From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

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

September 19, 1963

My dearest Margaret,

Yesterday when trying to arrange some papers, I came across this little calendar which I got from you last year but had mislaid. Now, of course, the year is almost spent, but you may enjoy what is left of it and perhaps gum on another page when it is spent!

As I grow older I seem to have more to do and less time in which to do it. I am so much slower now but I do like to hear all the English family news and your letters are always such a treat. When I tell you that I belong to no less than 50 societies, you will not be so surprised that I cannot keep up with the ever-growing interests. In spite of honest toil, the position of our native flora and fauna is not improving, and even our own sanctuary has been degraded from its purpose and has become a 'National Park'! That means that a road has been cut across its most beautiful part, and it cannot be a sanctuary when tourists and motor traffic disturb and destroy the plants and animals, and some of our rare birds have gone away.

Motor traffic, the machine age, has deprived life of much of its serenity and I cannot see that the mania for speed has made a happier or more beautiful world, or a happier people! I am unable to do much walking now and having some heart trouble. The gardening is beyond my strength, but now the spring is here it is beautiful with great masses of golden blossoms and here and there red, white and pink. We had such a lot of rain.

Did I tell you that Mary Hartwell (Mary Davy's daughter, Joyce, as we used to call her) came out from Exeter over a year ago, being separated from her husband. She joined me here, but our tastes were not in harmony. She being interested in cats and cocktail parties and my interest in birds and books and not likeing cocktail parties, after 6 months she took a flat in Pearl Beach but comes out to see me every week. Her husband has also come out and has a flat in the village. He is also a cat fancier and paid for the passage of Tammil (50 pounds) and quarantine fees for 6 weeks - baskets - passenger train, etc. etc. 'Quite think of you and wish we had met. Do you ever see anything of the Arden Crommelins? And have you been to any Huguenot meetings lately? If you are able, send me news of yourself. Love from Minard