13th july 1970

Branik

13/07/70

Dear Mum and Dad

I have just done all the washing and watered the flowers. Your plant’s flowers have died but it is making several new shoots and hopefully might flower again. My window box is just coming into flower and the first nasturtiums are out and the marigolds are budding. It was very hot today and the sun is just setting like a red ball behind the hills opposite.

We went to Brno last weekend and guess what? Tony played football. He did quite well considering his lack of experience but is suffering as a result with all his muscles aching. There was a swimming pool next to the football ground and we all went for a swim afterwards. On Sunday we went out to Brno dam with A and V and sunbathed for a couple of hours. Again it was very hot.

I have to get up at 4.30 tomorrow as I am going to Ostrava on a disc course for 3 days and the plane leaves at 6.10 in the morning. Next weekend we are going to Brno again for A and V’s wedding.

We heard from Tony’s mum and Dad and they are bringing Auntie Kath with them as well. I think we will be camping outside the flat! We have booked a Hotel in the giant mountains for 3 days during their stay.

The other evening we drove into town and walked over and around Charles Bridge for the first time. It is a pity I was not fitter when you were here as we could have gone out more in the evenings.

All the theatres are closed for the summer but open air theatres have sprung up in all the parks.

I had better close now. Sorry this letter is so short. Give my love to all the family

Gillian and Tony

Gill and Tony had their first steak tartare after the football match and found raw beef surprisingly tasty! The match was between I.C.L. and one of our customers. What we did not realise was that the Czech football league was based on industries rather than towns so the customer’s team were of a high standard and easily thrashed us.

The number of tourists in 1970 was very small. We were almost the only people walking on Charles bridge. I remember being told that the mortar for the bridge was made using the whites of duck eggs which is why it has lasted so long. Most of the tourists came from other Eastern European countries. When we were staying in the Tatra Mountains with mum and dad there was a package holiday of Russians, the women still wearing traditional costumes with headscarves, thick multi-layered skirts and baggy blouses in bright colours. They were very noisy and full of excitement and I guess it must have been the first time they had left Russia or even their local village.