The rainbow never sets

would be possible, especially in the East Zone.

"How did you manage to get such a beautiful ring made here in the East?"

"It wasn't easy, but we have all contributed," said Mutter. "The gold is from Opa's teeth," Oma said with a shy smile. "You know, one never buries a person with all the gold still in his mouth, as it would only attract grave robbers. So they took it out in the hospital before the funeral and gave it to me. I'm sure you will honour him by wearing it."

"We bought the blood stone in Halberstadt, and Onkel Helmut took it to Halle to have it engraved."

"I can't tell you how happy you make me with this gift. I have always been proud to be a Tieman. When we lost Sapowice, I had no tangible reminder of my roots. This ring will now be the symbol of my identity, and I hope to wear it until the day I die."

"It comes with all our love." Vater kissed me and held me firmly in his arms.

As always, good times pass far too soon. New Year's Eve was still celebrated with the family, but at 8 am on New Year's Day I had to catch the train to Magdeburg. The bus with Fräulein Meyer arrived from Berlin, and we had a pleasant trip back to Bremen.

As work in the office seemed to have increased, the bosses had decided to engage a messenger. He took over from me all the running around to the post office, banks etc. With great relief I did 'the round' with him, and as Walter Meyer had done before for me, I assisted him for over a week, until he was well and truly trained to do the job. Every now and then I still had to do an errand, but it was nothing compared with before. I now had more time to get involved in the sample room, and Jürgen Siemering took me under his wing, and taught me much about wool tops (the combed wool sliver) and wool qualities.

Language courses started again and took most of my free time. By February 1950 I had saved up enough money from my meagre income to buy myself a bicycle. I had worked out that I would save more money in the long run by spending DM100 on a bike and always using it, rain or shine, instead of paying the fares for the tram. It would also be more convenient. It meant, of course, that I had to ride to my evening French and English classes as well. By then my social life consisted of the occasional dinner at Frau von Guenther's and her son Wolfgang, and a rare visit to the cinema. My time was spent working and learning, with very little time for anything else. Sundays were usually very lonely. I went a few times to church in the Dom (cathedral), but it did not appeal to me. Since I had my bike, I liked to go on a bike ride, either into the country side, or to the city and walk through those beautiful old lanes and places which had not been destroyed by the bombs. I always kept my eyes open for cheap eating places, as 'Ottilie' closed weekends and the usual restaurants were too expensive. Sometimes I would just have a plate of

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