As Jean sailed the final leg of her journey to London from Port Said, her thoughts must have turned to the practicalities of navigating her way around this new country. Her diary holds addresses for some of her fellow passengers – those she was obviously wanting to catch up with whilst travelling the UK.
Amongst Jean’s many travel documents was a few pages of hand written notes – travel tips and tricks that must have been gathered before she departed Melbourne, some in Jean’s handwriting, others in an unknown hand, possibly that of the contact listed at the top of the notes – a ‘Miss Head, Lincoln Travel Club, 3rd floor, 327 Collins Street, Melbourne. re cheaper travel concessions”.
The advice in this unknown hand relates to items that should be packed for Hich Hicking!
- Pyjamas
- Raincoat
- Small tower
- 2 pairs pants 1 seer sucker 1 cotton
- 1 jumper
- Cardigan
- 2-3 blouses coloured check not pale shows dirt
- cotton jumpers
- sheet and pillowcase – sleeping bag green or brown
- Buy at Gamages disposals – dixie mess tin, tin sugar tea cocoa marjarine knife fork spoon tin opening and knife with serated edge or tomato knife
- take nescafe with you
- one nice frock or equivalent for when you eventually reach a city.
- play suit or jersey carries well.
Other tips:
- you cannot wear shorts in Belgium or Ireland
- Dressing gown – wear light one on ship – buy snuggle gown in London fleecy lined.
- No slippers – wear sandles.
- Sandshoes perhaps for deck games, shorts slacks.
- Hats – out ony Beret.
- Evening frock – one or two for ship
- Tipping stewards table 15/- to 1 pound, cabin 15/- to 1 pound
- banks will take valuables
- Take stockings
- Check blouses – buy Tide washing soap in London water hard.
- Port Said – cheap sandals
- Colombo dress made in a day
- Do not take soap
- Suit and top coat – buy over there.
- Utility clothes at Harrods, Selfridges, Liberties
- Marks and Spencer shirts
Bank – Nation – trading bank much quicker to arrange trips. Savings bank terribly slow red tape. Will arrange all to do with trips most courteous. Also accommodation on arrival in London.
Second class accommodation is OK.
Can take 50 pounds of food with you.
Money on board ship: 10 pounds Australia, 5 pounds English.
Write before: Helen Graham House, 57 Great Russell Street, London (“cannot remember what for, guess accommodation”)
On boarding ship find bath steward book bath time?
Food dear in Switzerland buy before entering.
Australian flag to sew on pack while travelling. Buy in Melbourne if not 13 Duke Street Hill, London Bridge (13 Bus from Law Courts across LB first on left).
On trip (on continent) carry should bag passport etc. Take meat cheese.
In Perth buy lemon squash or fizz to put in water.
Take tea with you.
Afternoon tea- 4.30 to 5pm. Always make sure if you are to be dine with people what time?
Also amongst Jean’s papers was a note addressed to “Miss Alexander, Staffroom III” – a list of accommodation recommendations from a colleague Agnes Barrowman – who signs off “Good Luck and a very happy trip”, and makes little comments like declaring the Endsleigh Hotel in London “adeqaute but so so”.:
And some further accommodation reccommendations in Jean’s handwriting on the same school notepaper, including “Universal Aunts Ltd” (For general assistance), and the London Hostels Association Head Office.
With Jean’s sailing journey coming to an end, she would’ve been lapping up her last few days of ship bound life. A visit to the ships library to check in the books she’d borrowed, and snavel a few more P&O House Flag bookmarks:
And a visit to the Himalaya’s gift shop for a token of the voyage – found amongst Jean’s travel momentos – a coin purse featuring an image of the Himalaya – and tucked inside an indian sixpence!
