(unintelligible) Private Hotel,
84, Bury Old Road,
Cheetham Hill’
Manchester.
Tel: Cheetham Hill 3841
“Strictly Kosher”

31.8.46

Darling Bossy,

We landed here yesterday and landed right in the most strict “kosher” place, so that today the “Sabath” we have to have little scull caps – no smoking except as little schoolboys, no work, no shaving and absolutely no (unintelligible). Pappi is asleep and a-snoring next to me. But let me start at the beginning. After seeing the people – export manager – of Stewarts and Lloyds, who did not give us anything except a promise to consider the question of supplying us later on we took the train to Manchester where we arrived safely, but a bit hungry. Deposited our stuff at the station and rang up the rabbi for whom (unintelligible) is bringing the bibles. He said his family have been away all this time and were coming back only later in the day. That meant that despite our letter from Birmingham to that rabbi for rooms we were STUCK! So we went to a firm with whom my father had a bit of bother and from whom I managed to get his money. I told you that story once before. To be brief – that encounter developed in a very short time into a general struggle and a fight to the finish – only there is no finish the Battle will be joined again on Monday. In the heat of battle I managed to get one of the “enemy” to get us rooms and he did get us this place from which I am writing. But by the time the fighting was postponed until Monday we were all exhausted and the day for business was done. So back to the station for our things and to the hotel, where the food on Sabath night and today has been just fine but switching on lights and smoking are prohibited so that we had to behave like children and hide. This morning we could not phone at home (all because of Sabath) and had to go to a barber for a shave and a haircut. But it rained so heavily that hiding from the famed Manchester downpour we lost a lot of time and after the shave etc. it was shortly before 12 so no work was done this morning either as everybody leaves work at 12.

Now we have enforced rest until Monday morning but at least we have got everything ready and shall start early on Monday. By what I can see at the moment we shall not get much more than promises, because there is no quota for Palestine for cloth, yarns or knitted garments. As far as metals are concerned you have probably seen in the papers that the Government is cutting down on the export of some metals. So you see, Partner, we are not likely to do much but the old boy is saying that he is satisfied to know his (unintelligible) and open the way for future business. I must tell you that he has managed to get some stuff – but not as much as he would have liked.

We still quarrel quite a bit but always manage to see eye to eye in the end.

All this was business and to tell you that we might start for Bradford either on Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Now let us start with you. Not hearing from you is quite a new experience and not a very nice one. You are a funny fish to have around but it is even funnier not to have you about. What have you been up to these last few days?

I am already planning how we are going to arrange OUR flat so that it will be HOME. How about it – got it?

My pet, if you have not got it it doesn’t matter – we shall get another one and a better one / somehow that does not sound even to me so good /. But if you have not got the flat you better start looking for one right away and all the best of luck to you.

Your sandwiches came in quite useful and nearly saved my life. Your packing was expert but I did need another suit because of the constant rain we have been having. My suit is like a sodden sack.

No doubt by the time I get to Sheffield I shall get an absolute “deluge” of letters from you and shall know what is what and how everything stands.

I cannot get myself to be loving on paper – and you will have to wait until I get back and can see your cows’ eyes before I can tell you what needs to be told or (unintelligible) before I get back – but paper cannot hold it.  Your husband and Boss.

* 3 lines in French in left margin of last page