1-6-43

My Dear Freda,

Today I was very thrilled to receive your letter 18-5-43. In the light of the events of today, I take it that the garden was lovely referred to the N. African campaign being over - Olga’s mother’s cows being Russia and our dog: aeroplanes.

Yesterday we learnt that definitely Italy had asked for peace and it was granted to her upon the condition of her total surrender.

Whilst bathing Christine this evening, I heard a knock on the door, after two repeated come ins who should appear but Mrs. Finlayson. I confess that I had seen her on several occasions but just waited to see when she would recognise me. She said that she never looked for me here as she had expected me to be away. However apparently she was snooping around and heard two people mention that Mrs. Talbot had asked for 2 cases of milk from the Japanese and received them. Then she heard some saying that Mrs. Talbot was Jimmy Jones’ daughter, so she couldn’t help butting in and asking if it weren’t Ida Jones. So hence her visit.

I did the same thing with Oswald. I knew who he was but he didn’t know who I was. However one day Sid went into the bakery to ask for permission to bake a cake, and mentioned “en passant” – that his wife was very grateful to him for the flour. Oswald asked for the wife’s name to which Sid replied “Mrs. Talbot” then it transpired that he wanted her maiden name – and when he was told “Ida Jones” – he started to look for me – and he only recognised me by my eyes as I had grown much stouter!

However, I must confess that I miss you very much – as, although I never told you, you became my second friend. You were exhilarating, and I appreciated your companionship very much. I hope that we will be together again in Chinwangtao - at least for a little while. I somehow feel that Mr. Shirekawa's visit was not purely for the love of us and his anxiety about our welfare - I feel it has something to do with our return to the Administration.

Have also heard that the Miners are now only receiving 2 bags cheap flour per month and we are wishfully thinking that there might be trouble – at Yee Tsong Tobacco Company (B.A.T.) in Tsingtao the factory workers struck on the day the foreigners were interned and are still on strike.

God bless, Ida.

June 7, 1943 ...

7-6-43

My Dear Freda,

At the Homes Committee at which I am a member, various people brought requests and/or problems which affected their neighbours or themselves. One was the possibility of a camp ironing facilities to be extended to those requiring same. Suggestions were asked for and I suggested that some kitchen or dining hall be asked for this purpose, I even volunteered to do an hour’s ironing if necessary. So I was nominated Chairman with a Committee of 3 - Sister Terencia, Mrs. Longman & Mrs. Pike. Then I put forward a problem – that of the need of some junior recreation club to avoid the walking of the streets by our children. Some were saying athletic, others felt that the need for the Senior Children was more urgent. I confessed that I was interested in the Junior Club as it affected one of my children. I thought too that it would be more suitable for teachers including Fathers & Sisters to run this, as they would have some control – The Junior Club should not be compulsory and should be sufficiently interesting to attract regular attendance. Table games competitions, sewing competitions, etc. should be aimed at.

Cheerioh, Ida.

June 17, 1943 ...

17-6-43

My Dear,

Today is Gay’s birthday and I shall write in detail all we did to help make it as enjoyable as possible. Her first party took place on the 11th when she and Wendy had a sakuska party to which they invited two guests each. After the dinner they went on to a Juvenile Concert Party at which Betty Lambert gave her first public performance in Weihsien as a ballet dancer, she is quite good, but those dreadful artificial eyelashes are dreadful.

So today we had a tea party for which Oswald Dallas baked as marmalade cake and Gracie Lambert presented a chocolate cake. We also had egg and cucumber sandwiches and rock cakes. Mr. & Mrs. Henning, Gracie and Betty and Father Ziggenhorn was asked. The party was held outside our home, but, of course, we are exposed to all the people who have to pass us on their way to the ball field. It was a little too “on view”.

That night we had salmon mayonnaise and cucumbers. Father Heier, Oswald Dallas and the Hennings came, of course, the Robinsons are always the principal guests when we have any “do”. I think Gay had quite an enjoyable time.

During the day we had a surprise visit from Mrs. Finlayson. She had heard somehow that it was Gay's birthday and so arrived with a nice variety of gifts. I wish I could have asked her to tea but I felt that we were already numerous and I could not have coped with any more.

Love.

June 19, 1943 ...

19-6-43.

My Dear Freda,

I applied to the Swiss Consul, the Red Cross Representative armed with a certificate from Robbie stating that I required additional food, e.g. cheese, milk & jam. I ordered 2 cases of evaporated mi1k, 3 Dutch cheeses and 1 can assorted jams. I wonder whether any of these items wi1l be sent in to me. We now have only $700 odd in the Camp Bank which I hope will be sufficient to cover this order.

I have had a tremendous urge to sketch, so have been doing a few. They are not satisfactory but will be sufficient to remind me in later years of the place where are to spend quite a few years.

The rumour in camp is very persistent to the effect that the Vatican has at last got the Nipponese to agree to withdraw the clergy and religious from Weihsien. I hope very much that this does not come true, and there are very many people in camp who are of the same opinion. If they got the morale will drop and there will be no pretence of outward harmony, I fear.

Booboo Cameron and wife were married according to the Catholic rites in their home. Father Hodze was responsible. Many people, including Girlie, feel that he should not have interfered as that marriage as a civil contract was doomed. However the two girls were received into the Catholic Church today. They will make their first communion tomorrow with Johnny Robinson.

Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary today by giving a tea fight. It was a posh affair, and you could see Jimmy simply glowing with pride at the sight of such an impressive array of guests. Nathan, Pryors, Bill, down to us. However the tea was grand. It was so toothsome to see and have lettuce and other such lighthearted sandwiches and there was delicious cake too. And then on to our dining room, where we had another meatless meal, it is from about a fortnight since we have had any meat at all.

Christian, McLaren & Whitting went to the Camp Authorities this morning to complain about the food. Christian, as Head of General Affairs, McLaren as Head of Discipline, were told that it us not their business but it was up to the Head of Supplies to lodge the complaint. But nevertheless our Committees insisted that they took such a step as they were hungry. Presently we saw the Camp Commandant and Mr. Kogo go off in the direction of Weihsien by car. We are hopeful.

The “Elijah” is being sung in the Assembly Hall. Charles Park is the Soloist and Ruby Pearson. The latter is looking extremely sweet. She has hair done with a froufrou top and a low bun. She doesn't seem to have much to do with the rest of the Pearson family. I see Philo Cox is expecting, as a matter of fact there are quite a few pregnant women about.

Love.

June 21, 1943 ...

21/6/43

My Dear Freda,

It is today exactly 3 months since we left Chinwangtao, left you bereft of friends. Much has happened since then, and I feel as though I have been here a good deal longer than 3 months. We arrived here in the extreme cold, so cold that it wasn't possible for us to recall the joy of that warmth which late Spring and Summer usually bring. Our little home was bare too, but a small hanging cupboard in each of our two rooms and a l6xl6x36 table in each and now we have improvised all sorts of things to make the rooms cosy. In the front room, George Wallis’ hospital bed is draped with my green silk coverlet, green striped curtains at the 2 windows and the wicker hamper at the far wall and is covered by my green travelling rug. Green curtains enclosing off a corner behind which hang my clothes, the hanging closet with eatable and under it I made a book shelf stand for our clothes. An iron stove in the opposite corner and a rectangular table between it and the door leading into the 2nd room. Here on the wall I have nailed up a bar of wood from which hangs our various enamel cups and over which hangs the poem “Oh to be in England”. The 2 trunks are under the table.

In the 2nd room, there are 2 windows. On the front wall and a small window at the back which overlooks the play ground. Gay’s bed is sideways against the back wall, Sid’s and Peter’s bed is sideways on against the side wall with the head under the front window. Christine’s cot is left alongside the wall opposite Sid’s bed during the day time. A white embroidered bed spread is hung up cornerwise to conceal the wall closet and Gay’s clothes line. There are odd stools, a form and 8 chairs, all rescued from the heap of furniture thrown outside in the alleys by the Communists when they took the camp for a little while. We are not too uncomfortable and not unnaturally mourn the loss of Chinwangtao home. We often discuss future plans, always basing them on the probability of being re-engaged by the K.M.A.

June 29, 1943 ...

29/6/43

It is now a week since writing in my diary. Apparently contrary to original promises, we can now write a letter twice monthly. So much for their promises. At first we were allowed to write one letter a week per adults. Suddenly all letters were returned as they have to be written in block letters. Suddenly these were returned and we are told that only postcards are permissible. These in turn were returned as only 50 words were admissible per card, and now only one post card per fortnight.

It is St. Peter and St. Paul today and by way of celebration I have made a rice mould for tea and opened a tin of oranges. It was a nice surprise and greatly appreciated, I think.

Today, too, Death gained his first victim. A Scheut Mission Father suffering from apoplexy died this afternoon, all alone. I feel quite depressed. I’d hate to die here or leave any of my precious ones here. Please God spare us.

My little Christine is down with teething. Poor little kroshka! There is a baseball game on too on the playing ground and the din is terrific.

Last Sunday, we had our first Catholic Women’s Rally. I was rather disappointed at the attendance. Though Bishop Pinger gave a very charming address, advising us not to go about in a militant fashion but to show our strength through charity. Like a tree that has been planted, the roots go downward unseen and the fruit will come in due course. Father Cloarty will be our Spiritual Guide. He is rather nice but seems a little distant, perhaps it is because we do not know him well. At the meeting several people suggested that I should be the Representative but I declined because I think that Marie would be more suitable. She wasn’t struck with the idea as she thought she wouldn’t know what to do but I have impressed upon her that it was time that she did and the experience gained would be invaluable in after life.

Several more parcels have reached people. Bill Chilton has been distributing them – not to us as we are not from the “Mines” proper. He seems to think that Captain Costain would be sending us parcels and that these would be divided between people from Chinwangtao. I wonder? I can’t see Dairy or Eva doing any such thing. David Heyman sent us a post card telling us that he was sending us 5 tins jam, 3 pkts of sugar as well as a pot of honey. We are looking forward to the parcel, not so much for the articles as the thrill of receiving proof that people are thinking of us. I am not expecting anything.

Love Ida