There isn't much to say...

I'm sorry none of us have updated this little website! But we've been terribly busy. Summer at Livadia doesn't mean just play,play,play! We still have lessons, and we've started tennis, and then we lounge by the beach for the rest of our free hours before meals and bed. The sun shines gloriously and the sky is the colour of millions of twinkling beautiful rare sapphires. The clouds look so soft, I just want to jump up and touch them, snatch them from the skybed and cuddle them close to my chest. The butterflies flutter merrily around, landing on our palms (and Alexei's nose yesterday!), shades of red and green and yellow, and from time to time we glimpse dragonflies. Graceful with each quiver of the wing, zooming past my eyes, fast like a hare!
 But most of time we are cooped up in the classroom here at our warm favourite haven of Livadia Palace. French recital, piano practise, mathematics, history tutoring - the list goes on. But Anastasia and Aloysha keep it lively, and even studious Olga and I find ways to enjoy ourselves in the somber hours of strict learning. As much as she adores her Charles Dickins! Yesterday we went to the patiesserie - a French bakery down a long, twisty country lane from our palace in the heart of a dear little village that barely knows that we, the Imperial Family, reside up the hill! It's nice to be above to go somewhere and not be recognised for some time. This patiesserie is brimming with cakes, buns and tarts and gingerbread and so on. Alexei and Nagorny bought big slivers of shortbread iced with little pictures and then left for the toyshop, leaving OTMA to decide on their treats. Olga picked an cake iced with pink and a little cherry on top. Maria copied Anastasia's choice of big cream buns decorated with thick cherry frosting, and I handed over three roubles for a chocolate cupcake, oozing with chocolate cream! I felt like a pig afterwards, but luckily haven't put on a single pound and my corset still laces up easily.
 Well, that's all I can write for now. The main meal is now prepared and I must change into my gown. So, until I next come across you, in a time I hope is soon, your's affectionatly:

Tatiana.

5th May 1914.