Dear Piet,
You might be wondering what on earth is going on with me in Zuidwolde, already another letter from me, which you aren’t used to. But in your last letter, you mentioned that you rarely received any letters, and that doesn’t seem right with so many family members back home. So, I thought I’d send you a little note more often. On second thought, I think our congratulatory letter might arrive a bit too early, but still, congratulations again and I wish you pleasant holidays. You will definitely be back next year, provided nothing unfortunate happens. How is everything going?
I heard at home that the military auditor had requested your commander to allow you to come home as soon as possible; if that man is accommodating, it shouldn’t take too long. How do you feel otherwise now that the “run from one spot to another” (??) is being postponed?
We are cozied up just the two of us by the radio and the warm heater; isn’t that perfect, or do you not yet feel like that? I hope you didn’t sign up until April, as otherwise, it’ll already be mid-1949 when you’re home, and we might not recognize you anymore.
A large part of 12 RI is gradually populating our office, I wrote to you about three of them last week, and more will be coming next week; Klaas knows them well, and you probably do too. They are Okke K. Bos and Cor Verstappen, while Hennie Oostra from Kolham and Steenman from Musselkanaal have been placed in the Technical Department. A certain Schaveling and Burggraaff were already with the PTT before their service time and are back again. You might find this very uninteresting, but I have to chat about something.
The day before yesterday was our 3-month anniversary of being married, and it was also three years since Mother passed away; days like these stick with you for a lifetime. It’s already past 10, but I still need to go out to get a razor. I don’t have one left; I’ll just knock on Harm’s door, he has been a savior in need before. Fokje is writing a letter to family Holthof in Canada. They are doing wonderfully there, by the way.
Today, we finally got our electric light set up, which means we now have our own meter; previously, we always got it from Klaas Keuning. We still haven’t seen Eke (?) again; I don’t understand what he’s up to. Tomorrow, Harm and Ijnske will be with us all day, by the way; we rarely have a Sunday without visitors, soon it will be your turn to come! We’ll also include a few small photos from our wedding so you can see how we looked back then; amazing, right?
But I’ll stop here, Piet; I don’t have much more to say. Pa just stopped by; he came from Kuipers and told me to send you his regards. He has been rather pessimistic about your return. Now, Piet, write back soon. Fokje sends her warm regards as well; now goodnight, and heartfelt greetings from your dearest. Brother
Jo