[Letter from Lyle Creelman to her mother]

              	
Geneva, Dec. 29,1957.
Dear Mother,
This has been a dull foggy day in Geneva and I just felt I had to get out for some
sunshine.  Do immediately after lunch I drove up to St. Cergue and it was beautiful,  I'
have never seen the Alpes clearer or more lovely and of course all covered with snov.
Ahere was not as much snow at St. Cergue as last Sunday but still there seemed to be
enough for some enthusiastic skiers.  I left my car just after coming out into the sunshine and had a wonderful walk the rest of the way,  I thought perhaps Graham would like
to go up and try some sMing but he preferred to stay here and write letters and listen
to the radio.
It has been nice having Graham here but I am just as glad that he is leaving tomorrow—hitchhiking to the south of FranceT  It has kept me busy cooking.  I doh't imagine
he got very big meals along the way and certainly no^L_home- aookedr-oiaresrs It has been
allright for me to have this to do for thes Xmas week but with my office work I could not
keep it up.  I am looking forward to the two days holiday—Tues. and Wed. — to be by myself and not have to cook and eat big meals-r I have gained four pounds over the ^vmas week
so will have to work this week at taking it off.  I have no plans for New Year's and hope
I do not have to do anything.  Have to did out my cotton dresses for Africa and also do
some reading about the countries I shall be visiting.
I asked Bob Bogue to come in for dinner to-night as I thought it would be more interesting for Graham to have a man along and besides I owe Bob a dinner agter Xmas.  Graham
and I went to church this morning and there was talking to a Mr. Fraser whom I had met
before. He was General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in Ottawa and not is at the ^orld
H.Q. of the Y. here.  I didcovered that he is living at a Hotel so I as^ed him to come
in for coffee.  *hen he told me about two Canadian school teachers from Germany who are
also at the hotel so I asked asm to bring them along.  I must go now and prepare the
supper and will finish this before I go to bed and tell you about the people.
11 P.M.  he company stayed late but I shall take time to finish your 1
two Canadian women turned outfjto be a school teacher from near Ottags
with the Army in Germany and the|rother younger woman a teller waTili the^    CTL Mon
also at Canadian Army H.Q. in Germany. We had a very interesting evening arguing ag-
predestination and Canadian versus European education chiefly.  It turned out that \*V
two women have a big car and to-morrow right after lunch are setting off for the Sout>x
of France, so Graham goes along with them.  He is lucky,  *hat means he will be here |k
lunch and will just about clear out my frig. He certainly has an appetite,
I didn't find out much about Mr. Fraser except that he is much younger than he looks
He is almost snow white but he has a big scar on his forehead so must have had an accident which made him prematurely gray. He has been at this H.Q. of the Y. for four years
»nd when he is not travelling lives in a hotel here. He seemed very nice and when the
mversation seemed to be |>y-passing Graham as the much younger person he always brought
^y| around to include Graham.
I made a spice cake from cake mix and served with coffee to them, Have a lot left
over so Graham can clean up on it if he likes.  Otherwise I shall be too tempted to
nibble when I should be dieting.
I am anxious to know how you spend Xmas,  I had a letter from Ursula, According to
her Billie's sister wants Billie to come and live &with her permanently and Billie is gei
going to give it a six months1 trial. My bet is that he will return to Vancouver. After
all that time away from England I do not think he will find living there now to his
liking, but I may be mistaken.
It seems too bad to have to go to work to-morrow when the next two days are holidays. The next time I have this season in Switzerland I shall arrange it differently.
Must stop this typewriter noise now and get to bed.
pj(£§i Love,
1