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Aug. 23rd 1936 Sunday
S.S. VENCEDOR
My darling Baba,
You will be back now & I do hope & trust that you wont feel too tired & that things wont overwhelm you. I wish you were with us. We are on the yacht of the Lieut Governor of B.C. & have been coasting along in the most divinely beautiful scenery I have ever beheld. The yacht is perfect in the way of comfort. There are cupboards full of spare bath salts, face & hand creams, mouth washes, stacks of cotton wool & spare powder puffs etc! delicious food - everything lovely in fact. The boys & Beatrice have had some marvellous fishing. They didn't catch a Tahi
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salmon which weighs anything from 25 to 65lb but they did catch some Kohn's which weigh about eight & loved it & swap fishing stories all day long. The coast is immensely romantic with its decaying Indian villages & its queer old English characters who live in little huts & clearings. Some have gone native & married Indian women with most disastrous results. The Indians apparently drag every one down with filth of habits & shiftlessness. We were sorry to leave Qualicum Beach. It is one of the best hotels
I have been to - so quiet & English in feel yet with most up to date & sophisticated comfort.
John has ups & downs but on the whole the ups are more than the downs. Johnie is completely fit again now that he has had all this lovely sea air & fishing.
The Hambers have very kindly asked them (the boys) to go back to Victoria in the yacht - while we disembark at Comox & go & see the Fairbridge Farm School - & then go to Victoria by car. We are expecting to have a hectic day tomorrow as
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there is a luncheon party [outside] Victoria a garden party at Government House plus a dinner party, & Vancouver may be a bit hectic too - but I hope to be able to write from there. Johnie is staying up at the Hambers farm & will avoid the dust & the heat of Vancouver station thereby.
If Aunt Margie would send me off the coat marked "not to be forwarded" to Government House Ottawa I should be very glad.
The flowers on Vancouver Island are utterly marvellous like ours only larger more scented more brilliant. I am so sorry to hear of Rab's death another old link snapped, yet I am sure it must have been a penance her life I mean. I am thankful that you wont have any more of those wearing journeys to Putney. Would Miss [Essex] send a line to the Putney dairy asking them to send me in the bill? The Wingate Sauls cook would know the address.
Your lovingest Susie.
