Gubby Under Pressure

that is the case we ought to make millions in the future. Choosing the team was not easy but after much argument I got the side I wanted. Robbie was splendid and backed me all the way. The other three wanted Fishlock instead of Hardstaff and Farnes instead of Voce. I must say Farnes has out-bowled Voce in every match and he is very unlucky not to be playing but with Robbie practically a non-bowler and with the certainty of an easy paced wicket I thought Voce would stand up to it best. So far both my gambles have come off, but the luck of the game is still running against us. Fagg and Barnett were both caught wide on the leg side and that is always a fluke and nothing went quite to hand for us though we looked more like a Test team in the field. I was out last to a brilliant catch having a ‘go’. So much for the cricket: I can only say that these Test matches simply knock hell out of me, get so worked up and excited. Denis and Dick and several other Sydney-ites flew up on Friday morning and are having a great ‘party’ up here, but I have been very quiet. I just go to the movies 4 or 5 times a week and then straight to bed. Today Dick, Denis, Robbie, Bob, Barnett, Verity, Farnes and I have been down to lunch and bathe with ‘Les’ at Southport. He is in great form, though rather older and has been very kind to me. He loves cricket and wants us to win badly. Later Dec 8 Had an amazing day yesterday in the Test match. Everything came off for me and it was about time too. If only we can now bat decently we ought to win this match as I still have hopes that the wicket won’t last indefinitely and the Australian should have at least 500 to make to win. Anyhow whatever happens we have astonished the world and made me very happy. It is no use my discussing the King as I am so far away and don’t really know the facts but it does seem to me that he has behaved disgracefully. I believe he is very conceited and thought he was so popular with the British people all over the world that he could get away with anything. If she had any decency she should have walked out when she saw what was going to happen. I am glad you like your new flat: I hope you will be happy in it. I have been to 5 films on 5 consecutive evenings and not seen a decent picture but it rests my mind. Very best love to you and Dad Obbie Letter Fourteen Ushers Hotel Sydney Dec 12 1936 Darling Mumsie, It is really my turn to write to Dad but I got your letter, needless to say undated, on arrival here in which you said you had not been well and that you had sent for Groves and I thought I must write and say how sorry I was. I am glad the doctor said there was nothing particular wrong with you. I suppose it is the same old story that you have been doing too much. Though you will deny it flatly, I believe you would hate not to do the washing and dusting (generally unnecessary) but it must be bad for you at your age. Which reminds me that I quite forgot about your birthday, how terrible!! I hear from Dad that you have moved your abode which is probably a good thing knowing how you hate drunks and I hope you will be much happier in the new one. The King, of course, has been the great topic here as I imagine it has been in London. I think it is very sad that he has decided to chuck everything up for that woman but I can’t help thinking that there must be lots of other things as well which have made him do it. If there aren’t, I think it is an utterly disgraceful performance on his and her part and I have no time or pity for him. However I am so many thousands of miles away that it is quite impossible to judge as one does not have all the facts. I wonder how David likes being the Queen’s brother. I arrived down here from Brisbane early this morning in the ‘Otranto’. I suddenly made up my mind to leave the others and come down here as my right knee seemed out of ‘shape’ and I wanted a decent doctor to have a look at it. I saw a man called Dr.Collins this morning and he said that he thought it would be all right provided I rested it for a few days The letters 82