15.12.97

Dearest Rita and Lex,

I looked at the date of your last letter and see with feelings of guilt that I should have answered you weeks ago.

As always, you give a good account of your travels and family ups and downs and variety, it seems, is never absent. You are wonderfully active and adventurous and explore the world with constant interest.

I really can’t remember when I wrote to you last and where I left off. Surely, I told you about my visit to Turkey – Antalia and over the mountains as far as Ephesus and the Aegean coast. Lex would have been fascinated by rock formations and the landscape, Food was fresh and delicious and bread better than I have tasted anywhere. There was deep snow on the mountains despite the promised warm weather, and the thermal springs sent their steam into the cold air. The hotel had an indoor thermal pool which I found just wonderful and immersed myself, despite caution advised to people with high blood pressure. After all, you only die once and it was well worth the risk! But I don’t want to bore you with a repeat tale.

Further, did I tell you about my visit to Frankfurt and to my father’s birth place in the Pfalz? The City of Frankfurt sends an annual invitation to former Jewish citizens. It was my turn this time. The trip was well organised and I met a former classmate who lives in London and made new friends. Also, I was ‘discovered’ by three ladies who were classmates of mine in the Volksschule (one-time members of the Hitler Youth) who wanted to repent and felt that seeing me and telling me their stories helped them to make peace with the past. It was quite extraordinary, especially as one of them sat next to me in class and lived in the flat above us and we played together in the early days.

Also, I went to my parents’ grave which is always kept in good order, and I went to the Wall of Remembrance and saw the plaques with names of 11,134 victims of the Holocaust, my grandparents and brother among them. It was a terrible reminder of the past.

I was asked to give an eye-witness account of life under the Nazis in my former primary school – now a secondary school, and was given a great welcome. My German was fluent and I spoke for over an hour and had to answer many questions. The pupils presented me with a big bouquet of red roses and the Headmaster handed me a copy of my school report, still filed with true German efficiency!

Moreover, in my father’s old Latin School, founded over 400 years ago, in Gruenstadt, a copy of his school report was found in the attic, and this goes back to 1894! I was received by the Mayor and attended the opening of an exhibition of china made in my grandfather’s factory. There is much history in all this and permission has just been given to restore a wing and build a small museum in the old castle, earmarked mainly for china and the history of the factory. At the Lateinschule, I was also asked to speak to students and I was interviewed by the Press and was sent the article.

Daniel, who was at a conference in Paris, was able to ‘pop over’ for the exhibition and could take some pieces back for me. I was HEAVY with presents – presentation boxes of the famous local wine, pictures etc. and would not have been able to cope, even with the purchase of additional bags.

Well, since then, life has been mainly London based, except for a trip to Devon and a stay at the fermette in France.

Ruth has been rather ill with a viral infection and has been off work for nearly 3 months. She is slowly regaining her usual strength but must take it easy for a while yet. Michael, her eldest, has joined the RAF cadet force at school and was thrilled with his first flight at the controls, with instructor of course. The boys are doing very well at school.

Daniel has moved to a larger house which has been extended and I think has 8 bedrooms! There are no new babies but with 13, I have enough trouble remembering birthdays and the right age for each one.

Wishing you a happy Xmas and New Year.

Much love,

Lore.

P.S. I may yet come to Australia!