3rd December, 1988

Dear Rita and Lex,

The time has come again to send seasonal greetings and best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year.

You will be together, no doubt, with your large family and the youngsters will make sure that there will not be a dull moment! You can go to the beach or have barbecues out of doors which makes things look topsy turvey from our side of the world – and very tempting!

I wrote to you some weeks ago and sent you photos of Jonathan’s and Jaki’s wedding which I hope you received. Jonathan and Jaki went off yesterday on a month’s visit to Thailand – perhaps not the best time to go with all the problems there at present, but I hope they will manage and enjoy themselves.

My trip to China and Hong Kong was wonderfully interesting and thought-provoking and I often look at my photos to remind myself of faces and places.

David and Noga’s little boy, Benjamin Adam, now three months old, is lovely and a real joy to us. Noga had suddenly to go to Israel to visit her family as her mother had a suspected heart attack. Fortunately, all is well. They will not be able to visit Australia just yet but have not abandoned the idea.

Daniel was married in July (did I tell you?) and Jayne is expecting a baby in May. With our run of boys we have almost forgotten that there is a chance of having a little girl in the family. Time will show.

Simon and Shayne have moved to a garden flat. They were quite adventurous and almost gutted the place and redesigned it and the result is quite stunning. They were lucky to sell and buy at the right time.

Ruth and family are busy and involved in all kinds of things. The boys are growing up fast and becoming real boys and Ruth has her hands full with the three of them and home and work.

I expect you remember Hazel and John Bown. They live near King’s Lynn and I recently visited them and spent a few days there. John has cancer and I fear the treatment he gets is not keeping it under control. Hazel’s eyesight is now very poor but she still manages to play the piano and copes with housework.

I hope all is well with you and look forward to your news – whenever.

Meanwhile, my love and best wishes to you both,

Lore.