09 Feb 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary

Dearest,

Here's my new paper - I hope the ink doesn't show through too badly.

I've been very busy since I last wrote.  At last we are getting an allowance and some 40,000 Yen came in.  The I.Q. are about one third of the Camp so I was responsible for paying out Y10,835.  I had an awful scare on Saturday night and went to bed rather unhappy as I thought I was 10 or perhaps 15 Yen out and as 1 Yen = H$4 - it was no mean sum, in fact the whole of my allowance.  However on Sunday I found the discrepancy and all was well.  I'll tell you the whole story some day.

I'm on a big Discussion Group these days and on two Sub-Committees of it which is very interesting but take up a good deal of one's time.  News from Russia is still very good but elsewhere things seem to have slowed up a bit and we are so weary of waiting.

I have been persuaded to stand for election to the Community Council - I'll tell you my reasons some day.  It will be a little feather in my cap if I do get in but I'm not worrying. It's another thing to interest one - that's all.

No more letters yet - it is so mean of them to sit on them all this time - what good does it do them? - no parcels either.  Cigs are very scarce again too so I am a little cross!  But on the whole we keep fairly cheery and bright.  The weather is lovely - pretty cold but a lovely bright sun.          All my love always    B.