Letters From Abroad - It's Spring in Britain and Cigarettes are Going Up

28th March 1968
Mr. and Mrs. P Schultz                    Mrs. G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                                    186 London RD
Hillsborough                                    Twickenham
Auckland NZ                                   Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete
Great to get your quick reply

Sorry I haven’t been quicker but I haven’t been in the mood lately.
At the moment I have no work to do so I am catching up at work.
We are having glorious weather at the moment, the days have been beautiful.
I ’m glad the temp is just over 60F which to you might be cold
but to us poor souls in Britain, who have over the last few months
been in the minus category.
Its hot and everyone is happy and singing and all the spring flowers
are out and England is lovely in the Spring,

Below: Dale preparing for a golf match

Now after that long winded sentence, full of the joys of spring.
Oh I forgot, we're going down to a pub, by the river for lunch.

Only problem with Spring it seems to have brought my leg aches,
which is amazing, as I thought winter would have done that.
I wore dresses most of the winter and a fair amount of leg was exposed
to the bitterly cold and it didn’t affect me at all.

Oh well let’s hope it doesn’t last.
For Sandy only, concerning ‘The Pill’
I am now on the last free sample and I am going to change onto a new one.
Remember before I left, I got terrific pains with my period, well they have continued
so I don’t think this pill is really the best for me.
It just seems to give natural conditions, so I am going to change.
I’ll let you know what I get and how it goes.
In fact last night I rushed home, put the tea on and dashed across to the doctors.
Surgery is between 6.30-7.00 and there are no appointments
you wait in the queue.
Ridiculous system but that is Britain and I got there, I saw no surgery Wed and Thurs,
so I have to wait till next week but as I said I’ll let you know.

Had a letter from Joy today who informs me that Patsy and Bob,
from the stained house at the back, are shifting.
Apparently, because she said, nobody likes her because of that naughty child of hers
and she is not happy. So.

Also Joy is well but unfortunately she can’t stand the sun,
so she is lily white and of course imagine that with all the lovely weather.
Dale’s Mum sent us some lovely photos of our house this week and
they were great to take into work.
She also took one of our street, which pleased me to take into work,
as the English don’t have anything like that.

Dale had a game of golf on Saturday with Terry (of Rikki and Terry our shipmates).
Trouble is, you have to book a place a week ahead and guess what,
the March winds blew and it rained, so they got soaked
and couldn’t even finish the course.
So as you can imagine he was really choked,

 Below: Saturday afternoon in Ealing, Chez Yearbury.

Did I tell you about my birthday,
Dale bought me a lovely gold lighter, small one and
I had a swinging lunchtime shout, from which I floated through the afternoon.
My Boss Ken told me to sit in a corner, as I wasn’t fit to work.
Marvelous it was. Have you found a job yet.
That one in Holeproof, sounds good. Unilever sounds lousy.

Did you hear about our lousy budget. Road Tax £25 a year, that is registration.
Isn’t it shocking? 6/- a gallon for petrol, 4/9 for standard cigarettes, 5/7 for king size
AND they are putting them up again.
 Makes you sick but I am not giving up.
I spend about 30/- a week on cigarettes.
Just as a matter of interest, I worked out the amount of money we spend a week.
Now this only includes rent, food, my cigarettes and the car petrol, road tax etc.
No insurance, no going out, no booze, no clothes, or odds and ends.
It works out at £26 A week.
How about that? That is just to live.
No wonder we couldn’t save anything. Shocking isn’t it?
Oh those Cigarettes, kept going on them, despite the price, until June 21st 1985 4am
That was my last one

Well I have run out of room, also it is nearly lunchtime and we must prepare to go to the river.
Hope to hear from you soon.

 Love Gillian and Dale

Letters from Abroad - Living in London

6th March 1968
Mr. & Mrs. P Schultz                            Mrs. G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                                         186 London RD
Hillsborough                                         Twickenham
Auckland NZ                                         Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete

We’ve got a craze on Tom Thumb sweets at the moment just like the Pineapple Chunks Days.
Except we buy them every day. Sorry if I repeat myself but I can’t remember what I write to who!

I am starting this at home and to finish it at work. BUT you are a sweetie Sandy.
It was a lovely surprise to open your card and see our little house
I have been waiting for Mum to find a photo for me to show ‘thems’ at work, that there are some nice things in NZ, Actually I hope we can get one of the subdivision.

Below: The House at Churton Park 1966 as it was being constructed

 Below:  The house completed. Photo taken by Faye, Dale's Mum to send to us.
That's her in the driveway

 The houses here are semi detached. When I remember I’ll send some photos. Remind me.

Below: Here is the house we were living in. Flash, yes but we just had a little flat at the back

 Nice backyard though, we looked out onto this

And An Arty Shot In The Snow

I got a letter from Frances yesterday too she says their house is now at the drawing board stage and they have and a preliminary costing £8,300. They have to start in this year. She said Bob and Warrine had a daughter Karen Lesley, I think that is all worth passing on.
Below: Frances and her husband Derrick with Moi early 1967

And Below: Frances in 1961 with Dave Denovan who worked with us at Unilever as well

Well the weekend was one large cloud which Dale and I floated through having a marvelous time. As you might have guessed we were boozed most of the time.
It really is wicked. We are pouring through the Scotch.
I don’t know why I wrote that last sentence. It is now the next day. I didn’t have the chance yesterday to finish, so I am doing it now in between weighings.
Well back to our weekend, we went with Tim and the gang to a pub in Twickenham
The Crown. I think I’ve mentioned it before. They play jazz there on Friday nights, so we thought we’d take the boys. Ended up with 9 of them and me at our flat singing away. Got rid of them about 1.30am.
Then Saturday night we went to a Curry party. Not curries as you know them but all Indian food. It is very popular here.
Well they are marvelous so you can be assured you will be bored with Indian food when we get home. Esther had a very hot mint chutney which I mixed with a small helping of a chicken dish that I missed first time round. Boy that was the hottest combination. I just about went through the roof. I am getting a lot of recipes.
 Below: My colleagues at Unilever Isleworth. Said Esther, 2nd left, who made the hot Mint chutney next to her husband Ron. 1st left

Did I tell you I heard from Murray and Marilyn. One, one day and the other the next.
I am very good and have written back. We finally got home from that party at 4am.
Then on Sunday Gerry a girl from the boat came around to dinner and we had a few drinks and a bottle of wine, a few more drinks then around came Tim and a few more drinks and we ended up at Tim’s Pub where we saw an actor, his name is Patrick Cargill. He is in a lot of TV plays and things.
Below: Milling around outside The Plough

Do you have “The Prisoner” well he is No 2 in a couple of episodes. So I am quite chuffed that 2 famous we have seen now.
Rudolph who is doing by the way “Nut Cracker Suite” on BB2 on Sunday.
Whole ballet his choreography. Marvelous and now this other twit.
Did I tell you Dave Holey came to London a couple of weeks ago, we entertained him. Well, he had a funny friend with him. Short stocky a typical Dave friend.
He made Dale ill the way he ate. He was a cycling friend.
It was a nice surprise to see Dave.
Well apparently Bob and Sue have arrived. Tim saw Sue in NZ house the other day and one of his flatmates met them at an elevenses. I daresay we’ll meet them before too long. We are going to the movies tonight, the first time since we’ve been in England.
The film is much talked about “Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush.
Is it in NZ Yet? It’s quite funny Mum writes they have been to such and such movies and it opened in London a couple of weeks before, so NZ is catching up.
Like you two I’ve run out again. Yes Sandy I know about Joy Great isn’t it.
Write again soon. We love to hear from you

Love Gillian and Dale.

Letters From Abroad - Cigarettes More Important Than A Birthday Card

26th February 1968
Mr. and Mrs. P Schultz                         Mrs.G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                                         186 London RD
Hillsborough                                         Twickenham
Auckland NZ                                         Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete
You two would have been happy especially Sandy where we went today.
We have just returned from a drive down to the country. South of London.
The little village we went to is called Shere about 20 miles from here.

 It is a real old world tiny village with all sorts of quaint houses,
all on the street, narrow little streets.
 While we were there we called into an old school master of Dales,
who has 3 dogs and 2 horses and quite a large piece of land.

The house wasn’t very posh but they were English to a T.
Belong to the Hunt Club, very pleasant people who were frightfully horsey,
 but not unbearably so. They adore their dogs and they had full run of the house.
Luckily I had worn my boots
 (as I do everyday they are the most comfortable shoes I own, also they keep your legs warm),
we traipsed through mud and inspected their grounds and animals.
 Great day.
Below: Sandy's Wedding Day. Yours truly Matron of Honour on the left

Below: Lab Girls at Unilever, Petone.

We had a good time last night we went to a beat dance at work.
They had a group there called ‘1984” who weren’t bad but the noise was high.
The club isn’t as big as the Canteen at Levers in Petone, there were about 150 people there
and it went off extremely well.
After a few Scotches, I also went well and back to my old tricks of dancing every dance.
Dale couldn’t stay with me, so I move through all the boys in our lab,
who didn’t have girls with them.
It was swinging. We went to a party afterwards. Funny though.
An Australian girl Elizabeth, started in the lab last week. Very tiddy, but quite pleasant.
Below: Liz right in the middle, yes obviously needed my fabulous fashion advice!

She brought a couple of friends along.
They were grotty. Of course no one asked them to dance.
I forced Dale into asking a couple of them to dance, the other boys wouldn’t.
I pushed them all but they made excuses like I have a sore leg etc.
 Poor girls. But they didn’t even have pleasing personalities.
I chatted to them, doing my duty for about 1/2 hour in the breaks.
Christ they were boring. They are the types who will say the English
aren’t friendly and hard to get to know.
 I hope Elizabeth breaks from them, as they must drag her down,
as she is quite pleasant. I think I’ll have to drag her along to a couple of boutiques
and buy some with-it clothes.
Below: Some Photos of us in our Flat in Twickenham

We had a lovely surprise last weekend.
We had got home on Friday night at 5.30am after a super ball at London University,
that we went to with Tim. It really was good but there weren’t as many memorable occasions,
as there has been before but we still enjoyed ourselves.
Anyway, we got woken up at the unearthly hour of 1pm Saturday by Dave Holey,
who was down for the weekend. He was having an interview for a job down here.
Well we gave him lunch and chatted all afternoon.
Then we went to pick up his friend, who came with him.
A typical Dave friend. Funny short tubby bloke, didn’t have much to say for himself
but a bit of a bore. Anyhow we took them to a party at Tim’s and guess
who was there Sandy, Eddie Bisdee and his wife.
Below: Moi, sandwiched between Said Eddie Bisdee on the Left and my boyfriend at the time Craig Orr, at beach in New Zealand Circa 1960. Very Cool! 

Great reunions.
 Funny how small the world is.
Tim’s girlfriend went to school with Dale at Mana College.
Dave had a good time chatted up a bird but his mate just sat there
and drank up largely.

On Sunday we went around to Tim’s and all went to the pub.
Guess who was there, Rudolph Nureyev, Fonteyn’s partner.
He is very sweet, That is his local pub. So we were quite chuffed,
we’ve seen someone who is famous. I wanted to ask him to dance
but the others wouldn’t let me.
Below The Plough East Sheen: Scene of many a great time during our stay in the UK

 Below: two of the lads we spent time with Left Cam, Right Jack

 Below: And another great friend Gavin Watt

I am running out of room.
Send my congratulations to Madeleine, she sprouted rather quickly!!!
Is that why we didn’t see her after she was married.
Well loves, do write again soon.
We love to hear from you
Lots of love Gillian and Dale

Birthday Card for Sandy

 Dear Sandy I bought this one as it couldn’t be truer.
I am doing this at work
Received your most welcome letter this morning...also one from Jan and Gerry
with the most welcome news that Jan is one month pregnant or so.
Boy was I cheesed off, all everyone will be talking about when we get home,
will be babies!
I suppose you’ll be next. Joking apart,
its marvelous news, their house is nearly finished so are set on their feet,
also Gerry’s sister Sheryn is also expecting.
I will write a proper letter in the weekend.
Have a very happy birthday.
Sorry this will be late but I only got paid today
AND I didn’t have enough money for a card earlier,
just enough to get me to work, cigarettes and lunches.
Things are getting tough here, more about that later.

Lots of love to you both Gillian and Dale

Letters From Abroad - Winter

14th February 1968
Mr. & Mrs. P Schultz              Mrs. G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                           186 London RD
Hillsborough                           Twickenham
Auckland NZ                          Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete,

Sorry to be so long in answering but honestly I have been so lazy lately, all my letters are piling up.

 I wrote so many letters while I was away.
I don’t know if I told you in the card I sent you, by the way did you get it, Anyhow as I was saying, we now have a car. 1963 Mini, white and seems to go very well.

Our friend Phil Webster with his son Graeme in the White Mini

I have been driving it to work but we have a slight problem which developed last night in the pouring rain. The windscreen wipers tied themselves in knots SO I spent a terrifying drive home. Couldn’t see a bloody think so today I came by train as the weather is still funny.
Very depressing weather, millions of grey days and really grey. All the houses are brick. I’ll tell you I don’t think we’ll ever buy a brick house AND most of them are identical. They all blend in with the grey weather. Horrible… but besides that England’s social life or should I say ours has picked up considerably and we have been having a fabulous time since we bought the car.
Last weekend we only spent Saturday morning at home. On Friday night I stayed at the Club, oh I must tell you I had a lovely time on Friday, as all of my work clothes needed dry cleaning I wore to work one of my mini dresses. A nice one, navy blue with white lace around the neck and down the front.

Well I had young men around me all day. I had 6 of them chatting me up.
Boy I was chuffed Think I will wear it again. Anyhow on Friday night we went for a Chinese nosh and then onto the Crown, a Pub in Twickenham which has Jazz on Friday nights, We had a fun time there also ran out of petrol.
Saturday Dale went to the England/Ireland rugby match at Twickenham and then onto the Pub where all the rugby fans go. At this pub when there is an international match there is a girl there that strips. He missed it by half and hour the first time and the 2nd time she wouldn’t do it, so on Saturday he thought he was made. Things were really swinging at the Pub so about 7 pm he decided to come and get me as he thought I might enjoy it, so he ran all the way home and guess what I wasn’t there. I had gone to visit Rikki and Terry and usually he isn’t home at that time so I didn’t hurry home.

Terry Yearbury and Yours truly in their flat in Ealing.
AND while he was away the girl stripped. He was pipped. Gosh I laughed. When I finally arrived home we rushed around to Tim’s where Dale had dinner as I had already eaten and then we met the others at a Pub in East Sheen where we had a roaring time, then we crashed a party and livened it up for the hostess. So having a car makes all the difference, we have been to visit people we haven’t had a chance to before.

Above: The frequently mentioned Tim.
One problem, we also spend all our money. I got paid on Thursday £13 and spent it all by Sunday, disgusting,
I got a letter from Marilyn on Monday. Good to hear all the news again.
Well you two how is Auckland?
I’ll tell you I miss the weather, but the summer is coming Thank God.
We have a film show at work on Sunday and the Private Life of Henry VIII, remember that on TV.
We had some sad news on Monday Dale’s Grandfather died. When I saw the telegram I was too scared to open it and I must admit I was relieved when I read it, because it was a good thing.
He died as they had put him in Porirua as he was completely senile.
Young Dianne’s wedding apparently went off well and everyone enjoyed themselves,
St Valentines Day today
The postman didn’t bring me any cards. What a shame.

 Our backyard in Twickenham

 Cute...young love

 Richmond in the snow

We think we might be home for Christmas this year but I suppose we might change our plans again.
Nevertheless I will let you know when we are expected in Auckland. Hope to hear from you again, send my love to Nan and Grandy.

Love Gillian and Dale

Letters From Abroad - Christmas 1967

26th December 1967

Mr. & Mrs. P Schultz                                    Mrs. G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                                                 186 London RD
Hillsborough                                                 Twickenham
Auckland NZ                                                Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete

Best of luck in your new jobs.

When we received your card (which we thoroughly enjoyed) I thought, Silly Bitch didn’t send me her address so I can’t write BUT God was with us and the next day came your most welcome letter with the address. So here I am. Our Xmas had been very quiet. At least this weekend had. Just the two of us.

Trouble was I didn’t buy any decorations. On Sat when we went shopping the shops were crowded and I wasn’t well so I wanted to get home as quickly as possible. So our Christmas wasn’t really Christmas. But we had a couple of bottle of Champagne, real stuff and consequently had to have a little sleep. Television has been marvelous and tonight’s programme is great including the Beatles New film Magical Mystery Tour”. We even went for a walk to freshen up. Imagine us walking.
No wonder we aren’t fat. I didn’t feel at all self conscious in my short skirts. Dale bought me for Christmas a mini slip and bra to match in Navy with red trimmings and also a black bra slip (all in one) and bikini pants.

They are super. We got tons of Christmas Cards (including yours), which made me feel very guilty as I didn’t send any thinking we wouldn’t get any. We also got your wedding photos also one from Jan and Gerry, she made a beautiful bride, the prettiest I think I’ve ever seen, even better than Adrianne Kay.

Our Pre Xmas was good a few parties including one at Tim’s on Friday but Dale ruined that. During the day we started drinking at work about 1 o’clock and I got suitable rotten, impressed everyone with my dancing, which after picking up a few tricks from Trinidad is getting quite wild.

They are all very conservative and I had more partners than I could handle.
Did wonders for my ego. Anyway after several parties at work them, onto one at Richmond I sobered up for Tim’s and one of the chaps from our lab gave up some of his time to run me home in time for Dale, who arrived home 5 minutes after me. Guess what? Rotten, he was sick and spent the rest of the evening asleep. Bang went Tim’s party I was furious. I rang Tim and apologized. I sat there fuming all night and when her finally awoke I gave him What Ho. Typical Dale he just laughed.
We also had a wine and cheese on Tuesday at work. First they had the film “Dr No’ then on with the wine and cheese. Once again we got high and had a marvelous time. I have been boozed more here, than ever at home. This trip has done us the world of good.
We have both become much more relaxed and our image had changed, we are even more gay that ever and really enjoying ourselves.

I wish Sandy you could see our new clothes.
Don’t worry we haven’t gone MOD just more modern and with it. I even possess false eyelashes and have invested in new makeup.
No foundation though just a highlighter at (don’t faint) 6/9, plus a brush a bit better than your 30/- you paid.
Exactly the same thing. Bet it makes you sick.

As well as new clothes I whipped up the hem on my existing wardrobe
Note the length of the skirt: (Above just after arrival in the UK)
Below: Same Suit, 3 inches shorter. (In Devon a few months later)

Did I tell you Joy Bilby is expecting in April. We haven’t heard from Pete and Glenys if their baby has come yet It’s due now, also Barbara and Terry Christie.
Last we heard from Glenys last week. No signs of labour then.
We had a letter from Dave Holey also a Xmas Card from Heiko.

Did Dave come over because of his girlfriend? It sounds like it.
If you ever want to visit Glenys their address is 7a Kempthorne Cres., Kohimarama.
Their surname, Burt.
I must stop soon, Top of the Pops is on. All the Top Tunes for ’67.
You know I barely got used to writing 1967 on cheques, don’t know how I’ll manage with ’68.
What’s more, it’s leap year Sandy.
If I forget to send you a birthday card on time. Happy Birthday and we hope sincerely you’ll both be very happy in Auckland. You know we really miss you all.
Below The actual Birthday Card Appropriate as it turns out. Obviously I did send it in the boss's time.

We are still not homesick but occasionally I have pangs for friends and family but we are lucky and get letters nearly every day.
Still haven’t written to Colin but I will do shortly. Work is great here, developing all the new products. You’re really in it. Hope to hear from you soon
Lots of love Gillian and Dale