My dear Michael,
    It seems ages since we heard from you—and even longer since you went to work in China. But recently we happened to bump into Charlie Wright at a party, and from him we learnt that you and Lucia will be coming to England over the Christmas holidays. So I am writing straightaway—to make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai—in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.
    I am still teaching English literature in a university and I am getting well along with my colleagues. I also have some Chinese students here, who are very friendly and intelligent.
    I imagine you will be spending Christmas with your parents, but surely you will have some time after that before your Christmas holidays end. We shall be having two other friends of ours staying with us over the New Year weekend, and it would be nice if you could come then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and a very nice couple; I'm sure you will like them. They used to live in China, too, so we shall have something in common. And if we get some decent weather, we might all go off one day and visit the Carters—I'm sure we can get Uncle Arthur to lend us his minibus.
    There's not a great deal to report from our end. Mary is well and still enjoying her school teaching (at least, I think so); the children are growing up at a terrifying rate; I am still working for Sanderson's and liking it well enough—though occasionally pining for the footloose days of long ago. But let's hope you will soon be here to see for yourselves—and help us see the New Year in!
    I'd better stop here now. I'm supposed to be spending this evening writing Christmas cards. Write or phone as soon as you can—and come!
    Love from us all!