11 November 1973

MQ 44

Government Settlement

Republic Of Nauru

Central Pacific

11 November 1973

Dear Mum & Dad,

This is a follow-up to my hastily written note last week. Andy & Shane came home last Wednesday which was pretty amazing as Andy had only had Shane the previous Thursday afternoon. Needless to say she is very well & Shane is coming along like a house on fire. So far he is a very good kid & no trouble except for the four hourly feeds. Darren has taken everything well, the whole business not being very dramatic for him, mainly thanks to Sue Matchett. He is like a mother hen with Shane & drives Andy mad helping with the bath & wanting to touch & carry Shane about. We are encouraging him as much as its possible (& safe) to do.

I don’t think I have mentioned our new house yet. We are really pleased with the move & we seem to be able to relax a lot more here. It is more private with a large back area, built in barbecue, our own garage & set well back from the road behind some coconut palms & frangipani trees. The house is virtually new (although it is actually about 25 years old). It has been completely renovated, all new fittings, a new bathroom & toilet, new kitchen & dining area & third bedroom added. The roof has been partly replaced & all new flooring which is polished. There is a full length covered veranda with a polished floor running along the front of the house. Andy talked the Works Department into giving us a new two door frig & a cane lounge setting with new cushion covers. The overall effect is really good & without doubt we would have the best house in the settlement. Not bad for nothing anyway!

Still no rains although the wet season is suppose to start in October. There hasn't been a decent rain since February so that all our fresh water is imported. It doesn't really affect us to any great extent except that we are more careful of our use of water. Although each house has a 10,000 gallon tank, each is equipped with an instant pressure pump which gives the same advantages as mains pressure. The water is free (to the expatriates only) & only requires a phone call to the Works Department when the tank is getting low. I used to dream about a place where there was plenty of water but it didn't rain. Apparently this is it. Still it would be a nice change for one of those tropical downpours like we had when we first arrived. It amazes me how the vegetation survives because even when it does rain the run-off is very rapid, the island being so small & shaped like an upturned saucer, the soil being basically sand & coral. Most of the undergrowth has gone but the paw paws, frangipani, tomano trees, pandanus & coconuts continue to thrive, flowing & bearing fruit.

  Parliament has been dissolved until the general elections in December, though it is pretty certain most will be regain their seats. Each parliamentarian represents about 50 voters. And they reckon Australia is over governed.

No more news, hope you are all well & staying ahead of all that work.

Love from the equatorial Tuers (Andy, Greg, Darren & Shane)