Thursday 12 November 1953 (cont) Samarai to Cairns unless we left a set of plants and zoological specimen duplicates in Port Moresby. It would take weeks. How silly can some people be? Customs also wants to charge us 10 o/o of the value of material used in Papua (about A £ 60). And yet we are giving them collections worth far more! Ran into rain squalls outside of Cairns. Ambulance waiting. To General Hospital. After dinner at Hides Hotel I called up George Brookes (sons John and Edward). Had a pleasant evening. Friday 13 November Cairns to Brisbane to Sydney. George down to see Geoff. Flew at 9:00 A.M. Smooth flight to new flying boat base outside of Brisbane. Don Vernon met me. Brought my suitcase and gave me a painting he had done in 1945. A good visit of an hour with him. Arrived Sydney just after dark--lights very beautiful. Met by ambulance; to Helene Private Hospital (Matron E. H. Draper) at Randwick. Qantas Airways have been very cooperative in every aspect of the trip. Customs very decent--no trouble. Stayed at Oriental Hotel at Kings Cross. Listened to the fight that all Australia was excited about--bantam weight. Gault and Carrothers--latter (Australian) retained title. Saturday 14 November Sydney--en route to Darwin. Shaved Geoff in A.M. He had a good quiet night. Down town to Angus & Robertson to buy a few books. Bought 2 kangaroo belts--l for Dory, a small sewing kit with beautiful scissors and a key case for K. and a new wallet for myself. Took Tram cout to White City tennis courts to see the N. S. W. Championships (round before the l/4 finals). 3 good matches: V. Seixas vs. D. Candy--volleying & service-- 3 close sets to Seixas; J. Bromwich vs. T. Trabert--went 5 sets--if Bromwich were younger the match would have been his--Trabert was passed & lobbed & out thought time after time but Bromwich started netting in the last 2 sets (Bromwich first won this championship in 1937 !); Rosewall vs. Wilderspin--both men have beautiful ground strokes and good all-around games--W. has a severe service, as has Rosewall, for his size--W. had R. 2 sets to 1 and 3 all in 4th when I left-- their play is too methodical to be very exciting. Billy Talbert and I. Ayre were playing the team which has as a member the 17 yr. old French jr. champion. Bromwich & Quist, the old doubles team, did not look too good against 2 unknowns. Ambulance called for Geoff at 8:00 P.M. To Mascot Airport. We are traveling by Constellation to London. Our plane will be the first to stop at Bangkok. Geoff has a bunk but quarters are rather close. Take off at 9:30 P.M. Seats very comfortable. Sent cables to Miriam Tate and Kay. Sunday 15 November Arrived Darwin at 5:00 A.M., just before dawn. Bus to a passenger accomodation station (shave, showers, beds, dining room) at Berrimah. Take off for Jarkata at 7:00 A.M. Singapore for the night. Took Geoff to hospital in ambulance. He is in good hands with Sister Collins. Staying at Raffles Hotel which has been completely refurbished since the Jap officers made a mess of it. Cold coming on so I went to bed at 5:00 P.M., woke at 11:00 P.M., walked around the block, had a ginger beer and to bed again. Flying straight line courses is no way to see the country. Calm. Monday 16 November Singapore--Bangkok--Calcutta. Bion River; C. on flood plain. On across India to Karachi. We will fly all night to reach Cairo at dawn. Tuesday 17 November Cairo--Rone--London & off for U.S.A. at 8:30 P.M.