A LONDON LETTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 77, 13 March 1934, Page 8

A LONDON LETTER

FROM NEW ZEALAND CIRL. “DEAR OLD DIRTY LONDON.” A well-known New Zealand nurse writes brightly of her lite in London, but an undercurrent of homesickness for her own country is noticeable She says; “How I would love to go into the New Zealand bush again after living so Jong m London. 1 would like to see the lovely ferns and undergrowth once more and sniff the bushy scent of it all. There is nothing like it in England. The woods and the forests are very lovely, of course, especially in spring, when the violets and primroses and snowdrops are all out. There is nothing like that in New Zealand, but we can’t help longing for the things we wen used to as children. Do send some fern leaves. They could be pressed in books first. “ur winter has been rather severe. No snow in London so far, but heavy frost lying about and some very bad fogs. The latter do not thrill us now as when we first experienced them. They arc really very trying. Apart from the danger in travelling, one’s eyes am) throat get so sore, and, as for the dirt-1 —The logs make one’s clothes and house in such a sooty state. One never does feel very clean in London at the best of times. Handkerchiefs and bed linen, etc., are always a bad colour and the window curtains have to be taken down very frequently if they are to be kept at all respectable. It is marvellous how one gets used to it, though. Dear old London! how we all love it in spite of the dirt and fogs and noise! “People in London have not been so gay since they all became ‘poor’ or thought they did. It will be ages before the cuts in salaries are restored — if ever, but clothes and food are much cheaper and that is a great help. The shops are nearly giving away dresses and hats. Some of the fashions are very exaggerated, especially the hats. These bits of things worn at weird angles on the head only suit the very young and pretty girls. Still there are heaps of styles to suit everyone and, there is no need for anyone to look out of date. I have just bought a hat of black fa? felt which only weighs loz!”