1927

It was spring – May – I gave notice and went to Riga to register at the milk factory authority. The manager there was Kersela, who had been a manager himself for many years. He was like a father to me – very friendly and helpful. He suggested that I take a few weeks holiday until a good job comes along as a manager’s assistant. I went home to Digaini, my oldest brother now respected me as an equal. I caught up on sleep and helped with some jobs.

Jan 27, 2010

I have good memories from Prauliena. We were all young: the manager was 27, and the cleaner, Ida Darkevics, was 26-27. Pay was also good; 100 lati and 3 santimi for first-quality butter. This came to 140-150 lati a month, which was good pay at the time (a part-experienced government worker would get 60 lati a month.) Also, all milk products were free: butter, milk, cream, cream cheese, as well as a room and heating. We bought very little; if we made a vegetable soup with lamb we all shared it. I bought all new clothes, the latest fashions; I was a real city boy now, not a country boy. Then I bought a push-bike.

Jan 28, 2010

I was assigned to the Latgale artillery corps which was stationed at Krustpils. On arrival there were about 1000 new recruits, we were lined up and divided into batteries. First all the university students were called out, then those that completed high school and those who had not completed high school. Then tradesmen and other workers were called. I applied as a milk factory bookkeeper and was assigned to headquarters as a bookkeeper. For army training I was assigned to the 4th battery for two months.

Jan 29, 2010