Cirrus@Austlit

Henry's mother-in-law receives a counterfeit two shilling coin.

Henry begins to grow weary of his guests, the Robinsons, when they are still visiting after three weeks.

Henry struggles to catch a tram.

Henry's day begins badly when he drops a drawer on his toe.

Henry has a series of small disasters, beginning when his mother-in-law insists that he has time to drop off the laundry, despite his other errands.

Henry and his mother-in-law squabble over how the household waste should be removed, with Henry willing to hand it to the dust(gentle)men, and Henry's mother-in-law holding out for selling it to a junk dealer.

Henry and family are tormented by the first blowfly of summer, which obstinately refuses to leave the house.

In preparation for the arrival of the Nortons for dinner, Gracie tasks Henry with picking up some sandwiches in town, to supplement her own menu.

Henry trusts rather too much to the veracity of the man who delivers his load of firewood, only to find that it resists all efforts at chopping.

Henry's mother-in-law is horrified at the cost of potatoes but uncertain how to use up the cold lamb without them. Henry undertakes the job of fetching potatoes.

A series of short stories focusing on the hapless Henry, his wife Gracie, his mother-in-law, and various other members of the household.

'The Browns of Bangaroo–Dad and Mum, 20-year-old Cynthia, and flapper Betty–are in London, while their relations, the Forsyths, look after things for them in Australia. The Browns are growing homesick, in addition to which Cynthia is suffering the pangs of love for Ian Travers. And what with weather and one thing and another .... Well! Read this and see how it works out.'

Source:

'The Browns of Bangaroo', The Australasian, 28 August 1937, p.9.

'The Browns of Bangaroo – Dad and Mum, 20-year-old Cynthia, and flapper Betty – an Australian family on a visit to Great Britain, find that water is, apparently, as valuable in the midst of the plenty of an English summer as in Australia during a dry season.'

Source:

'The Browns of Bangaroo', The Australasian, 7 August 1937, p.9.