MON. FEB. 23, 1948 LENNON'S HOTEL, BRISBANE. (PRONOUNCED BRISBIN) UP AT 7:1 A.M. - PACKED - BREAKFAST AT 8: TO POST OFFICE TO MAIL LETTERS TO ITAY - GIRL "MIXED UP" THE STAMPS A BIT SO "DORY" COULD HAVE A GOOD SELECTION. WE THEN WENT TO THE RATION BOARD + APPLIED FOR VISITORS' RATIONS. WE RECEIVED: CLOTHING RATION CARD - 56 COUPONS; MEAT - 83 COUPONS; TEA - 44; BUTTER - 31. THE WHOLE AFFAIR TOOK ONLY 10 MINUTES - NOTED ON PASSPORT VISA. GEOFF WENT OFF TO DO SOME BUSINESS CALLS - I WENT TO A 2ND HAND BOOK STORE, DYMMOCHTS, TO LOOK AT BIRD BOOKS. THEY HAD 2 GOOD ONES; BUT TOO DEAR. BOUGHT ONE ABOUT HYRE BIRD. WENT TO NODAR TO FIND SOMEONE WHO KNEW ABOUT MY SHUTTER TROUBLE, + TO ENQUIRE ABOUT FLASH BULBS ON PLANE - NO HELP. BACK TO HOTEL AT 10: CHECKED OUT, TAXI TO TRANS- AUSTRALIA AIRLINES. JACK THOMAS THERE TO SAY GOODBYE. ASKED ABOUT FLASH BULBS - BAGGAGE DEPT. SAID NOT TO TAKE. COACH TO KINGSFORD SMITH AIRPORT. EN ROUTE, HOUSES ALL ALIKE, ALL WITH FENCES - SOME SLUM AREAS OF TIN CAN DUMP TYPE. NOT A PRETTY AIRPORT. OUR PLANE THE THOMAS MITCHELL - 11CH - 44 PASSENGER - WE HAD A FULL HOUSE. TAKE-OFF IN SHORT RUN. SWUNG AROUND FIELD + OUT OVER SYDNEY HARBOR - A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. THE GROUND WAS RED WITH COLOR OF ROOF TOPS. CLIMBED STEADILY TO 8000' - AIR SPEED 230 M.P.H. + 10 MILE TAIL WIND. AIR TEMP. 60°. SMALL PUFFY CUMULUS. SMOOTH SAILING. PASSED BARLEY SUGAR CANDY. STEWARDESS BROUGHT US A COLD LUNCH SOON AFTER FLIGHT UNDER WAY - QUITE GOOD. NO ONE APPEARED VERY INTERESTED IN FLIGHT, AND YET THERE WAS BEAUTIFUL COAST + CLOUD-LAND VIEWS. HIT A FEW BUMPS OVER BRISBANE (1:30 P.M. - LEFT 11:15 A.M.) AND THEN A QUIET LANDING. COACH TO BRISBANE + TAXI TO HOTEL. LENNON'S HOTEL - BEST IN TOWN - WAS MACARTHUR'S HEAD QUARTERS IN AUSTRALIA: VERY MODERN CONSTRUCTION - CORNER WINDOWS, AIR-CONDITIONING THROUGHOUT, TILE BATHS WITH ROOM, BLOND MAPLE FURNITURE, BUILT-IN RADIO, PLENTY OF LIGHT, ICE WATER FOUNTAIN AT END OF OUR HALL. VALET SERVICE GOT OUR SUITS + TROUSERS PRESSES IN A HURRY. UNPACKED A LITTLE AND CHANGED SHIRTS. THEN OUT ON ERRANDS.