Michael Heath-Caldwell M.Arch
Brisbane, Queensland
ph: 0412-78-70-74
alt: m_heath_caldwell@hotmail.com
Rev. Capt C.H.Heath-Caldwell DSO RN aged 77/78
Violet M.Heath-Caldwell aged 80/81
Patricia M.C.Heath-Caldwell aged 46/47
Diana Charlton - (Danny) - (ne Heath-Caldwell) aged 45/46
Rosamond Attwood - (Ros) - (ne Heath-Caldwell) aged 41/42
J.A. Heath-Caldwell (NZ) aged 36/37
D.A.Heath-Caldwell (NZ) (ne Jones) aged 31/32
7th Jan 1967 -
JAHC, Hamilton, Knox St, Hamilton, NZ -
to Miss P.C.M. Heath-Caldwell, The Pound House, Cattistock, Dorset, UK
Dear Pat,
Its ages since I've written - but I wasn't feeling too settled and didn't write. In fact I wasn't certain how temporary my address would be.
Well, I live here - each day I get up at about a quarter to seven - wash quickly and have breakfast. Then I walk along to the midde of Hamilton - about five minutes walk - and wait for a friend who also works at the garage to give me a lift in his car. I rather enjoy just getting to work. Then Te Rapa, where the garage is, is about 3 or 4 miles away about another 5 minutes by car.
Once at work my job is to keep things clean generally for sale(?) - the trucks etc and to clean up 2nd hand tractors. Really there is nothing too set about what I do - I've just to keep the place looking tidy and so on.Lunch is from 12-1pm and I have sandwiches and a banana or two for that as a rule.
Then of course we knock off at 5pm - and another chap usually gives me a lift nearly to the doorstep here.I've now told you what I do and there's nothing remarkable about it except perhaps it is the 40 hour week.
I have Saturdays and Sundays entirely to myself and so far I don't really know what to do with myself as I've not met anybody of my own age or background and I don't expect I will. However, I don't vet anybody's background myself and I take them all at they come.
I am managing to save some money and as soon as I have a motor scooter or something like that of my own then I'll look for private lodgings. As it is this place is conveniently central and I quite like living right in the middle of town. The traffic may be a bit noisy but I've got used to that.I don't actually know whether I'll stick my present job for ever but I might - at least its a fairly easy job and I don't mind that.
The room here I share with an old retired farmer aged 65 - but he's company anyway. He seems to speculate in a small way with real estate - which seems to pay him a little.
I'm afraid after my experiences I just can't see myself going back to the stress of farming and batching on my own - it just wouldn't work at all. When you were here you said you might one day come out here to live - well I hope you do. New Zealand is quite a pleasant place to live in I think. Everybody seems to take everybody else on their face value.I must try to join a club or two, or play bowls or something like that. Just at the moment I've not got much to keep me occupied in my space time.
While most of them are busy chucking good money after bad on the horses I just can't raise any enthusiasm for horsemeat myself, however, fast it is reputed to go. Hope you are well and that the winter isn't too harsh.
Yours Jimmy.
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19th April 1967 -
From - Enid Cookson, Salisbury Rd, Midhurst, NZ -
to Pat Heath-Caldwell, The Pound House, Cattistock, UK
Dear everybody in the Pound House,
First of all, Violet and Capt, we had Jimmy here over Easter, he arrived looking fit and well, but left with a down in the dumps look. You may be sure the reason was Dora.
The Friday and Saturday he spent with her and the children and that bucked him up, but Sunday she had been asked out so Jimmy had to spend it on his own as we were all out that day. I think he walked over our farm, Our own and Rex Morgans, he didn't touch much of the lunch I had left for him but had a good dinner at night. Then off to bed early because Jack had to have him in to catch the 3 o'clock in the morning railcar.
Jim himself, he seemed much better but all his thoughts are on Dora and the children. At one stage I said what I thought and he quickly told me I was brain washed by his parents, so from then on I just listened, please don't tell him I have told you this because this is the only place he will come to now, even Colin and Clair have said what they think of Dora and he won't go there.
The children are growing and he seemed very proud of them, more so Hilary, he had left a book at their place and they popped in with it on the Sunday morning and they did speak very nicely to him.
I suppose you'll be looking forward to your summer, and getting out into the garden, while I'm trying to get Jack interested in the huge pile of wood out the back gate that has do be chopped up and into the shed soon. Other years Kenneth's boy has chopped the wood (he has left) now (Fedlhas?) has the job and its the last year he's going to do it, central heating is going in before next week, so he tells me.
Now for you Pat, the jerseys arrived about 2 weeks ago and many thanks for them, I grabbed the fawn one. Kenneth has got so fat, so Jack has the other two.
Now how did you get on about the money? Did you manage to cash the £'s I gave you? And do we owe you any more for the jerseys? Please answer all the questions.
Now for some local news.
Mrs Hurliman has been pretty sick for several weeks, but she is slowly coming right and leaves next month for about 6 weeks holiday in Australia.
One of the things that didn't help her sickness was that the Dunicks are leaving, its hard to take sides, last year Mrs H helped them out of a big hole, this last season they done much better and now they want a place where they can milk more cows.
They have got a place, but poor Mrs. H. was very concerned because share-milkers are hard to get this year and she was a long time getting someone, and when she did thats when she started to feel better.
As for Joan, she has made the house and garden into a show place, but she said she just couldn't put in another year. Mrs H. watches every move she makes, so you see there are faults both sides.
Well, I got such a thrill last night. Le-anne walked about 6 steps on her own.
Did I tell you Kenneth's boy has left, I milk in the morning, Margaret at night while I act as nurse-maid. Its working out OK, but I feel tied to the farm, and they are talking about carrying on this way next season, but will build a room off the shed to put the children in in the mornings. (that's if I don't offer to milk).
We are pleased that Margaret is taking an interest in the farm at last.
Corrina and Barry have shifted into a new school house in Stratford, just across the street from the High School. They have got themselves another car, so (Muff?) says she will have to teach for another year to pay for it, already she is counting the weeks till the May holidays start.
Sorry this has to be a shared letter but time is my biggest worry. Love to you all,
From Enid and Jack.
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Heath-Caldwell All rights reserved.
Michael Heath-Caldwell M.Arch
Brisbane, Queensland
ph: 0412-78-70-74
alt: m_heath_caldwell@hotmail.com