On the Desert
By the Sea
18/2/17
Dear People
It is time I dropped you a few lines but what to write about that is the Qustion. Everything is going on as usual in this glorious part of the world regardless of rain & sunshine. How the time is flying it seems only a few weeks since landing at Moascar but it’s gone three months but I suppose it is a good thing that time does pass quickly for it would be unbelievable if time hung on us, now our days are mostly filled up by doing field work & range shooting. Had a day away out in front of the camp during the week clearing the country of anything likely to be damaged by the artillery which was doing some practice shooting. Just in front of us there is a dry river bed known as The Waddie this day however it had water in it owing to rains we had earlier, there must have been a good deal more away up country than what we had here-abouts, near the coast it spreads out & runs shallow & as we went out it was just coming down could easily have crossed without a drop of water. As it goes further inland it becomes narrower & of course deeper & during our ride I think we must have crossed it about twenty times, however it never came much of over the horses knees unless one got in a bad spot. We must have ridden very near thirty miles during the day any way by the time we got home I was tired enough. The horse I have a good & hardy animal, is about the roughest & most head strong brute I ever rode gave me a good shaking up.
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Since they have had this spell in fact ever since I joined up the horses have improved a great deal & now are fit for anything. Any day we may move out to the front again & may be we will stay here yet a while. I think most of us would be well enough satisfied out although it would mean more night work our days would be more or less free & easy the country too of a firmer nature round about here man & horse sink inches into the sand. I landed a decent mail a week ago seventeen letters most from home some from Lottie & some from Balamona all in order of which written dating from Oct up till 16th December. The one that struck me as being the oldest was the one you wrote me Lottie just a few days after I arrived in Featherston it has been a long time catching me don’t you think. All this bunch had been to Sling also parcel from Jean & the one you sent from Orepuki Annie. Another parcel containing two tins tobacco & a cake chocolate did not recognise writing but some of you will know from whence as there was no note in it when it arrived but there may have been & it slipped out as it was broked a good deal. However everything arrived safely & was very acceptable, am still on the lookout for the one Mary sent also the shortbread. I can taste it just thinking about it. A letter from Fred Weir written day after Boxing Day & Jean’s postcard of the boys I got the day I had the long ride. My word a fine pair of boys & how they appear to be growing. At last I have got into communication with Ernie what a time they were having in France when he wrote, early in Jan, what with snow & all the rest of it things must have been very uncomfortable. Also getting letters from Kate.
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Until I got Ern’s letter I did not know of his further promotion. Won’t I give him a salute when I meet him hope I know a few days before so I can have a bit of practice. Rather decent him getting back to the Otago boys is it not there will be a good many he knows. George will think me a nice one never writing him a line but it is no use now until he is landed over here somewhere as it would not reach before he left N.Z. hard luck if he has been crook in F. He was lucky striking leave for it Xmas & N.Y. he wrote me & said he expected them then & evidentally F & T were dissed out for that period. I think you will have received most of my letters that will tell you all you want to know in those I received. So Jules has been having a trying time hard luck after being so handsomely treated by the folk. Football the order of the day here our Brigade defeated the Australians yesterday by six to nil after a very fine game I believe did not witness it as I was on duty. Lin is in Hospital at present went down on leave & I believe has an attack of Influenza. I had the opportunity of a few days, three, in Port Said but did not go did not think it worth while have to travel in an open truck both ways by night so I thought best to “stay ome”. Evidentally Southland is looking at its best this year & what extraordinary prices seem to be ruling for everything surely there must be a scarcity somewhere. This I suppose will reach you somtime before Easter. I am anxiously awaiting news of N.Z. doings expect good news of the Razors. There is nothing that I can find of any interest so will call a halt. Hoping this finds one & all in the best of health as it leaves me the same. Remember me to everybody.
Your Affect. Brother
Charlie
How is Kate thriving. Ch.
