Document 861

Correspondence from Canada: Letter 13 - 16.10.81

Author(s): 852

Copyright holder(s): Name withheld

The Maggie
Fri. 16th Oct

Dear Maw & Paw,

Good news from abroad: I'm getting a raise! Now don't get too excited - it's only an additional $300 to my Assistantship. I got word from the School of Graduate Studies today. However, every little helps, and the extra £12 or so a month will keep me in sweetie money.

It's been a lovely week - warm and sunny. I'm told it won't last. It's been Engineering Week at UNB - culminating in a go-kart rally "down the hill" and what was to be the yearly Lady Godiva ride. Apparently Lady G. is the Engineers' mascot, and every year they hire some willing female to ride around campus wearing nothing but her modesty. They're a bit barbaric here - in Glasgow the various women's organisations would have been down on them like a ton of bricks. However apparently someone here did put his or her foot down, and the large crowd which gathered along the expected route waited in vain. No, I wasn't among the excited spectators.

Thanks for the Glasgow Herald cutting. It's interesting, but £1000 would really only finance a short stay in any country, I think. However, I've already written to the British Council in London - who are running this scheme - inquiring about studying and teaching opportunities in Egypt, and I've yet to hear from them. It's the British Council Carole will be working for.

I'm keeping a watchful eye on Egypt and the Middle East situation in general. It doesn't look too stable just now especially with Libya letting off steam, and the Sudan threatening to invade it. I haven't heard Carole's reaction to Sadat's assasination yet, the post being what it is. Just a few letters and a postcard telling me she's settling in fine at Tübingen, and planning to take up Greek. What next?

I got another letter from Al yesterday, too - she's really keeping herself busy, isn't she? Karate and fencing? I wish I'd that kind of energy. I got letters from Robert [CENSORED: surname] and David [CENSORED: surname], too. Robert's settling in well at Oxford - it's all very jolly - and David seems to have done well in his job interview down in Surrey. He's keeping his fingers crossed. The thing that bowled me over was he mentioned that to go to the interview, he had to miss out going to a disco with a girl!! Shock, horror, scandal! The Life Force hits Broughty Ferry!

I've recovered my full health, happily, which is nice. Some 'flu victims have gone on to contract bronchitis, and even pneumonia, I've heard. Don't worry, I'm looking after myself.

I haven't got any grammar exercises to mark yet, since I missed my instructor today. Good start. I'll have to see him on Monday. He must have forgotten I was supposed to see him today.

Otherwise, things are fine. Would yo believe student radio - CHSRFM - play "The Goon Show" on Sundays? Magic: they play a lot of good British music too. Did I come all this way to surround myself with reminders of home?? No - tomorrow I might go to a concert by an "eloquent" harpist, Ossian Ellis. Wow!!

Well, I'd better go & do my ironing. Friday night again. My beard is coming on again: I started growing it a fortnight ago.

I hope you're both well and not working too hard. Take some time off: go to Dunblane Hydro for a weekend or something. You deserve it. Give my best to all,

Love,
[CENSORED: forename]

Information about Document 861

Correspondence from Canada: Letter 13 - 16.10.81