Ada's Letter to her Husband with Children's Contributions, November 1941

Date: 1941-11-12
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown (husband)
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1941-11-12-ada-to-husband-family-news-and-gifts.pdf




---

Summary

A detailed family letter from Ada to her husband, dated November 12, 1941, from Rosemary Cottage in Bude Haven, Cornwall. Ada discusses daily life, including Gillian's sleep and dancing lessons, Penna's independence, and the children's education. She mentions various birthday presents received, including Chinese birthday food, and describes a parcel sent to her husband containing items for a cold remedy. The letter also touches on household finances, nightly readings, and the children's social activities, such as a Christmas party and tea with the Metcalfe's. The letter concludes with a list of gifts for Ada's own birthday in 1941 and a separate, charmingly scribbled note and drawing from Gillian to 'Daddy' apologizing for misbehavior.

---

Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.
Nov 12-1941.

My own darling One -

Good letus & Gillian & we came by first post so
dont you spoil your afternoon's sleep to post early -
Because of the lovely barometer I knew with my morning
tea that the weather was improving so sent Gillian &
school without mac. etc - sure enough it has been a
magnificent day - Sunshine all day - and the
glass still going up - W is such a help -
Thank you for the Violet - We must look by the
blacksmiths place for one -
The list I gave you of my presents was not all. Dolly
brought me a huge bunch of Chrysanthemums and M^rs
Betm sent me in a lovely Cake - not exactly of
birthday richness she explained - but first part of
a batch of her own - It was jolly good - But
M^rs Metcalfe sent me a Christ of the real
birthday cake she made for her husband - so I
lacked nothing - As a matter of fact yesterday
I made 100 pienshao (or baochiastys) - the
real Chinese birthday food which Joan & the
Children enjoyed as much as I did -
Today I've posted you a huge parcel - It includes
a tiny Xmas pudding - a taster of the batets we

have just made. Had you been with us we would have
had one (a trifle larger) for my birthday dinner - So
please eat it and wish me well.
I also send a jar of blackcurrant jam for you to
make "super" when you get a cold - It is made
with Blackcurrant jam (2 tbl spoonfulls
glycerine (about a tea spoon ful)
a little lemon or lemon squash -
" " honey if you have it and like it
and boiling water - (making the whole up to 1 pint
or weaker or stronger to taste -
The other things in the parcel explain themselves
except the little chocolate crowns which were out
of a box of Chocolate biscuits I saved for my
birthday - Mr Bullen slipped another couple of lbs
of oranges into my from the other day. I too
can get lemon or lime juice occasionally - We
lack nothing darling - You are my chief anxiety
with regard to food - Would you like some
dripping? I'm gradually accumulating quite a
big basin-ful.
Our nightly readings have developed. We now
sing an appropriate hymn and use the little

first prayer book you gave her - I'm annoyed at
you suggesting that she should read to me very
occasionally - Why she reads to me far more
than I read to her - You see the reading begins
while I do her hair - For a couple of years now
I used to read to her as I did her hair - she holding
the book and I perched over the curls as I did them -
then gradually she did the ready + I the curls
and when the latter were done I took her on
my knee + finished ready. This was with any
book she chose - it is only recently that we have
started the "Lodiical Life" - We have also added a
little table to our arrangements because these books
are so big - I've not shown her the great textury
yet - that is a treat to come. She reads most
expressively - have you heard her?
I agree with you about the piano - both the desirability
for Gillian to play it well - and for the delay in starting
until we can get one. My problem will be will there
be where to put it.
I'll teach Gillian Exer. III -1-8 - yes indeed M^rs
Russell should know it. I like her little Joan tho'
she is very independent & has made no response

as yet to the bitter advances he made - The little
Shirley Whittle (who you met with her mother for Kenya) is
is a very nice but solemn little girl. Gillian says
that Martine Holthy is going to invite her to a Christmas
party. I think for H - achieves our two very much -
Martine is very dumb - but their baby (1 year) is
very jolly.
I enclose a note I had from Miss Player today
I enquired, in fun, about Penna and Candythinks
I'll try and get a bottle of sherry.
Taking sugar has done me lots of good - That acid
feeling in my mouth has gone - and I can even eat
a sour apple quite happily - the craving for sugar
has gone but I still enjoy it. There are no ulcers
in my mouth at the moments. I've taken very
little Empirin lately.
All right. I'll let the Children go to the Metcalfe
to tea. By the way Joan had already suggested
M^rs M could come here and she and Joan could
take care of the Children. Are you thinking of
something of the sort before Xmas - or after - or
not till some unspecified future date. Oh I
see you say "Some day" which suggests not very
soon.

I agree about independence - It was always my ideal -
I got it at Carey Hall when we were told to work
"for our own effacement" - and in my work as a
missionary I always worked to that end and tried
to make my helpers independent of me - Thus my work
never collapsed when I left it.
With Gillian's nose bleed & Nausea - it has been
very difficult - but she is steadily growing
independent - A room of her own is a great
help - Penna is much more independent - after
goes out with other people.
There is something much stronger and deeper than
a mere physical dependence - By giving your
dears are freedoms you actually bind with stronger
bonds than any dependence could bind -
I can understand your fury at the Toys - All that
sentimentality is so silly and artificial - Gladys
sent me a letter from Ida - about Peter - it
nearly made me sick - Fortunately before I had sent
it round as she asked me to a letter came from Ida
herself much more reasonable - So I sent Gladys's
her back and have started Ida on its way -
About Gillian's V's on the wall - They range from about

inch to a yard in size - among them all is a tiny owl
of which she is very proud - I'm taking your
advice re read.
Wed afternoon Gillian had her second dancing lesson
which I did not watch - She is just as thrilled
with it as ever.
Today Stears Bros dividend came - I put it in
the N.P. bank and return the rest - which they
said you'd want for weave tax return!
Anna & Haughton sent me a most exciting scrap
book they had made for my birthday - which seems
to have no end -
Gillian was thrilled with the play alphabet - I think
she might learn the letters - but is not very good
at spelling yet - I must find time to play word
making & word tate with her -
I've got a bottle of sherry for you - not good
staff - only 3/9. and the only bottle they had - The
girl called it Cooking sherry - but the rough sort
of cellar man who brought it up was most indignant "No
it isn't Cooking sherry - if it isn't good enough for you to
drink - I will use it in trifles!!!" Most of the apples of Rosemary
Cider came from France - hence the shortage -
M^rs Stevens might like to see this beautiful letter I am sure
me - All my love my own darling - Ada.

Adas birthday 1941.

Daddy - barometer and photo frames.
Gillian - ink and sweets & crayons, Card.
Penna - Rubber.
Joan. - Honey in the Comb.
Dolly - Flowers.
Chris - Apple tree scarf & Coat flowers -
May - 2 Cbds. [unclear] Handkerchiefs. letter
Nyria - letter.
Daisy - Letter & Silk stockings -
Hilda - P.P.C.
M^rs Lloyd - Card
Nyria " - Drawing
M^rs Stevens - Golden Telegram
Ann " - "

DEAR DADDY I AM SO
SORRY I SCRIBBLED-
ON YOUR FOOT WELL.
I DO NOT WANT YOU
TO MAGIS BECAUSE MUMMY
HAS SMACKED ME
I AM SO SORRY
GILLIAN.

[Drawing of a house]

---

People mentioned

- Penna
- Gillian
- Dolly
- M^rs Betm
- Miss Metcalfe
- Joan
- Mr. Bullen
- Miss Russell
- Shirley Whittle
- Martine Holthy
- Miss Player
- Gladys
- Peter
- Anna
- Haughton
- M^rs Stevens
- Daddy
- Chris
- May
- Nyria
- Daisy
- Hilda
- M^rs Lloyd
- Ann
- Mummy

---

Topics

- family life
- children's activities
- education
- gifts
- birthday celebrations
- household finances
- health
- wartime rationing
- independence
- letter writing

---

Uncertain words / phrases

- M^rs Betm
- baochiastys
- batets
- Lodiical
- Holthy
- M^rs M.
- Stears Bros
- Haughton
- P.P.C.
- MAGIS
- FOOT WELL
- Cbds.

---

Archivist notes

- The letter includes a separate list of birthday gifts for Ada in 1941 on page 7.
- Pages 8 and 9 contain a child's handwritten note and drawing, likely from Gillian, addressed to 'Daddy'. The child's note is on lined paper, distinct from the main letter.
- The archive context lists 'M^c Metcalfe' as a variation of 'Miss Metcalfe', but the letter clearly shows 'M^rs Metcalfe'. The transcription reflects the letter's content.

---

Context suggestions

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

```json
{
"people": [
"Dolly",
"M^rs Betm",
"Mr. Bullen",
"Miss Russell",
"Shirley Whittle",
"Martine Holthy",
"Gladys",
"Peter",
"Anna",
"Haughton",
"Ann",
"Daddy",
"Mummy"
],
"places": [],
"common_phrases": [],
"spelling_notes": [
"pienshao (or baochiastys) (unclear food name)",
"Lodiical Life (unclear book title)",
"P.P.C. (unclear abbreviation for gift)",
"MAGIS (unclear word in child's letter)",
"Cbds. (unclear abbreviation for gift)"
],
"relationships": {
"Ada": "wife (of recipient)",
"Gillian": "daughter (of Ada and recipient)"
}
}
```

---

Processing stats

- Input tokens: 3502
- Output tokens: 2961
- Total tokens: 13686
- Estimated cost: $0.001151