Letter from Thomas Gold to Professor Harry Messel Head, School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Regrets to tell him he has done it again, Has had to again cancel his trip to Australia on account fo doing too many things; has bought a house, is writing a book in the hope of strengthening his finances, and has innumerable other commitments which would have made a prolonged stay in Sydney and a leisurely round the world trip impossible. A quick dash to the IAU did not appeal. Also it seeemed hard to trade a boat on the lake in summer for busy dashing around in a a city in winter. Asks Messel to write and say what he is doing. These are historic times in the Sates. Wishes he could discuss some of the problems with Messel. Asls if Messel intends to come Gold's way in the future. 27 July 1973