537 words
Erding
18 August 1982
My Dear Savitri,
Thank you very much for your two letters — I cannot write very much as my own typewriter is broken at home and I am having to write this very brief note in the office where things are not the best.
First of all, I was very surprised to hear that you are still looking for somewhere to stay — I was under the impression that Frau Asmus had arranged a room for you in Italy.
I sent your passport to the Greek Consulate as I am quite unable to go there myself owing to the fact that it is impossible for me to get any time off work and they are only open in business hours. I got the enclosed card back and rang them as I didn’t understand it. They say a renewal of your passport will cost DM 30.00 (which I will gladly pay for you) but that you also need two black and white passport photographs. I rang Herr Melchior (Frau Asmus’ neighbour as I was surprised to find that she doesn’t have a telephone) and gave the message to him and asked him to ask Frau Asmus to ring me back, having given him my number. She hasn’t bothered to do this. I am glad you wrote to her as I didn’t have her address in Prien.
Thursday, 19th August.
Frau Asmus rang last night and somewhat explained the situation to me. I’m afraid I have no room to put you up at all. I therefore rang Herr Rau but he is in the same situation. I tried to ring Miss Gantry but I had international telephone enquiries check her address and it appears that she is not on the phone. I am quite sure that you would be able to go to England to stay now — do you want to ring Joe Jones and ask him? I could give you his phone number and you could speak to him personally and explain the situation — I’m sure Frau Asmus could arrange for you to use her neighbour’s telephone. Or, if you like, I will do it. The only other thing I could suggest is that you say you have money now so I would suggest that if nothing else can be arranged, you stay in a Gästhaus until you can go to Italy at the end of September, which isn’t long. As regards Joe Jones (I detest the man; he is a nasty, slippery, dirty drinker), he apparently tried to get in touch with you through Madame Truchet in Lyon when you were there as he wanted you to go to England, then. But the situation may be the same there unless you had somewhere definite to stay for an unlimited time. It is the same all over Europe — if you have nowhere to stay when you are old and have no or little money, you land in the hands of the welfare services — there is no alternative. Everybody fears this — I also.
I managed to do the book for you which I enclose. When you let me have the two black and white passport photos, I will send them to the Greek Consulate for your passport.
All my love,
Beryl