25 Jan 1941

My Dear Matthew,

Mrs. Collins says she'll periodically send some biscuits along with either my letters to you or her letters to her husband, but I have half a mind to tell her not to bother after that remark about my handwriting. I do not have chicken scratch writing!

… alright I guess it can get messy when I'm in a hurry. At least it's legible! You should see the handwriting of some of my classmates, it's gibberish on a good day.

[The next part of the letter looks like it's been written intentionally neat]

If the boys want to hear more about pathology I can wholeheartedly comply with their wishes; I will state though, that our letters probably won't get any more devious than they already are - unless of course they'd like to join our little book club duo in reading all of Jane Austen (and Hercule Poirot mysteries). As for "going out and doing more things" for you "poor soldiers", I go out plenty between work and my studies. But, I will humor you, what are some "other things" I should go and explore for you and the boys? I can't guarantee I'll get to do much, but I will try. If only I had a camera, I could take photos of Melbourne and send them to all of you - let you see what's been happening back at home.

Is the sand particularly bad? I can ask Miss Fisher for some advice, she and Jack visited Palestine some years ago, they might know something to do. How does it remind you of home?

I thought I had told you I lived in Miss Fisher's house. I didn't mention it before? I could have sworn I did.

I can definitely include more pathology notes for you, I'll include copies of how to identify potential murder weapons based on what the wounds look like - that was a particular fun class, we had a hands on identification day with a side of pig looking at stab wounds versus slashing wounds. You'll see it all reflected in the notes I include.

Your Friend (who does NOT have chicken scratch handwriting),

Alice

[Included with the letter are several pages of wound identification notes in Alice's neat hand - color coded and different parts emphasized on what she thought Matthew would find most interesting and pertinent to his career as a police officer. Also included with the notes are drawings of various wounds, accompanied by notes of weapons that cause the particular shape/form of each wound. Alice has attached a note: "Hopefully these are interesting for you (and the boys should they be curious) - A"]