No 169

Major GS Andrews, RCE

10 Cdn A Survey I. Section

Att. HQ First Cdn Army O/S

6 June 43

Dear Jean:

You will notice the new address. It also means that your old man has a new job. He is acting OJ of the Air Survey Liaison Section.

Confirmation of this is still forthcoming, and I've been in the army long enough to believe nothing until I see it in official orders, and even then you treat it with reserve. However, they say "its going through" and I suppose it will. Anyway is it the one job in the army that I should have, I think, and it is the only one of its kind in our [?]. It really means a continuation of the work I've been doing all along, but this more or less makes it official. Aside from that, it will be interesting to get a brand new thing organized, and run it the way that seems right. It is a very small and modest little unit, but a very specialized and important one. I may be able to tell you a little more about it as time goes on. My mail should be addressed as above, but the change won't delay what has been sent to the old address very much.

I spent yesterday afternoon and today till 5:30 pm at Haywards, has hope that Bill Hall would have been there too, but he was unable to get down, although he had been down for a day or two during the week. The weather looked a bit uncertain, so I went by train and bus, rather than take the bike. The countryside looks very well now, recent rains, and warm weather have brought the crops along and everything else that grows. I helped Bert with the [?] on grass, except for the formal lawn around his house, the whole place has grown up to [?], so I tried the scythe, emulating old Father Time, but found that the results were a bit hazy and uncertain, like the pre Christian Ira, so today I changed to the sickle, with better results. I suppose the scythe is one of the oldest of man's tools, since he used metal, and learned to store up fodder for his animals for the winter. Needless to say it was an enjoyable interlude, good exercise, fresh air and marvelous food, and some sun, as I have the Haywards trained not to be shocked if I take my shirt off while working around the place. The trouble with present day society is that we are too "civilized" in some stupid ways like being restrained from giving our bodies a bit of fresh air and sun on the grounds of fair modesty, And in the important things, we aren't civilized enough, like allowing conditions to grow which lead to wars, between nations, and between classes of society.

Your airgraph of 23 May arrived on the 3rd, its fine to get [?] so quickly. Hope Mary is recovered from her cold. She's been a healthy child and we have much to be thankful for. Thanks for sending the sweater, it will be very much appreciated. Will be glad to get some news of Leila. It always does me good to have an evening chatting to bert Hayward.

LOVE TO YOU BOTH

GER