From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

To: Miss M. C. Sadler
"White Lodge"
101 Northcourt Rd.
Abingdon, Berkshire
England

December 12, 1954

My dearest Margaret,

It seems like ages since I heard from you. I do hope you are well and have not suffered from the excessive wet weather and gales the dear old homeland seems to have endured so often lately. The seasons here seem to have changed. Last month was wet with nearly eleven inches of rain (4 inches in 4 days!) for the month instead of a warm, dry month. The bush looks green and refreshed - fruit trees also with plenty of leaves but very little fruit which makes it so expensive.

Last month I sent you some knitting wool - cherry colour. I hope you have it safely before Christmas and that you like it and will turn it into a cardigan. I am also posting you a copy of "Walkabout" magazine with an article about the Native Botanic Garden. We are to have a big conference in February and I hope things will then be decided so that we might make better progress.

It is becoming very difficult for me to attend meetings in Gosford - besides being so expensive - really more than I can afford to spend on transport. Also I am sometimes quite lame and have sciatica down the right side from the injury to my ankle nearly 12 months ago. To add to these disadvantages I seem to have wrenched the muscles of my right arm rather badly when using a tight wringer on washing day! It has been very painful, particularly at night. In spite of these disabilities of increasing years I am usually well and able to carry supplies up from the village every day. Milk, meat, bread, mail, etc. all arrive on my back in a rucksack.

We have two American woman scientists here studying our smaller mammals which they find most interesting. They never injure or kill anything but sometimes people bring them animals killed by cars in the roads and then they mount them. When they were in Sydney a friend brought out a dead mother possum with a young one in her pouch to which I acted as foster-mother. It was a strenuous job with hot-water bottles and milk feeding every 4 hours, however we saved the little one and it has become a great pet.

We christened it 'Jacqueline Wiggles Horner' after Dr. Horner, the senior student. (It is a female, so we could not call it plain Jack Horner!) It is such a dear little creature and loves to be carried about in your pocket, or better still - in your blouse, or to run up and perch on your head! All our animals are very attractive and gentle.

Have you any more items of family history? Please give me Evelyn's address if you have it. Also William's. I have something I want to send him but have no address. I have never had any acknowledgement from the Duke of Bedford and wonder if some clerk in the office tossed out the photos and letters for the sake of the good old stamps I put on. I read a note in a Sydney newspaper about the Dowager going up for an air flight and wearing white shorts, toe paper shoes, and a macintosh and when she was asked if she had enjoyed the flight she said, "It was draughty!". [See: Bedford House on YouTube]

Do write and tell me all about yourself, dear Margaret. I hope you have a very happy Christmas and New Year. Love from Minard