Ada's Letter on Penna's Health and Family News

Date: 1940-12-07
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1940-12-07-ada-on-pennas-health-and-family-news.pdf




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Summary

A letter from Ada to her husband detailing their daughter Penna's recovery from ear trouble and a molar extraction, including her medical history and treatment. It also covers family news, including Gillian's activities, Anna's upcoming 21st birthday, and plans for Christmas cards and gifts. Ada mentions income tax, retirement plans, and sends a parcel to Chris and Mr. Stevens.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.
7th Dec 1940.

My own darling One –
Your dear letter came this morning – but it was such
a comfort to have heard your voice just when I needed you.
Well you’ll be wanting to hear about Penna – I phoned Holthy
at once – he was out but I left a message. Later a Dr Morgan
came – He was bright and very interested in everything – he
was a thorough man – and wanted to know about you –
was interested that I was a nurse – and Gillian & he clicked
at once – It was how thrill that a doctor was in the house
attending someone other than herself and she acted nurse
– took him to the bath room & washed his hands – etc. He
has a daughter Gillian age 10.
Well – Penna has had middle ear trouble – there is a
slight discharge – He has given us peroxide to wash
the ears out (with swabs gently) and glycerine & phenol drops.
Penna is a frightfully good patient – The doctor was
delighted with her.
Here is the history of the case –
When we were all down with colds she got one too – hers was
bad – I don’t remember details. Anyway she was chesty
but not much cough – I treated her with Empirin & aspirin
and Tussipex – and lozenges & super drinks and
sitting up in bed – Her trouble yielded to treatment

quite satisfactorily especially when she had cut her
12th tooth (right lower molar). I expected complete recovery
in a few hours when I felt the pain – and this complete
recovery began. However she has flushed up again
after about 24 hrs – and this I did not notice it very
seriously! I was mildly puzzled and disappointed &
she seemed to be having a little set back – I knew of
suspected ear – and tooth trouble. Well she gradually
recovered again – in say a couple of days – I got a huge
appetite and chest quite cleared up. She was fed up
with bed and longed to go out. Good weather would
Dec 6 have come so! But Joan takes her out a little yesterday
& there was a wind but sunshine too – She was full
of joy on her return and when I told Gillian to
her party at 3.15 p.m. – Penna was in her perambulator
singing and shouting for sheer joy.
At 4 p.m. when she was having tea with me I
noticed she was rather pale and off her food –
I let Joan put her to bed while I fetched Gillian
from the party – She was in bed when we returned.
At 8 p.m. she woke crying – I went and turned her
pillow for her & settled her – at 10 p.m. she woke &
cried a lot – I diagnosed earache then – I gave
her a bit of Empirin tablet and a hisein and moved

her cot back into my room. It had been in my room all through
her chest trouble and why put back to Joan’s two nights ago.
She settled down when she had eaten the biscuit – I expected
that gave the pain had taken her pain away. She slept till
4 a.m. – woke crying. I took her into my bed. Slept
till 6 a.m. Took her temp: then – 100.6°. That was this
morning – gave her more Empirin. Then going up –
At 10 a.m. her temperature a little subnormal –
She ate a fairly good breakfast & 2 hrs dry sleep –
At good dinner – Temp at 2 p.m. – 100.
Gave her her first treatment – washed ears & drops –
Quite happy – but did not eat much at tea time.
Settled her for sleep at about 5.30 p.m. Temp then
again a little subnormal. Treated her ear again –
It is to be done t.d.s.
6.30 p.m. heard her singing went up saw her flushed again
took her temp – 100.4°. Dr Morgan said it would go
up tonight. He is calling again in the morning.
She has just been up & see her – sleeping peacefully
– a little flushed but does not feel very hot.
I’m not really anxious – but very much on the alert
and very much being a nurse to Gillian’s delight.
Gillian is sleeping in Joan’s room tonight – a great treat.
She had a 3 hrs dry sleep there today & woke up

for all her excitement at her party yesterday –
That went off splendidly much to her delight.
Now for your letter. I’m so sorry life is so hectic
and sorry for your delay. It is so futile of the B.E.C.C.
to behave like this with theirs and and everyone else’s
energy at a time like this – jolly good job that there
are those whose optimism count who are thrilled with
the work you and your little crowd are doing.
I quite understand about your not being able to get
here on 18th. If Cousin Uncle E. and others will come
& see you. I’d rather you broke your journey than be in blackouts.
I’m so glad water meadows is so lovely – I thought it
would be. Gillian had a discussion with me about
our various houses – who they belonged to etc – I told her
that when you & I had gone to Heaven she & Penna would
have “Penhale” (that’s the old thatched watermeadow) and Rosemary
Cottage – they could choose – She promptly let Penna have
this one – & she would have Penhale. Incidentally said T. Witts
all her live of the sea. Well, and little Horeman certainly
belongs here – while Gillian’s babyhood so much linked
with Shelford – *. See page 5.
So glad the Chinese things look magnificent – Have
you done anything with that long scroll picture that
was in M.C. Stairs – I believe that is really good.
Would so much like a Chinese opinion on it –
Well finish this letter tomorrow.

Sunday 10 a.m. Have put note as to condition (Penna’s) on
the front page to reassure you before you read my screed
about her. Now Joan has taken Gillian for a
walk in the sunshine, Penna sleeps. And I have
the house to myself so will spend the time with you.
The income tax thing is simply the demand – the
one I pay on Jan 1st but I have put it in your
desk so you will see that I do it correctly –
I’ll try and remember to put a little list of
the clothes you have here into this letter –
Have you done anything with missing books? The notes
I took while at St Mary’s – family thick books. If you
have could you bring them please.
*. Re houses. I think when you and I are “retired” we might
go into Granville Cottage (Penhale, if we have it then) and let
the two girls have the Shelford property and Rosemary Cottage
and just watch what they do with them while we live in
our own world not disturbed by their modernism –
I’ll enclose Christmas latest – and Anna – I’ll
send Anna 10/- for her birthday on Dec 12th Next
year she will be 21. I don’t reckon to give presents
after that age.
I see that 18th is the latest date for posting
letters and cards if they are to reach their recipient

So when Gillian comes back from her walk she and I will
go over the list and get all our cards ready – I mean
the ones we can see to – and in my next letter I’ll fill
in what we have done in the list you gave me in case
you’d want to get any of yours off before going.
Gillian shall send to all Winnie’s family – also to Daisy
Hilda, Queen, Marie and the Godmother – yes and
Uncle Edward too – She has chosen her cards
carefully and can stamp them with her seal so
that they can go for ½d. But I’ll let you know.
I posted a parcel to Chris and Mr Stevens on Friday
Have just got the horrid feeling that I did not
take the price ticket off Mr Stevens table cloth.
You haven’t forgotten the parcel I made up for her
which you were to take. It is really a Christmas parcel
– Christmas puddings, etc.
Do eat up those puddings I sent you long ago
I have several here – of last years. And 3 new ones
of this year which I’m putting away for next year
as they do improve on keeping if you have a good place
to keep them. I’m afraid it is to damp where you are so
suggest you eating those you have soon.
All my love my own darling. The last of
Queens. You were with B.E.C.C. I’ll be thinking of
you – as I am now in your lunch room.
Your own Ada.

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People mentioned

- Ada
- Penna
- Holthy
- Dr Morgan
- Gillian
- Joan
- Uncle E.
- T. Witts
- Horeman
- Anna
- Winnie
- Daisy
- Hilda
- Queen
- Marie
- Godmother
- Uncle Edward
- Chris
- Mr Stevens

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Topics

- penna's health
- family news
- children's activities
- medical care
- christmas preparations
- income tax
- retirement plans
- family correspondence

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Uncertain words / phrases

- hisein
- Autonormal
- t.d.s.
- M.C. Stairs
- Queen

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Archivist notes

- The letter is dated 7th Dec 1940, with a marginal note 'Dec 6' on page 2, likely referring to an event date.
- The recipient is implied to be Ada's husband, addressed as 'My own darling One'.
- The transcription preserves original spellings and paragraph breaks.

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Context suggestions

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

Fuzzy match candidates

These are hints only. They are not automatically corrected.

```json
[
{
"observed": "Gilliam",
"possible_match": "Gillian",
"score": 0.857,
"type": "person"
}
]
```

Model context updates

```json
{
"people": [
"Holthy",
"Dr Morgan",
"T. Witts",
"Horeman",
"Queen",
"Marie",
"Godmother",
"Edward"
],
"places": [
"Penhale Cottage",
"Water meadows",
"Granville Cottage"
],
"common_phrases": [],
"spelling_notes": [
"hisein (possible medicine, unclear meaning)",
"Autonormal (possible misspelling of subnormal/abnormal)",
"t.d.s. (medical abbreviation, unclear meaning)",
"M.C. Stairs (could be a place or person, unclear meaning)"
],
"relationships": {
"Uncle E.": "Cousin",
"Uncle Edward": "Uncle"
}
}
```

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