Vidzeme

After about six months in Snepele my mother died, it gave me a big shock. Her intestines had twisted and she was taken to Kuldiga hospital where they operated, but it was too late. I was going to see her every day, 20 kilometres on my bicycle, but she died within a few days. I bought the coffin myself, as my brothers were not prepared to pay anything. I was very upset when I went to Ingas, we were close friends with Milda by then, and she comforted me which made us even closer. Milda’s brother Adolfs harnessed two horses to the best sprung carriage and we went to my father’s farm for the funeral. Mother’s brother had come from Pavilosta (where mother was born) where he was a director of a Baptist wind ensemble. My oldest brother carried the cross and the other four sons carried the coffin and we lowered it in the grave. It was autumn.

Feb 3, 2010

The next nearest factory was in Kuldiga 18 kilometres away, but the Snepele factory only received milk from about 30 farms. The others processed the milk themselves and made butter which they sold in the market in Kuldiga. I suggested to the committee president that the two of us should canvas all of the farms in a 4-5 kilometre radius, which we visited on my motorbike. We offered them to try selling the milk to the factory for a month, we even lent them cans for transporting the milk. The results were surprisingly good; their income was 100% higher this way. 

Feb 6, 2010