The CBB
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

Frieda
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4951
Author:  Pat [ 29 Aug 2008, 21:59 ]
Post subject:  Frieda
Frieda von Ahlen sat on a bench on the deck of the ‘Ben-my-Chree’ on her way to the Isle of Man. The cabin was crowded and stuffy, full of children, mostly being sick it seemed to Frieda. Out here, while it was blustery and cold for the time of year, she could at least hear herself think. Everything had happened so quickly that it was only now that she could start to sort things out in her mind. The first intimation that there was anything wrong had been when the village policeman had knocked at Joey Maynard’s door just two days ago.

“Sorry to bother you, Mrs Maynard,” he said. “But I need to talk to Mrs von Ahlen.”

“You’d better come in constable,” replied Jo, showing him into the Salon, where Frieda was sitting with her sewing. He refused the chair she offered, and stood awkwardly with his helmet in his hands.

“I’m sorry, Mrs von Ahlen,” he said at last, “But I’ve been sent to give you official notice. The Government have ordered that all aliens must be taken to internment camps for the sake of national safety. You must have a bag packed and report to the police station by 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. You’ll be taken to the Isle of Man, where accommodation has been provided. This is your papers. Best not be late ma-am, as I think there’s transport coming to pick you up.” He fished in his pocket and brought out an envelope, which he handed to Frieda. She opened it with shaking hands and read the letter confirming what he’d said. “I’ll leave you to it then,” he said and made his way to the door, Jo following to let him out.

When she came back, Frieda was sitting down, the letter crumpled in her hands, looking very white.

“Why? Why me, and not Anna? Bruno is with the Polish Legion, so why would they think I’m a threat?”

“I don’t know my lamb, but we can’t waste any time thinking about it. You need to make sure that you have everything that you need with you. One of those big expanding cases will hold a lot. And we must make sure that everything you take is clean. Who knows when you’ll be able to wash things.”

Jo had managed to swallow her own wrath (after giving vent to it in no uncertain terms), helped to pull her together, and start to sort out what she needed to take, and Frieda was grateful. Some of the people on the boat had had very little time to get things together, and had very inadequate resources. She had clung firmly to her enormous case, refusing any help in carrying it, fearful that she would lose everything. The journey had bee tiring, picked up more or less on time by a rattley old bus, they had picked up an elderly couple on the way to Armiford station. There they had waited for a special train that took them straight to the docks at Liverpool. She had shared a compartment with the couple, but they had refused to speak to her. Just whispered to each other, and looking scared to death. Frieda suspected that they were Jews who had found refuge in England before the war started, and now were wondering what would happen to them. At Liverpool they had been bundled into a waiting room that was already full of people and luggage. The noise had been appalling, and Frieda had longed to go outside, but the doors were guarded by soldiers, and she knew that they wouldn’t let her go past. Eventually they were herded into the ferry, and Frieda had thankfully found her quiet seat on deck.
Author:  Sugar [ 29 Aug 2008, 22:07 ]
Post subject: 
Ohhh. Poor Frieda.

Thanks Auntie Pat - (it's taken you long enough to start posting it!)
Author:  Clare [ 29 Aug 2008, 22:37 ]
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Oh, that poor couple. It must have been such a horrific experience - thinking you were safe and settled, and then being uprooted again.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Alison H [ 29 Aug 2008, 23:25 ]
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Thanks Pat - this looks really interesting.
Author:  Lesley [ 30 Aug 2008, 06:31 ]
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Feeling very sorry for the elderly couple - they must think they are on their way to the camps... :cry: At least Frieda knows differently.



Thanks Pat
Author:  Abi [ 30 Aug 2008, 11:11 ]
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Poor Frieda - I never realised it was such a sudden thing. It must have been a horrible shock.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Tara [ 30 Aug 2008, 17:10 ]
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Not one of our more glorious moments, I'm afraid. I realise that things look very different when you're in a war situation, but the wholesale internment was cruel. At least Frieda has support, which is more than many did.

Thanks, Pat, thought-provoking.
Author:  Pat [ 30 Aug 2008, 19:12 ]
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The crossing seemed to take hours, and there was no food or drink provided for the internees. Frieda nibbled at the food that Jo had had the forethought to pack up for her, and drink the coffee in her flask, but it was more for something to do. Gradually land came into view, first as a smudge on the horizon, then getting larger and larger. They were sailing into a large half-moon-shaped bay with a dock on the southern end, and tall white buildings stretching north to a headland. the ship berthed at a long jetty stretching out into the sea, and Frieda could see a long line of buses waiting for them. By the time Frieda came down the gangway there were only a few left, and she got the last seat in one of them, resting her suitcase on her lap, and hoping that they weren’t going very far. It pulled away and turned along the sea front. This was a wide promenade with tram lines running down the middle, but no sign of any trams. Almost immediately one reason for this became apparent. A long row of what were obviously normally hotels had been taken over by the military. Posts had been driven into the ground between the two sets of lines, with barbed wire strung between them. There were a lot of men in naval uniform moving between the buildings, and then they were past and she could see no more. They went past a Methodist Church and a lovely theatre, then more hotels and guest houses. Then the bus pulled up, and they were ordered out. Frieda thankfully got to her feet and stumbled off the bus. In front of her was another long stretch of hotels, gleaming white in the sun. These too were surrounded by barbed wire, but to keep people in rather than out. They were taken through a gate in the wire, and up to one of the tall thin buildings that made up the block. There was a basement with windows, and a steep flight of steps up to the front door which had a pillared portico over it. The bay windows stretched up three floors above the door, and Frieda though that there might be another floor above that. Once inside they turned into the front room,. looking out over the bay. It was bigger than she had expected from outside, and she realised that the height of the building had masked the true size. One by one, or in groups they were called forward, gave their names to a soldier and taken upstairs. When it was finally Frieda’s turn she followed a young soldier up a narrow flight of stairs. They went up two floors, and then turned down a long passage to the back of the house. He pushed open a door and went in without knocking. Expecting the room to be empty, Frieda was surprised to see it was already occupied by another woman who turned round in surprise at their entrance. She was busy unpacking her case, and was as taken aback as Frieda at the unceremonious entrance.

“You’ll be in here, Mrs Ahlen,” he said, and stomped out, leaving the door open.

Frieda gently closed it, and smiled at the other woman.

“Sorry about that,” she said. “My name’s Frieda von Ahlen, and it looks like we’re sharing this room.”

“I suppose we are. I’m Eva Goldstein. I’ve taken the far bed, so you’ll have to have the one by the door I’m afraid.”

“That’s all right. You were here first after all.”

There were two single beds down the wall to the right of the door. Two windows on each of the outside walls let in light, but no view except the cliff face behind the building. A wash basin occupied the left hand corner of the room, and there was a wardrobe and a deep chest of drawers set between two of the windows.

“I was told that there’s a bathroom up the corridor that we share with all the other rooms on this floor, but I haven’t found it yet.” Eva said.
Author:  PaulineS [ 30 Aug 2008, 20:06 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Pat. I must have been frightening for them all to be sent or taken with minimal explaination. The elderly and those with children in particular must have been scared they were going to be separated for good.
Author:  Abi [ 30 Aug 2008, 20:26 ]
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I'm glad Joey was able to pack properly for Frieda - so sorry for all those who didn't have good friends to help them. It must have been a terrifying experience. Hope Eva will be a good roommate.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 30 Aug 2008, 20:27 ]
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Intrigued as to how Frieda's internment will pan out.

Thanks AP
Author:  Alison H [ 30 Aug 2008, 22:32 ]
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Will be interested to see how Frieda gets on.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 31 Aug 2008, 10:28 ]
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Poor Frieda, especially after all her experiences in Austria when Bruno was missing
Author:  abbeybufo [ 31 Aug 2008, 10:59 ]
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Interesting to see how Frieda handles this . . .

Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Lesley [ 31 Aug 2008, 12:19 ]
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It must be so difficult - the soldiers etc cannot help treating them as prisoners and the enemy yet so many of them were anything but - Frieda a case in point. :cry:


Thanks Pat - did you have to do a lot of research for this?
Author:  Pat [ 31 Aug 2008, 19:51 ]
Post subject: 
I stayed in one of the hotels that were used this summer!!! :lol: :lol:
There's also a small exhibition in Douglas Museum about it.
Author:  Pat [ 31 Aug 2008, 21:42 ]
Post subject: 
Frieda put her case on the bed and began to unpack the contents into her share of the wardrobe. By the time everything was put away they had begun to get to know each other a little and could relax. Just as they finished there was a knock at the door, and when Frieda pulled it open there was another woman standing there.

“There’ll be a meal ready in a few minutes if you want to come down to the dining room,” she said. “Not very appealing I’m afraid, as we get just the basic rations, but better than nothing. There’s a meeting straight afterwards to discuss rotas and things, so don’t go wandering off.”

She turned and went back up the corridor, presumably to pass her message on to other new arrivals. Frieda and Eva picked up their handbags and followed her, making their way downstairs and into the dining room on the ground floor. There was a buzz of chatter covering all the various German accents, mostly from women, but also from a few older men. Children were running about between the tables, shouting and screaming, and the while place looked to be in utter chaos. Then a bell was rung and suddenly the chaos righted itself, people found seats at the long tables stretching down the room, and only Frieda, Eva and other newcomers were left standing. Not for long though, as they were swiftly directed to empty places, and a line of people came into the room carrying plates of food. As they had been warned, it was very basic, and there wasn’t very much on the plates. Frieda quickly appreciated what access to a large garden meant to making rations go further, but she tucked in and ate everything in front of her.

The meeting later was led by a group from the first house in the block. They had been there the longest, and could bring everyone up to speed very quickly. The leader was an elderly man with twinkling eyes and a welco0ming smile.

“Good evening, everyone, I’m Hans Meckler, and I’ve been here for two weeks now. We thought it would be helpful for those of you who’ve just arrived today if we told you what’s happening here, and what we’ve arranged on a lot of issues. Firstly, each house has a rota for cooking and washing up. Please put your names down for the first week and then a proper rota can be worked out. You’ll find the sheet on the back of the kitchen door. Please don’t try and get out of this duty - those that don’t help don’t get fed! it’s as simple as that.

We are also expected to keep our quarters clean, and yes, there’s a rota for that as well. Your rooms are your own concerns, but those of you sharing, please remember the others in your room.” He smiled round at them and a slight chuckle went round the room.

“Now to the children. We are trying to start a school for them. We don’t want them falling behind in their studies, and to be honest, lessons keeps them occupied and quiet - very important when we’re in restricted quarters like this! Anyone who has teaching experience, or who feels that they can help with this, please let my wife know.” He gestured at a stout lady sitting beside him. “We’re using the basement of our house for the time being, but we may have to spread further to accommodate all the ages we have here, and as we grow.

We think these are the important first steps to making life as good as possible while we’re here, but if anyone has any ideas for something new, please don’t be shy in coming forward. Something to occupy the adults would be very good; as you’ll find, time hangs very heavily when you’re not on one of the duties.

Over the next few days you’ll be taken to see the Commandant. This is nothing to worry about I can assure you. He will want full details about each of you - where you were born, went to school, that sort of thing. Also why you’re in this country, how long you’ve been here, and whether you have anyone who can vouch for you. It’s important that you’re open and honest about all this, as we’re given to understand that some of us may be released once they’ve done a thorough check.”
Author:  Lesley [ 31 Aug 2008, 21:49 ]
Post subject: 
Well that sounds rather more hopeful.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 31 Aug 2008, 22:18 ]
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Can immediately see where Frieda could help here.

Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Alison H [ 31 Aug 2008, 23:31 ]
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Getting involved with the school certainly sounds like it could be a good bet.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Miss Di [ 01 Sep 2008, 04:53 ]
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This is a fascinating story Pat. Thank you, I look forward to hearing more about Frieda's experiences.
Author:  leahbelle [ 01 Sep 2008, 14:34 ]
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Looking foward to reading more about Frieda. I've always wondered what happened to her when she was interned.
Author:  Tara [ 01 Sep 2008, 23:51 ]
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How totally disorienting and distressing. Glad to see they're doing their best to take charge of their lives and make their time as positive as possible. Frieda will be very useful with the children. Imagine having to occupy a herd of assorted youngsters all day :shock: .

Thanks, Pat, really interesting.
Author:  Emilyc [ 02 Sep 2008, 16:18 ]
Post subject: 
This is my first post.

I think this is a lovely drabble. Like the others I wondered what happened to her when she was detained. She was always one of my favourite characters so its lovely to read this. Thanks and please can we have more SOON
Author:  Sugar [ 02 Sep 2008, 16:37 ]
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Thanks Auntie Pat!

Hopefully Frieda will be able to leave after the Russell and Maynards vouch for her. Feel sorry for the others though.
Author:  JustJen [ 02 Sep 2008, 17:58 ]
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Thank you Auntie Pat.
This looks very interesting
Author:  Pat [ 02 Sep 2008, 20:08 ]
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One or two people asked questions when Hans had finished speaking, but Frieda hardly listened. She was thin king that life was going to be very different here, and that she needed to get involved in whatever was going on or she would go mad. To see the sea and the curve of the bay, and yet not to be able to get past the barbed wire fence around the block of hotels was a stifling thought, and she knew that there would be some who would find coping with this very hard. She put her name down for the various rotas, and had a word with Greta Meckler about helping with the children’s lessons, and then a wave of tiredness swept over her, and she went upstairs to get ready for bed. There was no sign of Eva, but Frieda washed and got undressed anyway. Then she turned off the light, fumbled her way back to the bed, and fell asleep very quickly, not even waking when Eva came up some time later.

By the end of the week she was feeling more settled. She had her various rotas more or less memorised, though it was a written out and kept on her bedside table just in case. She was helping to teach the older children on two afternoons, and in the kindergarten for a morning. She had also promised some Austrian fairy stories for the camp magazine. If only she could have gone for a long walk along the promenade to shake the fidgets out of herself she would have been happy. But the row of posts holding the barbed wire started halfway across the road, and ran closely down the sides of the buildings, and the trapped feeling was bubbling away underneath everything that went on. This undercurrent caused squabbles to break out every so often, mostly over quickly but sometimes blowing up into full scale rows that charged the atmosphere for days. Luckily Eva was as much a peacemaker as Frieda was and although it was sometimes awkward sharing a room, they managed to remain good friends. A friendship that lasted long after the War.

Some weeks later the expected message arrived for Frieda to speak to the Commandant. As instructed she reported at the gate to the compound, and one of the soldiers on duty opened the gate and escorted her across the side road to the first house in the next block. It was a very similar house to the one she was living in, but the view of the sea and the promenade was unrestricted. She was passed to another soldier just inside the door, and he took her upstairs to the front bedroom. This had been turned into an office, with a desk at one end, and a row of filing cabinets down one wall. In the window bay were a pair of comfortable chairs with a low coffee table set between them. The Commandant rose from one of these as she came in and moved towards her. He was short, not much above 5 feet tall, with white hair the fluffed out around his head something like a halo. His head tilted permanently upwards, as he was so much shorted than the people he came into contact with, but he was smiling and holding out his hand to her.

“Frau von Ahlen, welcome,” he said in careful, slow German. “Please take a seat May I introduce myself? I am Geoffrey Scranton, and I’m the Commandant of this place.”

Frieda sat down in the chair indicated, facing away from the barrier around the neighbouring houses.

“Thank you Commandant. I was taught to speak English fluently in school, and I would be happy to use that language if you would be more comfortable.”

“That is very kind of you,” he said in English. “My German is adequate, but not much more than that.”

A tap at the door interrupted him, and his secretary came in with a tray of tea and a couple of biscuits, which she placed on the table between them. the Commandant poured two cups and passed one to Frieda.

“Help yourself to sugar if you take it, and please have a biscuit. We do have to talk business, but we can at least be civilised about it.”
Author:  PaulineS [ 02 Sep 2008, 20:34 ]
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Thanks Pat. Could Frieda have another job as interpretter here? Pleased the commandant is pleasant.
Author:  Emilyc [ 02 Sep 2008, 20:55 ]
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What's she teaching? Is it English? That would seem the sensible thing for her to do. Thanks for the update, it will be interesting to see what questions she is asked in this interview
Author:  Lesley [ 02 Sep 2008, 21:45 ]
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Hope the Commandant remains understanding.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 02 Sep 2008, 22:13 ]
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Thanks Auntie Pat.
Author:  Alison H [ 02 Sep 2008, 22:37 ]
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He seems like a very reasonable person. Glad too that Frieda is getting on well with Eva.
Author:  Elle [ 02 Sep 2008, 23:13 ]
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Thanks Pat, I am really enjoying this.
Author:  Tara [ 03 Sep 2008, 00:07 ]
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Well, he sounds nice. Hope he can help Frieda survive this difficult time. Presumably, as someone else said, she will have plenty of people to vouch for her when she gets to that stage.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 03 Sep 2008, 16:56 ]
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Poor Frieda. Thank you, Auntie Pat, this is wonderful.
Author:  jilianb [ 03 Sep 2008, 19:20 ]
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Thanks Pat, this is lovely. Hope they see sense and let Frieda go soon.
Author:  Abi [ 03 Sep 2008, 20:50 ]
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Glad Frieda has things to occupy her time but how frustrating to feel so cooped in all the time. Hope this conversation goes well.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Karoline [ 04 Sep 2008, 10:32 ]
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Thanks Pat I hope the commandant is understanding
Author:  leahbelle [ 05 Sep 2008, 14:18 ]
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Thanks, Pat. It must be really hard for Frieda.
Author:  JellySheep [ 05 Sep 2008, 17:16 ]
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Feer vie to see the place where I grew up in a drabble, and it's rather a good one too. Looking forward to its continuation!
Author:  Pat [ 05 Sep 2008, 21:42 ]
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After they had finished their tea he sighed and picked up a slim folder lying on the floor. This held brief notes about Frieda, as she could see, and a lot of gaps that needed filling.

“To business I’m afraid,” he said. “Now, you are Austrian I believe? Where in Austria would that be?”

Frieda filled him in on her background and schooling. He was intrigued at the idea of an English school in Austria, but there was no time to divert from the official forms, and they went on.

“Why did you come to England, Mrs von Ahlen?”

“I have no sympathy with the Nazi regime, and having been a pupil at the Chalet School I was automatically under suspicion. When my husband left the country I came with him. He had been in ones of the camps, and escaped.”

“You lived with a Mrs Maynard in Howells Village I believe. How did you know her?”

“It was her sister’s school that I attended in Austria. Jo Maynard is one of my oldest friends. Where else should I go?”

“She would vouch for you?”

“Yes. She was outraged when I was sent here.” Frieda smiled at this understatement.

“Your husband is not listed at this address.”

“No, he’s with the Free Polish Division. His grandmother was Polish I think, and os he qualifies.”

“He’s fighting for the Allies then? That is good. You’ll be pleased to know that we have come to the end of my list. If there is anything more that is needed I may have to see you again, but I think we can let you go back to whatever you would be doing if you hadn’t been here.”

“Cooking lunch,” said Frieda with a smile as the walked towards the door. It had been a nice break in the monotonous routine, but she was glad it was over. Perhaps things would start moving, and she could go back to Jo’s.
Author:  Lesley [ 05 Sep 2008, 21:55 ]
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More than a little worrying that all of this was not established prior to them incarcerating her! I suppose there is some excuse in that Britain was at war - but a quick check would be expected, surely?


Thanks Pat - excellent.
Author:  Sugar [ 05 Sep 2008, 21:56 ]
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It's nice to see that Frieda might be alone home. The joy of having English friends. She's one of the lucky ones.
Author:  Pat [ 05 Sep 2008, 22:23 ]
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Lesley wrote:
More than a little worrying that all of this was not established prior to them incarcerating her! I suppose there is some excuse in that Britain was at war - but a quick check would be expected, surely?


Thanks Pat - excellent.


From what I can tell they just rounded people up and then checked! Probably with the view that taking everyone would mean that they got the ones that needed taking. the rest they could weed out.
According to EBD Frieda was only there a few months.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 05 Sep 2008, 22:33 ]
Post subject: 
Pat wrote:
Quote:
From what I can tell they just rounded people up and then checked! Probably with the view that taking everyone would mean that they got the ones that needed taking. the rest they could weed out.


I think that this rounding up of 'enemy aliens' was something of a knee jerk reaction in the early days of the war. From what I understand, too, they really were treated relatively well, and many of them were released relatively quickly.

Thanks, Pat - hope it won't be too long before Frieda is allowed to leave.
Author:  Alison H [ 06 Sep 2008, 00:33 ]
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That sounded quite positive. As Elder said, a lot of people were interned in a sort of knee jerk reaction early on. Many of them had been in this country for years.

Thanks Pat - this is really interesting.
Author:  Tara [ 06 Sep 2008, 01:00 ]
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There was a Foyle's War episode about it, but the people affected were very traumatised. Hope all goes well for Frieda.
Author:  JS [ 06 Sep 2008, 11:55 ]
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This is really interesting, thanks. I know someone who was interned as a baby - her parents were German and they were living in London and she was sent off with her mother and her father sent elsewhere.

Another bizarre internment situation (which I don't really know very much about) was in Edinburgh when Mussolini joined the second war. There was a thriving Italian community (ice cream shops, restaurants etc) and many much-loved local characters were whisked away overnight.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Abi [ 06 Sep 2008, 15:44 ]
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I'm learning lots about the internment situation - I didn't really know much about it at all. This is really interesting and I hope Frieda is allowed to leave soon.
Author:  PaulineS [ 06 Sep 2008, 19:06 ]
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Quote:
“Your husband is not listed at this address.”

“No, he’s with the Free Polish Division. His grandmother was Polish I think, and os he qualifies.”

“He’s fighting for the Allies then? That is good.


I wonder if Bruno's absence made itmore or less likely she was rounded up. I am sure his fighting for the Allies helped Frieda's early release.
Author:  Dawn [ 06 Sep 2008, 19:08 ]
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This is excellent Pat, thankyou

My mother was stationed in the Isle of Man as a Wren (I think towards the end of the war) and she said that the Polish prisoners of war who were there had a relatively easy time and were trusted by the locals. Not sure how true that actually is :roll:

I do remember when it was Ian Hislop on Who Do You Think You Are and some of his relatives had been interred there and he pointed out that the Isle of Man symbol (3 legs) could have born a terrifying resemblance to the German swashtika, especially if you were terrified for your life and didn't know what was happening and suspected the worst.
Author:  Pat [ 07 Sep 2008, 19:24 ]
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The routine resumed. She enjoyed helping with the little ones, playing games with them, and teaching them English and French nursery rhymes, as well as the German and Austrian ones that they knew already. The older children were more difficult. Like the adults, they felt the confinement more, and in teenagers it came out in rebelliousness and rudeness towards the adults, and some fighting amongst themselves during their free time. They resented the imprisonment and had less resources to deal with it. And although they were bored, they also resented having to help with meals and clearing up, though they would have had to do the same at home. It was hard to continue the strict discipline of their normal life in the camp, with its overcrowding, and everyone suffered. Teaching was a problem, as paper was rationed, and anything spare was kept for the camp newsletters. Teaching had to be improvised around the lack of any equipment, and Frieda’s conversational French and English was greatly appreciated - at least by the adults in the community. Sometimes she felt as if she was hitting her head against a brick wall, and then the tensions would ease and the talk in her classes was free and interesting.

The population changed almost daily. There was a large camp on the other side of the island, built originally in the Great War for internees, and refurbished for the same purpose in this one. People were moved out to this camp on a regular basis, and new ones from the mainland took their place. Eva left a month after Frieda’s interview, transferred to one of the women’s camps, and her place was taken by a woman who felt herself to be well above Frieda on the social scale, and ignored her existence as much as possible.

It took two months fro the date of her interview, and a check with Jo - as evidenced by an indignant letter from that lady. She was incensed to be asked if she would not only vouch for her friend but have her to live with her to ‘keep an eye on her’! However, the day came when Frieda and a handful of others were kept behind after lunch. An officer came in and informed them that they would be leaving for England first thing the next day, and to be ready downstairs at 7.00 am sharp with all their luggage. They would be given a ticket to wherever they had given as their ‘place of abode’, and a check would be made to make sure that they had arrived there. Jo met her at the station at Armiford with open arms, and the news of Simone’s imminent marriage. In the bustle of preparing for the wedding the months on the Isle of Man began to fade, and Frieda was able to return to as normal life as was possible in wartime.

Some forty years later Frieda returned to the Isle of Man for a holiday with Bruno, her husband. The harbour had been modernised and rebuilt. The horse trams were again running along the promenade as the taxi drove them to their hotel. A large one next to the Gaiety Theatre that Frieda remembered passing so many years ago. Coloured lights hung between the street lights, and people were strolling along enjoying the evening. It was so different to the wartime scene that it made Frieda even more sure than she had been that this return was right. The next day, after breakfast, they set off up the Prom themselves, choosing to walk beside the sea rather than the hotels. Eventually they came to a block that looked familiar. Many of the hotels had been joined together to make bigger ones, but Frieda could still recognise the one that had been her home.

“That one,” she said. “The fence came half way across the road, between the tram lines.” She looked quickly to make sure there was no traffic comeing, and stepped out into the road. “Just about here...Oh”

“What is it Frieda?” asked Bruno, coming swiftly across to her.

“Look!” she said, pointing to the ground.

There, just outside the set of rails nearest the buildings, was a line of ‘fresh’ tarmac squares, running the length of the block. Where the posts holding the barbed wire had run, and been removed after the War. They are still there today.
Author:  Sugar [ 07 Sep 2008, 19:30 ]
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Thanks Auntie Pat
Author:  Lesley [ 07 Sep 2008, 20:12 ]
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Pleased it was so quick for Frieda.

Am intrigued as to how high up the social scale this other woman was - I thought Frieda and her family were fairly high up themselves - who was this other woman? Royalty? :lol: :wink:



Thanks Pat - lovely.
Author:  Pat [ 07 Sep 2008, 20:22 ]
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Wasn't there an issue with Thekla because Frieda's family weren't hochegeboran (sp?)?
Author:  BethC [ 07 Sep 2008, 20:30 ]
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Thanks, Pat - I really enjoyed that.
Author:  PaulineS [ 07 Sep 2008, 20:38 ]
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Thank you Pat. It is lovely to think of Frieda and Bruno going back to see the changes and to but the time away for Frieda.
Author:  Alison H [ 07 Sep 2008, 20:43 ]
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Thanks Pat.
Author:  Emilyc [ 07 Sep 2008, 21:33 ]
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Thank you I really enjoyed reading that.

Were a lot of people left on IOM for the whole of the war?
Author:  Pat [ 07 Sep 2008, 22:04 ]
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I think so. There were certainly camps there the whole time.
Author:  Kathy_S [ 07 Sep 2008, 22:42 ]
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Thank you, Pat.

You definitely put your visit to good use!
Author:  Elbee [ 07 Sep 2008, 22:47 ]
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I'm glad Frieda didn't have to stay for too long. Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Tara [ 08 Sep 2008, 00:19 ]
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Thank you, Pat, that was really interesting.
Author:  Karoline [ 08 Sep 2008, 07:58 ]
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Thanks Pat
Author:  Abi [ 08 Sep 2008, 18:19 ]
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Thanks Pat, that was a really interesting insight into Frieda's experience. I'm glad she didn't have to stay there long.
Author:  Honor [ 08 Sep 2008, 21:03 ]
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Thanks Pat. This was very insightful. It must have been worrying for Frieda and the others in the camp.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ 09 Sep 2008, 17:59 ]
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Thank you so much, Pat - this was superb.
Author:  JS [ 10 Sep 2008, 13:23 ]
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Thanks Pat - enjoyable and educational!
Author:  jilianb [ 11 Sep 2008, 19:33 ]
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Thanks Pat, I really enjoyed this. Glad that Frieda didn't have to stay too long.
Author:  Vick [ 11 Sep 2008, 21:33 ]
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That was a lovely insight into what Frieda went through during the war.

Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 14 Sep 2008, 23:13 ]
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Thanks, I really enjoyed this
Author:  JellySheep [ 23 Sep 2008, 12:47 ]
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clap clap clap, throws flowers.
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