Viewing page 77 of 94

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[underlined]] Tuesday, January [[strikethrough]] 20 [[/strikethrough]] ^[[19]][[/underlined]]

My leg still ached in the morning. I had breakfast in my room therefore. About 9:30 I asked if the courtesy car would take me to the dispensary. They were happy to do it. I had a young Japanese driver who searched the base for it -- getting out twice to ask directions. I was met by an officer who had been at the airport to meet us -- [[strikethrough]] Mas [[/strikethrough]] Name is gone. He began telephoning for orthopedic doctors around Christchurch. It seems there are no facilities at the Dispensary -- despite what I heard in McMurdo. Up here they say all the facilities are down there. He called 5 or 6 doctors before he got one who would see me at 2:15. A young Navy nurse in the office would pick me up at 1:45.

It was chilly & raining a little. They called the courtesy car back (of all things) & he brought me home. It was good to relax. I loafed, read the paper, lunched, & then called Tom. It was great to talk w. him -- he was totally astonished but said: "Isn't it nice that we have telephones." He said Elizabeth thought 

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

they should all greet me as I came home. He doesn't know if they still will. A nice thought anyway.

By 1:45 the rain was over, sky beautiful, and p.m. hot (in the car). It was lovely to drive into town past all the homes w. beautiful gardens. Lovely to be out in green, glowing New Zealand.

The doctor was very pleasant. Took off my cast & decided he could see no sense at all in putting on another! The break is not bad, that bone is not useful -- sometimes it's taken out for use elsewhere in the body. He had a nurse put on 2 elastic stockings & sent me home. Pointed out that I can take it off & shower, then put it on again. What a relief! That cast was 90% of my pain & trouble.

Back home I tried, 3 or 4 times, to call Ferne Emery, with no response. Perhaps they are away. Played w. my rubik cube, watched T.V. went to store in lobby, & [[strikethrough]] din [[/strikethrough]] ^[[had]] dinner.

Bedtime : 11:50

As I left dining room, Mike Clark, my medic, said Hello". He was dining w. a very attractive young dark-haired, dark-eyed woman.