March 26th, 1951
Tel Aviv

My Boss,

I received your express letter of 22nd today and was very happy to have heard from you.

Meanwhile you should have got all the other letters and the rest of the photos. The enlargements were of old photos. You should not worry so much when post does not arrive regularly because, as you know very well, letters are nearly always held up en route. Your father is very well. I have not seen him since I received your letter but I am sure he has written to you. I let your mother know about Moscov. Was she very surprised to see you?

As for Ma’am and her ‘short notice’, I think it was in very bad taste and I think you should go to a hotel when you return. Why should you be always considerate? Didn’t you get on with her and Lil? I really don’t understand her attitude.

As for Wechsler, I have neither seen him nor heard much from him. Your father told me he is inaccessible. After all you have done for him there he might have been a bit more social.

I sent you all my measurements in a previous letter. As for shoes, I used to take five and a half in London, but taking the heat into consideration, I could do with No 6 here. I shall make a sketch of an old sandal on top of this print and you can copy it on a piece of paper. I hear now that there will be children’s shoes in a fortnight’s time. As the old books will be invalid soon I shall get the children a pair each, and if coupons are left over, either another pair a size larger or some warm zip-slippers for next winter. Don’t you think that is a good idea? But I must first see the goods before making plans.

Sonia came today with her child and apologised for not having called. She has been in Haifa, ill, and does not look too well now after her rest. It appears that she has constant diarrhoea and is very weak. On top of that she has just got herself pregnant again (but don’t mention a word to anyone), and after she has the results of her analyses, she will know whether the doctor will let her see the matter through. Allan is very pleased with the news, she says, but she thinks it would have been better to start on the second child when she felt physically better. I don’t blame her, really, because as I said, she looks very thin and weak.

Herzi’s parents cleared out of the shop today and are taking all their property home. The people who had rented the room have vacated it now. I think they feel very bad about it all.

Tonight the sirens were being tested and Liki was so terrified she made pipi in her panties! She began to cry most terribly because she thought as a punishment you would not bring her a teddy bear. Poor little mite. Today for the first time this season I bought the kiddies strawberries. They thought it was wonderful and the baby kept on calling banana. To him all food at 10 o’clock is banana. Asparagus are on the market again and it makes a nice change for me, as I am really very limited with my diet. And there are still no potatoes. The good old common potato has quite a halo for me these days.

When I was in Haifa I heard quite a good story. Mrs Weizmann met Mrs Gurion and told her: I am going to the Marriage of Figaro tomorrow, are you going too? – to which Paula replied: No, I am sending a telegram.

I shall add another line tomorrow. Meanwhile goodnight and sleep well.

Today I went to get Liki’s new shoes adjusted a bit. The strap across was too small. Your mother says she has got a Confino foot. Would you believe it, nobody round this part of the world would do it. I had to go right into town to a shop where all the other shoemakers sent me to. I also bought her two more vests and knickers – so there are four of each now. Next month I shall get another two and that will be enough. Pyjamas are still scarce and 8 points. I shall see later on what to do.

I must tell you what the children did today. They both had a big lunch and felt pretty full up. I had prepared a rice pudding for their supper and had put it on the cupboard in the kitchen. Some time later I found that little Liki had appropriated a platter and, joined by her brother, they were eating the pudding with their hands! Oh boy, what a mess and a half. I quickly provided them with a spoon and after that there was a lot of squealing and shouting until the pudding had all gone down.

Do you remember the big tree outside our sitting room? They lopped off big branches today and now one can see a wing of the hotel which was previously obscured. It looks awfully bare.

No more news now. All my love and write SOON.

Longing to have you home again,

Bossy.