Gubby Under Pressure

The letters 85 all goes to prove what I have said all along, the Australian side with Bradman and O’Reilly in their present form are a bad side and if we could play at all we should win easily. I dined with Uncle Arthur at Meriola on Christmas night and had a fine evening. Denis and his two charming sons were there, the Aunts Marcia, Mill and Murial, Uncle Reggie, John and Marcia, Margaret, Sir Thomas Bevin and one or two strangers whose names I can’t remember. The team had a Christmas lunch which went with a great swing and they all seem very happy. I am sorry for a lot of them as they have not so far had much chance to recover from a bad start as we have had 3 Test matches so close on top of one another. However we are off to Tasmania as soon as the Melbourne match is finished and they shall all get a chance there. The night the Test match ended i.e. Tuesday I went to Mrs Herbert Fairfax’s dance at Elamine, which is just below Thaxted on the new South Head road, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. All the Sydney swells were there and it was very well done. I had a long talk with Mrs H.F. and liked her very much. She only gives one party a year but it is always the best of the year so I am told. I have done nothing up here of note. I had one look at the Hotel and moved into this Club which is extremely good and I have been very well looked after. This evening I am dining with the Rankings who seem to know all the family and are very nice. Thank you so much for the cable which I hoped you wouldn’t worry to send. I do hope though that you will have to send one after the next Test match as that will mean the ‘rubber’ is safe. I am enclosing Dr.John Matthews bill as I think it is far too big. I went to him once when he took the swabs of my throat and twice to the hospital to have injections and should have thought 7 guineas absolute maximum. I am also enclosing 2 letters which I hope you will be able to address for me. The one to ‘Pat’ is for Pat Maxwell and the one to ‘Bill’ is for A.L.Grasie. The latter is the ex Scottish rugby player. You could probably get his address from one of the rugger fans in the club or through Plum or the Romany Cricket Club. Sorry to be such a nuisance. My very best love to Mum. Best love Obbie P.S. Please thank Jackman, of the Special Constabulary Force, for me for his Xmas card. I am sure he will understand how many letters I have to write. Found 2 lovely letters from Mum when I returned to Sydney this evening. Please thank her. Also one from you. Letter Eighteen Hotel Windsor Melbourne Jan 7 1937 Darling Mum, I must try and write you a short note as I know I haven’t written to either you or Dad for about 10 days. It is late and I am very tired having struggled through a horribly unlucky Test match and had 2 late nights. Tomorrow I am going down to Sorrento, a lovely seaside place about 60 miles from Melbourne, to stay with Jack Bailleaus until some time on Monday. I am not going to Tasmania for the 1st match but will probably go over for the second but I again need a rest badly. We were terribly unlucky in every possible way in the Test match and I can only describe is as a tragedy. We were in an impregnable position on the Friday night and undoubtedly had the match well won but the rain fell and the wicket was the worst I have ever seen. We certainly had the weather on our side in the first two matches but don’t forget we were winning both of them when it did fall whereas the Australians were in a powerless position when it came to their aid. Bradman played pretty well but he was dreadfully lucky. Whether it will now mean he is going to be the match winner for rest of the tour I don’t know. Actually I think we shall scramble home in Adelaide especially if I can win the toss; if we don’t win there I fear we are beat. It will be terrible if we now lose as we had the whole within our grasp last Friday. I have had a lot of fun down here and like Melbourne much more than I did on the last trip as I think they know how to enjoy themselves. Will write you a proper letter