather a nuisance.

DRAWING OFFICE EQUIPMENT - The following items have not yet arrived (unfortunately they are among the most important - drawing paper (urgent and essential, we can't do any work till it comes), centimetre squared paper, 2-metre rods and spring steel tapes, centimetre scales and offsets, note books, stencil plates (1/4 inch alphabets and figures sets: your people sent sets of letters for putting on boards to announce our sets and such like information). My list was for the drawing office: the apotheke. Indian ink should have its own stock. Apparently a big item is water colour brushes, 2 of each size, six sizes in a large bottle. Also some water and I suggest about a point size, four sizes, from the smallest. Blocks of millimetre squared paper, plain sketching paper to be passed to the supplier by someone used to using this sort of equipment and whoever did