Australia, my new home

What was I to do now? The wool trade didn't give me full satisfaction. I felt a lack of fulfilment, and having always to be on one's guard against being cheated went against my grain. I began to look out for something else, but at that time I didn't know what. I even went to a career's adviser, who gave me an I.Q. test and after filling in lots of questionnaires, he suggested to become a public servant administrator. I was not impressed.

In spring of 1962 we expected the first visit of my parents in Lindfield. They were to sleep in our dining room, while our two boys had their bedroom next to the kitchen. It was a bit crowded in our small house, but my parents planned to rent a house together with Gerda, hopefully nearby. During August Alison became pregnant again. We hoped that Mutter would still be there to help in the house and with the children. This worked out very well. On 2 May 1963 our James Stuart was born. Before I took Alison to the hospital, I had to pick up Mutter from Chelmsford Ave. Lindfield, where they lived. Vater had not noticed that Mutter left in the middle of the night. He went as usual at 5 am. to his job of selling papers at Lindfeld Station. When I walked up to him at about 9 am and congratulated him on the arrival of another grandson, he was completely surprised.

It was wonderful to have Mutter and Vater around that time to help with the two boys and in the house. They were really of great help. Vater even helped with the garden, and George and Mark would love to be with him 'helping'. At least once a week we would go over to my parents' place for afternoon tea or for dinner, which gave Alison a welcome break from cooking. My parents could not be persuaded, however, to stay permanently in Australia, as Vater planned to invest some money he received from a war compensation scheme in Germany. Before they left Australia, they invested some of their compensation money in a house at Collaroy, quite close to the beach. They lived there for some time and we would spend our holidays with them. We were all very sad when in February of 1964 they left on the P.&.O liner CANBERRA.

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