23rd May. 1951
Tel Aviv

Dearest Darling,

For all I know you are arriving in London this evening.

And your wife, stuck here, is hammering away at the type-writer. Is it fair, I ask you?

Well here is the news. Yesterday I went to collect the results of the analyses and I asked Mrs Muschnik to translate for me. It appears that in one were traces and in the other was NONE. Can you believe it? Your father promised to take the reports to the Dr. and then we shall hear what is what. Maybe the dieting is after all bearing fruit.

This afternoon I took the children to Libby’s. It was a difficult outing because her flat is a paradise for destructive children. Moshe, in an unguarded moment tore out one of the plants in the flower pots – the one grandpa had cultivated specially for Naomi – and thrown the earth all over the floor. Added to that a pool of pipi and you can imagine what it looked like. He also wolfed down a plate of biscuits and drank tea and wouldn’t let Naomi eat. She is a big baby and I find now that she resembles Nachum very much. They had discovered her first two teeth today and were tickled pink. Libi sends her love and was most surprised to hear that you are globe-trotting again. So was Baby, whom Mordi met in the street, and he said he might come on Saturday.

Afterwards we called at the Rosswalds to wish him a pleasant holiday. He couldn’t take his eyes off Liki because he said I had looked the spit image of her. They thought that Moshe resembles my brother a little bit and found him very strong and active for his age. They got a good helping of Swiss chocolate there and left very satisfied. Yesterday evening Yona and her husband called here. They were on their way to the cinema.

We have got an invitation from the Helms to go to their residence in Ramat Gan on the occasion of the King’s Birthday.

I have cut my finger and it makes typing very difficult. In your absence I am reducing house work to the barest minimum, but since Rebecca is away, I can’t get out of it altogether. Today I had a big wash but I did it slowly and in two instalments and consequently did not feel tired when I finished.

Both Libby and the Rosswalds remarked on my new frock and nobody believes me it cost only five and a half quiddles. The material looks quite superior and it is very nicely cut.

I think I am going to have a sty on my eye and will see Muschnik tomorrow. He may be able to stop it before it gets worse.

There has been a big split in the Union of the Kibbutzim. The immediate consequence of the split is that the Mapainiks are withdrawing, leaving the Mapamniks in sole authority and control. They say they can’t live together any more (the Mapams are in the majority) and they can’t let their children be educated by those who call them “people bereft of human conscience and who have lost their social compass”. There is a big fuss about it in the papers. One article said that it will be difficult for many Mapai members to make a change now, for after all they have made their homes now in these Kibbutzim and have settled down to certain comfort.

Incidentally an American expert made an economic survey and found that this country will need something like 400 million dollars this year but that its earning capacity, counting invisible exports, will amount to only 100 million dollars.

Between you and me and the gatepost, I am so tired now I simply must go to bed. Will add another line tomorrow.

Want to go to the post now. There is no other news,

Love from us all,

Bossy.