Letter from Pat Hogan to Miss M Hogan

Letter from Pat Hogan to Miss M Hogan

Starts with general gossip and says he like his new station and relates a visit to a local town. Comments on food and compares climate to home. Continues with account of incident while out walking in the country. Catches up with news of friends and family and other gossip.

1944-05-22

Two page handwritten letter

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EHoganPJHoganM440522

155595
TO:- MISS M HOGAN
67 CHAPEL ST,
BRANDIGO
VICTORIA
AUSTRALIA
[date stamp 27 MAY 1944]
PAGE 1
Senders Address A436464 SGT HOGAN PJ RAAF AUSPO LONDON WC2 22-5-44
Dear Marie,
My mail has finally caught up with me. I still like this new station immensely although it means settling down to work once more. I also thought it meant saving some money but I didn’t start off too well. You see I got an opportunity to go to a county town not so very far from here for a day and a night. It is a very pretty place and we had a great time. The people are marvellous although the Scotch lingo is a little hard to master for a while. We visited, read and heard about the jaunts of friend Bobby Burns until he almost seemed to be one of the boys.
I’ve worked up a marvellous appetite here and manage to satisfy it about half a dozen times per day. I think it must be the invigorating climate which is equally as cool as a Bendigo winter and you have the cheek [deleted] a [/deleted] to ask of swimming now summer is approaching here. Admittedly, though, I had a dip in an indoor pool one day last week.
I’ve always heard the Irish were notorious spud eaters. If they serve up any more spuds than do the Scotch they apparently eat nothing else. I’ve never seen so many spuds in all my life. Brennan and I were rather amused on Saturday afternoon. We’d been out walking in a beautiful country wood and were waiting to catch a bus back to the town where we were spending the weekend
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Seeing a car come along we thumbed a ride. The old chap behind the wheel turned out to be a very English old Colonel who was very chatty and anxious to hear of Australia as he has a brother-in-law over there – Anthony Harden of Sydney [two indecipherable words].
Sorry to hear of Bill Seeham’s death. Aunty Lizzy’s passing was hardly a surprise, was it. I’ll write Aunt Daisy within the next week but in the interim you might convey my sympathy. Thanks for Dan’s address I’ll also write him. Apparently my mail hasn’t been reaching you too well for I’ve averaged at least 2 per week since leaving.
Pleased to know Dad got rid of the car. Have Jim and Eileen both fully recovered by now? And what of Uncle Jim? Is Kev still as enthusiastic as ever after his Civvy’s.
You must find the debating society a [indecipherable word] an interest. Incidentally address my mail hereafter as above. Maurice McNamara (Doak) wanted to be remembered to you all.
The chapel here is only a couple of huts from mine and we have both mass and benediction a couple of times per week. I got a shock on Sunday to find High Mass sung. Well, Marie, I’ve about come to the end of my tether for the present. Regards and love to you all,
Your loving brother
Pat.