Source: Tom 17

Hello, Tatka!

The weather here is still good. Kirov and I checked the temperature last night (at midnight) down below at Puzanovka and up above, where I am now living. The difference turned out to be 3 degrees Reaumur in favor of the new dacha: it turned out that when the temperature down below was 14 degrees Reaumur (at night at midnight), up above it was over 17 degrees. This means that up here our temperature is the same as in Gagra and Sukhumi.

I went to the sea once (only once!). I went swimming. Very nice! I intend to go in the future as well.

Kirov and I had a good time together.

That is all for now.

Kisses, heaps of them.

Yours,

Iosif

19/IX-31

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Source: Iosif Stalin in the Embrace of the Family. From the Personal Archive, p. 37. AP RF F. 45. Op. 1. D. 1550. L. 60.