Papawai
16/8/1916
Dear Lottie
I received you letter at dinner time today & I may say it has long been looked forward to as of course I was waiting to know how you liked your new home and of course waiting for your address. It was quite a conincidence to think that you should take up the position a person so independant as an Eggleton. Needless to say I am enjoying our short stay here once again it is ever so much more a free and easy life especially when there is only our own squadron here. We arrived here last Saturday morning & busied ourselves during the afternoon playing cards & otherwise having nothing else (anyway no work) to do it seemed such a waste of time as it turned out afterwards, Saturday was beautifully fine but about eight on Sunday morning it commenced to rain & continued so heavily for about twenty six hours. So wet was everything the next that it also was a holiday & such a place as this in wet weather is just the last place it was no joke under canvas however we made up for it yesterday & today so much as that we finished up our class firing at three fifteen this pm. That makes us free to go back to camp on Friday & then.
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Since we are now assured of our final leave it is well that I advise you as to when I might drop along. We are set for next Monday thence for fourteen days but our Skipper has so worked things that we fall heir to the two days week end thus making in all sixteen. This means that I get the boat at Wellington and land in ChCh on Sunday morning and have to spend the day there. How I wish the train would run as far as Timaru that day. A happy thought struck me as I sat round the (camp fire) last night. This is it I might manage to strike a motor car going through to Timaru that day & so by paying a small sum get that far. Some of the other boys that live down that way might take it on I asked my pal today if he would go & he said he would so if I happen along do not be surprised. However I will advise by telegram from Wellington on Saturday if I leave here then it might just happen that we do not get away until Monday. I received a letter from home also one from Jessie say that I would be home all this week evidentally I must have misinformed them some-time. You were wondering if I had seen Henry yet well I did two or three times before I came to this place & he is just the same
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but like the rest of us has failed to put on any condition & is looking quite worried. They tell me the first few weeks he was in Trentham he would hardly go outside the hut after parades I be the will think how silly he was by this time. All the other boys are doing well, & taking things as they come & all looking forward to the time when they will be away from this place. How strange that you should again strike Jeannie Sutherland I thought she would have been through before this but I suppose it cannot be as long as it seems since she went up there. I wonder if Jack will come along while you are there I reckon it would be a great joke. Now don’t you think I have rambled long enough seeing that I will see you in person within the next few days. If not on Sunday at the first express through on Monday I think that is the best I can do jus now. Hoping this finds you as well as it leaves me.
Your Brother
Charlie.
