Mr
Frank Gary
Crosswicks
- N.J. - USA
29-6-1981
Dear
Mr Gary,
I
thank you for your letter of 14th June and the information contained
therein.
My
wife has returned home unexpectedly after the doctor advising me two days
previously that she would be hospitalised for perhaps another 2 weeks. They
gave her an injection to sedate which it has certainly done, too much so in my
opinion. I would have thought they would have kept her in the clinic to
observe the effects. You speak of lithium. She has been using Lithium
Carbonate for some 10 or 12 years. I believe it was first developed in
Australia about that time. It did keep her reasonably stabile for sometime,
but I don’t believe it is doing its job any more. As you may be aware too
high a level in the blood becomes toxic. For some reason a couple of years ago
suddenly the level rose very high, whether she took too many tablets or did
not drank enough fluid was not determined. However she was at death door for 4
or 5 days. It is necessary to have the level checked regularly.
My
eyes are not as good as they were. The doctor increased the strength of the
Pilocarpine to 3% hoping it will improve the situation.
The
business enterprises are improving, I mentioned the nursery setup. That may
have to wait a little while as another opportunity looks like arising in the
food business. A friend of mine advised me only last week that a small
shopping complex is being built just off the main street of Maitland with new
shops available. My son’s shop at the moment is in the downtown area. The
new situation is midtown and could provide another outlet for his takeaway
food. It would be an ideal situation. On the strength of it he is going to
Sydney this week to speak with the developer. Hopefully something may come of
it therefore that will probably mean work for me, setting it up etc. We will
just have to wait and see after his Sydney trip.
Thank
you for your comment on the Standard chapter. Basically it is the same we
agreed on except for the fact of Scale of Points and the like. Some of the
breeders I feel need to be put in an awkward position, although it’s very
hard to get a message through in this country. It will be interesting to
observe the reaction when the treatise does get into print. Still have a
couple of chapter to do then print it, so it will be a few months yet. OK on
Cock being repeated. There are a few mistakes here and there. Hopefully not
too many. Thanks for checking this out. I have been so busy over the last
month as so printing schedules for our own Poultry show and the Pekin Bantam
Club schedule and Newsletter
that I haven’t been able to get on with the book. We had our local show here
in Maitland the weekend before last: 850 entries and we were delighted with
the profit we made, $ 175.00. It’s pretty hard these days to make a profit
on a show and although a few of us worked pretty hard the effort was well
worthwhile.
The
Pekin Club Show is on 26th July. My son and I show in partnership.
Managed to take out Reserve Soft Feather Bantam award with a Black Hen at the
local show. Travel 40 miles south next weekend, then 100 miles north the
weekend after.
All
being well I will be travelling up to Brisbane, the capital of the State of
Queensland (about 600 miles north) in early August. We have entered some
Pekins in the Royal Show up there. Will endeavour to keep the Queensland
breeders honest. It’s so much warmer in Brisbane at that time of the year,
beautiful weather in fact and I have another reason for going. My Father’s
brother lives there. He will be 94 years old this year and now only plays lawn
bowls 3 times a week instead of 5. I was speaking to his son per telephone the
other night and he says the old fellow is slowing up a bit, although he has
just completed building some bird cages and painted the back of his house from
scaffolding a few months ago. He is the only one left now. My father passed
some 12 years ago aged 78 and my aunt who lived next door to me reached the
age of 90, died about 3 years ago. The other brother died at on early age. He
was gassed in Worldwar I.
Regarding
the illustrations my son is going to do. I will let you judge whether they
come up to the quality you require for the Bantam Standard. He is finding
difficulty getting the time with all his commitments.
Today
I received a letter from one of the leading Poultry Clubs in Queensland
accepting the offer of a ABA medallion which Fred Jeffrey sent me (5). It will
be for competition at their 1982 Show and they have undertaken to supply
photographs of the Champion Bantam which I will send on to Fred. One medallion
was supplied to Bantam Club of NSW. It was won by Modern game which was Ch.
amongst about 800 birds. I am hopefully getting photos of that bird to send to
Fred. They may be suitable for the Yearbook.
Thanks
for the offer of publicity with my manuscript. You will get one as soon as
they are off the press. I will look forward to your comments. The text is
somewhat rambling in places but I’m afraid that is my style. I think however
there is information in it that will interest the Pekin breeders. I will be
glad when it is completed, it’s been a hard grind but satisfying. I only
wish that I could have had it published in better form, but as you would be
aware publishing costs run pretty high these days. I therefore I did the only
way I know now.
That’s
it for now, a bit cold at this time of the year, though we don’t have severe
winters as you would in New Jersey. All the best, hope your wife is improving.
Sincerely
yours,