013 June 19th 1943

AMSTERDAM

Dear Mies and Toon

All the birthdays have come and gone, and yet I still wait for a letter from you. But in vain. no doubt the same applies to you too. My instincts do not tell me that things in England are not going well, neither do they tell me that something has happened to you. So I will trust my instinct, and continue to believe "No news is good news".

There is not a lot of news. Wim Apon, Phientje's husband has been sent to Germany for a year by his firm, to work in an accumulator factory. He comes home for a few days every six weeks. She is quite alone with her three children, no help. Help in the house is impossible to get. Every Tuesday I go to see her and help her with her mending. But for the rest she carries on with fortitude. Annie Bos is spending a weeks holiday in Leerman. She writes that things are not bad there, although everything is very dear. But better that than shops that are empty. Tanta Anna will be 78 in September. She does everything herself still, without help, because Annie and Marie still work all day at the office. That is a lot for her at her age. I am proposing to take a weeks holiday myself in Leerman, in July. Marie will come too with Betsy Janus, and I will take Tanta Anna, she is in great need of a few days away from it all, she is almost collapsing, and that cannot continue much longer. They are planning to live together in rooms when the war is over, where they will be looked after. The time is not ripe at the moment, as it is too expensive, and also the food is so bad. I have no complaints here in St Barnardus, we are looked after very well. I came here just in time.

Bets and Doortje both have jobs in Laren. Doortje was in hospital for three months, but is now better and back at work. Bets took over her job during that time. She keeps saying that if I go to England and you are without help, then she will drop everything and come with me. I think Doortje would also like to come. But I must not look too far ahead.

How are you all? I wish I could peep round a corner and see you just once. Is Peggy's baby growing well? And how is Hans, has his family increased? I hear nothing, and it does worry me so.

All the young men, 18-45 years, have been called up, and they have been led to believe that they will be well looked after, and that there will be plenty of young healthy girls waiting for them. You can imagine what the mothers of these young men must be thinking.

Our radios are being collected up, and what is more, we have to hand them in ourselves, which I cannot possibly do. I dare not trust it to anyone else, so if they want it they must come and fetch it.

In the meantime, Miesje is now twenty, and Robert must be quite 13 years or 14. How are they all? I feel a bit better these days, and live mainly on yogurt and rye bread.

Now dear people, with love to all, and a big kiss for each.

From your loving Mother.