18th March 1940

8th March 1940

Sarvar to 26 Pen-Hill Road, Cardiff

Dear Madeleine!

I am afraid you must hate me by this time for not answering your long and sweet letter. But to tell the truth, it wasn’t my fault. I was in Munich for nearly two months. It was quite an adventure. We had to go there as our cousin got married and Muck and I had to be bridesmaids. The wedding was in January and we only came back three days ago. Here of course were heaps of letters to be answered. It was a funny feeling, being all the time in Munich, in a hotel. I don’t like hotel-life. We went to the opera 12 or 14 times and saw lovely plays. I enjoyed that part of our stay. But I hated to sit in the hotel without any work. I would have done some Red Cross nursing, if I had known our stay was to last for such a long time. But we waited from one day to the other to return home. I was lucky enough to go on a visit to Habsburg. Baby is fine, and her baby is really a very sweet little thing. She is called Elisabeth. She never cries, but is not drinking enough. Baby is worried about it, but I don’t see why. If the little one would be more hungry, she would drink more. At last we got all the necessary permissions and came home. I am really glad to be back here. In Munich I realized how I enjoy country-life. It is so quiet and natural. Besides I love horses, cattle, pigs and sheep. And I like walking in forests and over wide prairies. Especially now in spring, everything is lovely. This winter has been terribly cold, all the rivers were frozen and we had feet’s and feet’s of snow. It only melted away last week and now the country is covered with high water. When we came here we had to get out of our train and walk on the railway for a bit. There was a little bridge nearly swept away and it was too dangerous for a heavy train to pass over it. It is still rather cold, but the first snowdrops and such flowers start blooming. Sarvar is the loveliest place on earth in springtime. This sounds like love. But I am not in love at the moment. My best boyfriend was shot in September in Poland. I was very sorry, I though my heart would break. But as I am living on, it seems not to be as

fragile as I expected. How is your love? I am not shocked at your frankness. I have been in love myself and I know it’s a happy, it’s a glorious thing. I must send you my best wishes for Easter. I hope you’ll have some gay days and enjoy it all. Best wishes from your friend

Loll