April 3rd, 1951
Tel Aviv

Dearest Poiky,

I haven’t heard from you for such a long time. I wish I knew where you are and what you are doing.

We are all O.K. The children were terrible today. I can’t think of one good thing they did today. There was a terrific tussle, to start with, when Liki found an old shaving stick of yours and did her best to soap Baby’s face, eyes, nose and mouth included. He protested and she protested because he protested and the din and the screams were something awful. Then they turned the flat upside down. The floors had turned into one big booby-trap, made slippery here and there with pipi and strewn with items ranging from kitchen utensils to little bricks. The clean washing which was just enjoying its last rinse in the bath-tub was violently attacked with coloured cardboard, and ended up with beautiful bright red streaks. In desperation I took the two of them on the roof where they got disgustingly filthy, but also tired out and I was quite happy to see the last of them tonight.

Sonia came round this afternoon to tell me that she has found a lovely pair of shoes for Edna and I must say they are a real find. They told her at our shop today that they aren’t sure now whether there would be shoes after all, and I shall go tomorrow to ascertain the facts. If nothing is in the offing, I shall go to the same shop as Sonia and see whether or not I can get something there. The shoes had a really good support and were of lovely leather. People buy one or two sizes ahead nowadays because they fear there won’t be anything later on.

Yesterday afternoon Bessy and Miriam came to fetch me and we all went out together. Bessy asked me to go to a cinema this week but it’s an awful bother for your mother to come up and I don’t really feel like asking her. And your father disapproves strongly of taking the children down. I showed Bessy the things you got for the children and she approved 100%. She said it made her feel quite home-sick. Her people write that things are getting quite short there. Did you find it too?

This type-writer is rather high up for me; that is the reason for all my errors.

I read in the papers that as from the middle of next month there will be potatoes again and also a greater variety of fish; meat supplies will still be irregular. We haven’t had any for weeks now. Black-market activities are going to be looked into again and otherwise things are as before. I had wanted to get myself a linen costume. Guess how much they are on an average? £25 plus purchase tax. I really don’t know what to get with my coupons. It is very foolish to start looking for materials because I won’t find anything good, not being an old customer anywhere, and second-rate materials are not worth while to be given to a dress-maker, because they charge terrific rates anyhow.

Tomorrow Buka is coming again to carry on with the spring cleaning. I shall be glad when it is all over. I can’t think of anything else tonight. Goodnight, Poiky.

4th April

Buka was here today and thoroughly cleaned the bedroom and the children’s room. But she did not quite finish and left the place in a most awful mess. The children took full advantage of the situation and nearly drove me nuts, spitting on the brightly polished mirrors, using the water-filled buckets as a target for their ball – wiiiishshsh: water on the walls, water on the doors, water water everywhere, and shrieks of delight and screams of anguish as each tried to outdo the other. I was ready to drop dead but they would insist on going out for a walk. First I enquired about shoes and he said I must come at the beginning of next week. He will be getting a very limited amount with leather soles, and all shoes in future are going to be rubber soled and heeled. They are not made of smooth leather but he said they were very good, and I shall liquidate ‘the’ coupons that way. Before the books become invalid, I shall have to find another pair each a size larger.

I had a very pleasant surprise today. The woman did turn up and she is going to come two full days a week and shall sleep here on those days. She will do everything for me except the sheets, and boy am I glad, darling. I shall be able to get away a little bit and it will take a lot off my shoulders. Ironing, especially is very bad for me just now. You may think that she is getting an awful lot of money - £15 a month – but as it is, I pay Buka an average of £8 a month and I don’t have very much out of it and she comes only once a week. Sonia just got someone for £28 a month, 4 hours each day, so you see what people demand. This woman is really very nice and makes a very solid impression, the only trouble is she can’t speak either English or Hebrew. So the children will have to learn German! Your mother thinks she may persuade her to come for £25 a month, working every day, but I doubt it, as she told me she does handicraft on the remaining days. However, I feel quite happy about it as the children are a handful and I can never get away for a breather.

Hoping to hear from you very very soon. All our love,

Bossy.