Handwritten 4 page letter to Ekaterina Erastovna Zborovskai͡a describing the life of the Imperial family in exile in Tobol'sk.

Rough English translation:

No. 18 14 November 1917 Tobolsk 6 p.m.

Katia, dear:

Hearty thanks for your letter. I am so sorry I have not written to you for such a long time. I have not received your pictures [postcards?] but hope that I will receive them some time. We have not had any significant changes in our life so far. We are still studying every day. We have already had very frosty days, and it was snowing a lot, but yesterday and today the snow started melting; it became wet and messy. We go for a walk twice a day. We found a new way to entertain ourselves: we bounce with all strength and then jump out into the snow (on the pile we have already prepared beforehand.) Some our falls are very funny, but nobody smashed up so far. We are also makingdiferent things from the snow. One day we invented [ a new game]: one of us runs with a sleigh, and the rest jump out of the sleigh while it is running. Everyone has to try hard to stay on one’s feet, but it is very difficult, because the sleigh is small, and the one who is pulling it cannot help swinging. So we fall down a lot. They built a storage shed here, and we carryied logs in there.This work kept us busy. That is the way we live here, not very exciting, right? – I am always happy to receive letters from you, sweetheart. I congratulate you on Christmas and on your name-day and wish that your life be nice and joyful. How is your Mother doing? Tell her that I kiss her warmly. Best regards to Maria Nikif[orovna] and [her] husband. We are thinking [of them? of you?] constantly… Have you received postcard #17? I received a postcard from Ver[a] Georg[ievna]. She wrote that you kissed me. Thank you. My sisters kiss you and congratulate you on the holiday. Please send our best and warmest regards to your dear brothers. How is Rimma doing; will she have her wedding soon? I am terribly sorry that my letter turned out to be so stupid and boring, but nothing interesting happens here, and then it does not go right and something funny does not happen every time. Best wishes, Katia, sweetheart. May our Lord be with you. I kiss you affectionately, and love you. A[nastasia]