We have had quite a pleasant Xmas, with five days holiday, and another five days this week for New Year. Our Red X parcels have been a boon to us and are practically the only thing at present that makes this life worth living.

Had a good sleep in this morning, the day is very dull and more snow threatening. Had a long yarn this evening about old times at home, and early army life. Some of the tales told of civi life are awfully interesting and so are the tales told of the Greek Campaign.

Up early and did my washing, such as it is. I am using some of my time trying to draw in crayons, so far without much success. However, it is an enjoyable pastime and one of which I am very fond.

Had a shave this morning and cleaned up the room. We had a very good concert last night. Bluey Johnstone and Bob Oliver have written two songs, and very beautiful they are. One is called, Exile and, I Found A Star. Work again in the morning, and a New Year, lets hope and pray we will be home soon. I often feel terribly home sick, but what is the use. It's no use trying to escape just yet with so much snow about. God knows it would be hard enough any other time, there has been no one succeed yet.

Nothing of importance to write up for the week. Steidte brought me back a chess board which I thought was very decent of him. There is a fair amount of snow about and it looks as if there is a lot more to come.

The Lassach gang came down today, and gave us a two hour show concert, which went over very well. I have had no news from home since Xmas.

A grand surprise tonight, two gifts from Mother, and two from my beloved Joyce. God Bless Them, it is just wonderful to hear from them.

Cold windy day, and looks as though we are in for a snow storm. Six of the Sergeants went back to Wolkberg today; I wish we were all going back home!!

We were issued with gloves, 1pr. socks and a small towel yesterday. These came from America I believe, and we were very grateful for them. The socks are the first I have had on my feet for six months, and today my feet have been deliciously warm all day. Wrote Mother a letter last Sunday. Heard today that Singapore has fallen, and 55,000 troops taken prisoner. We are very worried about our folks in New Zealand and Aussie, and I pray that they will be spared the Hell of war.

My first parcel arrived today from home. What a wonderful surprise and marvelous parcel. It has made me very happy dears. I can never thank you enough.

My birthday, the second away from home, and I hope next year I will be with my loved ones. Wrote to Joyce.

Two of our lads made a break this morning. McCluskie and Werner.

A bit of trouble on the job this week, and the two lads who escaped have been caught. Had four letters this week, and wrote to Win and Mother.

Quite a spot of bother this week, we have had to work an extra hour for ten days for the German relief fund. When we objected and went on strike several lads received imprisonment, and we had our parcels stopped for a few days. However, things seem to be O.K. now. A parcel came for me from the Red Cross, for which I am very grateful.

Wrote to Joyce, Myra, and Mrs Burge. It is raining today, and the snow is creeping back up the mountain slopes. We are working ten hours a day now, and are very weary when Sunday comes around again.

Wrote home to both Mothers.

Moved up to Lassach camp, we're working for the Electric company.

Wrote to Mother and Joyce. Canadian parcels again, I think they are the best.

Wise men learn more from fools, than fools learn from wise men.

He who goes to the hills, goes to his mother.

Only the actions of the just, small sweet and blossom in their dust.

There is more pleasure in building castles in the air than on the ground.

God created man in his image and man has not been slow in returning the compliment.

The soul is dyed the colour of its leisure thoughts.

Bright thoughts are the gems of noble minds.

How would I say, mine eyes be blessed made

By looking on thee in the living day.

When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade

Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!

All days are nights to see, till I see thee,

And nights bright days, when dreams do show me thee.

She comes not when noon is on the roses- too bright is day.

She comes not to the soul till it reposes from work and play.

But when night is on the hills, and the Great Voices roll in from sea.

By starlight and by candlelight and dream light she comes to me.

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Prayer goeth forth in sleep as true

And apauseless as the pulses do.

When the evening comes

I’ll leave ajar my door

And await

One who in dreams

Said she would come to me.

By way of pretext

I said "I will go

And look at

The condition of the bamboo fence".

But it was really to see you!

O beloved Pan and all ye other gods of this place, grant to me that I be made beautiful in my soul within, and that all external possessions be in harmony with my inner man. May I consider the wise man rich; and may I have such wealth as only the self-restrained man can bear or endure.

The nightingale has a lyre of gold,

The lark's is a clarion call,

And the blackbird plays but a boxwood flute,

But I love him best of all.

For his song is all of the joy of life,

And we in the mad, spring weather,

We two have listened till he sang

Our hearts and lips together.

O Supreme Ruler all-pervading and all-supporting,

O endowed messenger of God, make our wills wise

rulers of our thoughts and deeds that we may abide in happiness.

Let winds be favorable to us.

Let the seas send forth soft vapors to form clouds

sweet as honey.

And on land make the herbs and plants

to flourish for our well being.

Let day and night be pleasant to us.

Let our father, the sun, pour down happiness.

Allay the Almighty Lord Indra, owner of heaven

and the wide regions, the great creator,

be gracious to us and give us peace.

I've taken my fun where I've found it;

I've rouged an' I've ranged in my time;

I've 'ad my pickin' o' seethearts,

An' four o' the lot was prime.

One was an 'arf-caste widow,

One was awoman at Prome,

One was the wife of a jemadar-sais

An' one is a girl at 'ome.

Now I aren't no 'and with the ladies,

For, takin' 'em all along,

You never can say till you've tried 'em,

An' then you are like to be wrong.

There's times when you'll think that you mightn't,

There's times when you'll know that you might;

But the things you will learn from the Yellow an' Brown,

They'll 'elp you a lot with the White!

I was a young un at 'Oogli,

Shy as a girl to begin;

Aggie de Castrer she made me,

An' Aggie was clever as sin;

Older than me, but my first un --

More like a mother she were --

Showed me the way to promotion an' pay,

An' I learned about women from 'er!

Then I was ordered to Burma,

Actin' in charge o' Bazar,

An' I got me a tiddy live 'eathen

Through buyin' supplies off 'er pa.

Funny an' yellow an' faithful --

Doll in a teacup she were --

But we lived on the square, like a true-married pair,

An' I learned about women from 'er!

Then we was shifted to Neemuch

(Or I might ha' been keepin' 'er now),

An' I took with a shiny she-devil,

The wife of a nigger at Mhow;

'Taught me the gipsy-folks' bolee;

Kind o' volcano she were,

For she knifed me one night 'cause I wished she was white,

And I learned about women from 'er!

Then I come 'ome in a trooper,

'Long of a kid o' sixteen --

'Girl from a convent at Meerut,

The straightest I ever 'ave seen.

Love at first sight was 'er trouble,

She didn't know what it were;

An' I wouldn't do such, 'cause I liked 'er too much,

But -- I learned about women from 'er!

I've taken my fun where I've found it,

An' now I must pay for my fun,

For the more you 'ave known o' the others

The less will you settle to one;

An' the end of it's sittin' and thinking',

An' dreamin' Hell-fires to see;

So be warned by my lot (which I know you will not),

An' learn about women from me!

What did the Colonel's Lady think?

Nobody never knew.

Somebody asked the Sergeant's Wife,

An' she told 'em true!

When you get to a man in the case,

They're like as a row of pins --

For the Colonel's Lady an' Judy O'Grady

Are sisters under their skins!