This present time is very trying and monotonous. It is just as well that we have had the change of country to occupy our minds. The Aussies going home and the thought of us stranded here and a Japanese attack on N.Z. has not been nice to contemplate. Many decent chaps have gone the wild way with booze and women to break out and forget everything for a while. After the last scrap it was a great help to me to have Jim [Jim Choat] to get drunk with and talk everything out with and get back to sanity. One is not quite oneself after a proper grilling in a show like we had.

But Dear don't think that life in the army is too bad - we have the delight of many experiences, good friends and new countries to offset the hardships and after all one lives by living our lives better and fuller by sufferings. One who has had only pleasures and ease in life may as well not have lived. The whine of bullets singing and the excitement of battle and danger have their strange allure. Memories of our happy times often help me while away long hours on guard or take my thoughts from aching feet on a tedious march. Pray God those days will come again and that some day not too far distant we may be able to meet and marry and look forward once more to a life of happiness together.