Ada's Letter to her Darling One about Family Life and Wartime Concerns

Date: 1940-02-04
Sender: Ada
Recipient: My own Darling One
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1940-02-04-ada-to-darling-one-family-wartime-news.pdf




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Summary

A letter from Ada to her 'Darling One' (likely her husband) from Rosemary Cottage in Bude Haven, Cornwall, dated February 4, 1940. Ada discusses the weather, the children's health (Gillian and Penna), and daily life during wartime, including concerns about bombs and air raid shelters. She mentions various people, including Miss Player, Joan, Chris, and the Metcalfe family. The letter also touches on financial matters, school fees, and a proposed increase in payments. Ada expresses her love and hopes for his next visit. The letter concludes with a child's drawing from Gillian to 'Daddy'.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.
Feb 4th 1940.

My own Darling One,
As I don't expect your letter till tomorrow and I have answered
yours last one I'll give you any news now and keep the letter till I hear
from you. It was rather difficult to hear you on Sat – and I have
not tried to get through since – I wonder if you have. We had sunshine
on Sat – then snow all Sunday (it has reached 6 in in some places here)
with the sun beating through as it set. Lovely! Gillian said Good
night to it and the snow and begged the latter to stay – it is
still on the ground – a rather some of it. Yesterday was brilliant
sunshine all day. We all went out in it. We all go out
together but I am keeping the Children apart –
in the afternoon after Gillian's day sleep I go up to the big
bedroom with her & Penna has tea in the front nursery with
Penna – so we all get all the sunshine there is – and that
is a lot now & the Children are both rosy and in the best
health and spirit – well fit to fight measles if need be.
We have never exploited that lovely bedroom – I sat on
the bed hemming up the Curtains and enjoying the sunshine
and lovely world – The sea – the church and wooded hill opposite
the roses etc. – all bright with snow & sunshine – Oh how
I wished you could have it for a study – just the sort
of upstairs study you'd love. If as the Spring comes on
it is advisable to sleep downstairs I shall make that
room into a lovely day room where we can go and
enjoy ourselves – even if it is only for an occasional
hour or two of quiet. We'd open all windows as soon
as it is warm enough (and that will be soon) – we had
the gas-fire out during the hottest sunshine yesterday – for
if an unexpected bomb came near enough to shatter
windows – one might escape – or at any rate the glass not fly
into the room –
By the way – all our moral is much better now and
in other ways Gillian and therefore not – are better fitted
to face what may come.
She cried when a brick house she built fell down. I explained
to her that it was easy enough to build it up again
– even real houses could be built again if they fell – it
was nothing to cry about. I wouldn't cry even if this house
fell down! – as it could easily be built again. Of course
if it fell down we'd need somewhere to stay while it was
built – where could we go? – to Joan's mother of Carnac etc.
So now we are quite calmly & happily thinking of that
– rather fun. For a long time now when building with
her bricks she started off making “A.R. Shelter” –
The other day she built a house with many spaces
So I said – “It is lovely and cool – a sort of Ammunition”
“No” she said “there was a bomb – not an ammunition
just an ordinary bomb – and it broke all these walls – You
see Miss Player had a bomb and it blew away the roof
of her house and the walls!!!” She said to Joan the
other day “You are quite wrong Joan about the siren
– it doesn't sound for good girls – it sounds when Adolf
is trying to come”. She has been banging of the siren
and Joan said “It might come if you are good”. I must
explain that it does both – ie. It sounds to tell good girls
what to do if etc. Goodness knows what she hears at
school – but I don't think it matters if she tells me and finds
that I know it and still am not daunted but prepared –
I rub into her the fact that the gas mask practice is only
play – but if the “Stirks” really came neither she nor Penna
nor any of us must take it off till I say – I believe
Gillian is a Child who will face up to anything bravely
if it is not too unexpected. The terror is taken out of things
if she can say to me “you said that might happen”. I do
realize that it is my attitude & things that affect her
more than anything else. It is 11.a.m now – She is just
going to say “Three Drivers” – and then we'll go out –
Wed a.m. Joan rung up Miss Wein – they have twelve
cases of measles now – All come out in the last 2 days.
here in Gillian's Class – She would only have come in contact
with them at prayers if at all. On Sat she was naughty during
prayers and was sent out of the room. I don't think
we should pay the school fee for this term till we know
whether she will be able to get any school this term.
I suppose we must reckon her in Quarantine till Feb 23rd
unless she gets it before then – I suppose it is possible for her to
get it on 2d – I do hope not.
Your dear letter and enclosures came this a.m. Thank you for
the Cheque – I'm at the moment trying to make out estimates
Mummy's estimate – I mean what I could run this house
on with the utmost care – I'll let you know when its done it.
Now for your letter – I wonder just how many those bombs were.
I have Baffins plan (or map) of Cambridge – W. from Victoria
Road – to N. just beyond the Cemetery (right) Brooklands Ave (bottom) P.S.
and Grange Rd. Left. (W.). As it is about 18 inches square – N. seems
quite a lot. Please let me know all your bombings etc. itemised.
Is your gas mask ready – have you scraped it. Couldn't
you get yourself one of those gas suits. Chris would tell
you about them if you couldn't find out yourself –
I'm sorry the new part of your house is so cold. This house
is much warmer than last year even in the bitter weather
we have had lately – and no trouble with smoky chimney.
I daresay the damp Chimney has much to do with
the smoking – If any emergency comes and food
difficult do start your ham – I have 2 more
here and a huge tongue – Things I only plan to use when
you are here – We plenty of beans etc. – much more suitable
for Children – Have you flour and baking powder in
stock? Keep plenty of this – also rice.
I do hope you'll be here if a Crisis comes. When is your next
Visit – I know a bit of an anxiety is over & care which will be
terrible while it lasts – but I hope that will be long even if
it is not decisive. I'm letting Gillian have lots of intercourse
with some of her very special friends round – Mrs Bullen, Miss
Rickett and others along the terrace who think the world of her
– Mrs Parsons (Baker) etc. I tell her that if Joan & I both
got ill at once she could go & tell one of them. She is thrilled
and says – “Yes, and I'll bring them back & do all the work!!”
You say you can “go back” to the bedroom in Summer. Where
are you sleeping now?
Yes I remember the Langs. I don't know about Quapo –
I'm having 3 more of these family ones printed so will send them one.
I believe Quapo reached them all right. What a nice letter from the
Langs.
Have just made a rough Calculation – for any you will send half
M.P.L. Cheque monthly for a while – I don't know what your
idea is – but that rate would be an increase –
1940. 1941. Proposed Suggestion –
Jan 5 – 0 – 0. Jan. 25 – 15 – 0.
Feb 5 – 0 – 0. Feb 25 – 15 – 0.
Mar 5 – 0 – 0. Mar 25 – 15 – 0.
Row “ 7 – 16 – 0. Rent – 7 – 16 – 0
£ 75 – 1 – 10 £ 85 – 1 – 0
I don't suppose you mean this increase – I'm prepared
to a decrease – you can't possibly afford to increase
mine this year – But I don't suppose this is your idea – I'm
sure I can do very well on less – not more – So don't you send
short whatever you do. I'm going to be careful and try and save
whatever you send –
Yes – I listened to “The Landlords” – I usually listen to the program
after the news. I'll enclose the picture of the Annastings –
Thelma – the daughter-in-law – is very nice – has had more experience
than Pat – the latter is most annoying – and enthusiastic – I always
think of the Metcalfe family – Thelma as the married daughter. But the one
who has just got married and Marjorie as Joan. I don't think
Tom is a bit older than Marjorie – Oh I see Marjorie is 16 – so
that is about Tom –
I wish the Royal Society or the M.P.C. would feel arranged
enough about the B.E.L.C.C. to themselves take on all the
financial responsibilities – but I suppose in war time that
is too much to expect.
Gillian's height 3 ft 6½ inches when you measured her in Jan.
You can't expect 4" growth every year.
There was a [unclear: erews] out in the Garden just before Nivells before the
snow – Bunnchaps everywhere – but now all buried in snow
Our [unclear: wurstard] & [unclear: Cross] planted in wool on Sunday already short and roots
Where are you coming next? When is [unclear: Enola] – Knox seems to
fear a bad time for us when it starts. I wish you could either have
had your next holiday – or be having it here when it starts –
All my love my own darling one – I'm going to try
and ring you up tonight! Your own Ada –

DADDY
WORLD
GILLIAN

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People mentioned

- Penna
- Gillian
- Miss Player
- Joan
- Miss Wein
- Chris
- Mrs Bullen
- Miss Rickett
- Mrs Parsons
- Thelma
- Pat
- Marjorie
- Tom
- Daddy
- Ada
- Langs

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Topics

- family news
- children's health
- wartime conditions
- air raid shelters
- financial matters
- household updates
- local news
- weather
- education

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Quapo
- erews
- wurstard
- Cross
- Enola

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Archivist notes

- The letter includes a child's drawing on the last page.
- Financial figures are presented in a ledger-like format.
- The abbreviation '2d' is used, likely meaning 'second' or '2nd'.
- Discussions of wartime conditions, including air raid precautions and bomb threats.
- The word 'Stirks' is used in an unclear context related to gas mask practice.

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Context suggestions

These were used to update/suggest additions for `archive-context.json`.

```json
{
"people": [
"Miss Rickett",
"Mrs. Parsons",
"Pat",
"Marjorie",
"Thelma",
"Langs"
],
"places": [
"Victoria Road",
"Brooklands Ave",
"Grange Rd",
"Cambridge"
],
"common_phrases": [],
"spelling_notes": [
"Stirks (unclear meaning in context of gas mask practice, but transcribed as written)"
],
"relationships": {
"Thelma": "daughter-in-law"
}
}
```

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