Ada's Christmas Preparations and Family News

Date: 1941-12-02
Sender: Ada
Recipient: My Own Precious One (unknown)
Location: Rachin Cottage, 7 Grawall Lee, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1941-12-02-ada-to-precious-one-christmas-preparations.pdf




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Summary

A detailed letter from Ada in Bude Haven, Cornwall, dated December 2nd, 1941, to her "Precious One." Ada discusses Christmas preparations, including making cakes and presents, and the children's (Gillian and Perma) activities and understanding of Santa. She mentions recovering from a mild infection, Tom being sick, and the recent loss of a family member named Meta. The letter touches on food scarcity during wartime, with discussions of ordering a turkey and using SPAM. Ada also reflects on the beauty of her daughters' sisterly bond and briefly mentions the war in China and Japan. A postscript asks about photos sent to Darcey in a separate letter.

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Transcription

Rachin Cottage
7 Grawall Lee
Bude Haven
Cornwall –
Dec 2d 1941.
My Own Precious One –
(I’ve just filled my pen!!!) What a lovely letter
this morning – and for the first time now for you
today – Never mind darling one, I’ll ring you up
tonight – As I told you Tom was “off sick” and
through Mrs Metcalfe came over two mornings and
fixed us up, a bit so that I was able to take
& fetch Gillian to & from school. But I couldn’t find
time for a letter on Sunday as I wouldn’t let Mr M
come that day – and as a matter of fact I, too,
felt pretty rotten and it was all I could do looking
after Perma who also was in a bit off colour and doing the
rest of the work – However Tom is back now and
I shall have a bit of a rest before I attack the
preparations of Xmas in earnest – Mrs Metcalfe – the
good cook she is! made our Xmas Cake while she was
here and (Secret!) I have a little icing hidden
hidden away somewhere so we’ll have a great day
icing it – with Ceremony, a little nearer Xmas.
Meanwhile how I should have been anxious about
you on Friday night – walk to Shelford. If you’d
only known it I was awake two or three hours

that night and finally between 2am & 3am went and
got some Ovaltine & put me to sleep. Of course I was
thinking of you – we might have telephoned – that is if
we can telephone during the night.
I love the stars in your letter and the reminder
of Advent. I’ve just gone to our Xmas Chest and
fished out Metals two stars of the two Xmases.
Gillian & I restuck them with fresh seals before
putting them away. The children are thrilled with
them – W has brought to me the first pang of
a personal loss in Meta. Up till now I’ve only
thought of her loss to her own family – and before
she died her own suffering – Now I realize I
have lost a very dear member of your family
– the first to welcome me into your family – Wouldn’t
her drawing room the final room in which we met after
we were engaged.
Here is a play letter from Gillian – Only the beginning is
afraid.
I’m glad you had an interest time in London. I should
have loved to see the Vet Hospital – I expect Chris
would have too – Glad Knight gave you a good meal
on Friday evening – helped you with the walk I expect.

Glad the Mitchel business is settled for the moment –
Hope you will get your Rachin Centre in the end –
Yes, the hall is very nice clean – We have put the
“bread cupboard” there which makes a good place for
shoes (sacriligious!) at the moment & a nice little
hall stand – The trolly is there when not in use – but
it leaves plenty of space.
I’ll read the loan pamphlet – I’m awfully interested in it –
Thank you for all enclosures.
Re dancing – Gillian says she likes it better than
eurythmics – By the way the school party is
on Friday at 3pm & 5pm. There are 19 there to
be & a play an tableaux in Garrett – of the sort
and Gillian is to be an angel – I think she is to
be adoring the infant Jesus. I want it appeal to her.
She says her prayers to her “God” which we have
already set up. – and kisses the infant Jesus &
all the animals – and Mary – I think – Coo! what
would Grandma Chesterman say. – But I
think Gillian’s mind is of the type which is
perfectly safe with symbols etc. – she never
confuses the symbol with the reality. Here
is an example – “You know the letter she wrote

to Santa Christmas re her doll. (I swopped it with her
knowledge when putting it in the envelope & sent it to you) Well
with great Ceremony she burnt this, and has
been telling her we are about it and how Santa Christmas
another Christmas is going to bring her a doll.
I thought she believed it. “Well yesterday
she calmly enquired of me “when are you
going to buy my doll?” I said “I thought
Father Christmas was going to bring that –
“Oh, Mother you know it’s really you – and then
“Please may I help fill the stocking?” You
see she enters into all the thrill and ceremony
of it enjoying both the giving & receiving with
absolutely no superstition – only romance. The
letter seems enhanced – her eyes look like
deep excity pools of magic themselves when
think and talk about such things –
The list of persons to whom Gillian is giving
homemade presents is ever so long – Daviths
Bullens, Rickett, Dexter, Shannon, Marrow, Chris,
May, Anna, Rybin, Susan, Michael, Hazel,
Norris & Pat (Pat’s kids) – And she ought to add –
Weir, Player & Chamberlain (her own teachers) as well
(Turn to back of page for P.S.)

Since beginning this I have put the Children to bed – in
a rather Xmasy atmosphere – each carrying their star
Here is a conversation – a rather a prayer started by Gillian
and repeated by Perma as I did her hair. each studying
a book – (Gillian one of prayers.)
Gillian reading –
“Oh Come and thank the Lord etc etc.”
Perma: –
“Oh Come! Lord” – (by that time Gillian had reached
her next line.)
Gillian: –
“The Lord loves the world etc –”
Perma “The Lord loves a lamb”.
She had got stuck at “lamb” (thank) in her final
sentence – hearing Gillian start a fresh sentence she
began quickly herself but never heard the end – her
“lamb” of the first sentence came to her rescue –
We finished out of the Xmas trunk a book Chris had
sent last year which was rather too old for her then
but perfect now “The Third Lamb” – a story of
word Carvers – so we read that tonight.
Now I have had my suffer – with a talk with you
over the phone during it. Yes, I remember I
said I would write after – but as I felt very below
(back of P.2 & P.6)

par – I was afraid I’d only send you a depressing
letter and not doing job of the kids & have well either
so I gave myself up & the Children hoping & write
you at midday a.m. – Actually today is the first time
I’ve felt myself again – Whatever it was was a very
mild infection – and if only Tom had been here & well
I should have thought nothing of it – But with all
your care & love this house is very easy to run
– if you don’t make too much of the meals – and I
can tell you except of the nice dinner Mr M got
for us on Saturday which she shared with us, we
picnicked all the time either in the kitchen or nursery
& let Perma lay the table, & Gillian make the salad, etc.
By the way there is a tiny baby – wouldn’t be
adopted – Father went down in a submarine and mother
only 21 living with her mother who has 6 other children
They don’t know yet whether it is a boy or a girl –
Perhaps it isn’t born yet. – But I feel it would
be fair to ask two to give up my time now to a tiny baby
even if you thought we could have a third – Our two
are getting more delightful every day in the development
of their minds and the interplay of their minds on
each other – I’ve never seen more beauty in the relationship
of real sisters when so young as this – Gillian is an ideal
big sister – and Perma an admiring trusting little sister
(back of P.3 & P.7)

A common expression in Perma’s life when Gillian
is doing anything is “That’s Clever Gillian” – she rather
pronounces it “Cleffah”.
I posted you a small parcel today – There is a dearth
of plain Chocolate at the moment – Have had it with raisins
– biscuits or toffees in the Centre – and some with a layer
of milk Choc: in it. I’ve sent you a little of the
latter to try. I suppose more parcel will be all
I’ll send before Xmas.
I’m rather anxious about the food & Xmas.
I’ve ordered a Turkey – a fairly that food from
Moet & [unclear: Hewer] – but they promise well –
I don’t know when the Meat of the week will be
available – Usually I get it on Sat – I’d better
take it on the Tuesday before Xmas if it is there
– in case we get nothing on Xmas day – However
if the worst comes to the worst we’ll open one
of the big tins you brought us and some “SPAM”.
– anyway we’ve got Xmas puddings & Xmas Cake
and Xmas crackers. Is there going to be a chance
of getting one of these pickled chops you got last year
– those pickled in the Chive solution?
What about Japan? Wonder if Butler & Clarice in
(back of P.4 & P.8)

leave China now? Where will they go? California or England.
After ringing you up as I finished my supper I read the
loan pamphlet – It is thrilling – Do they only have
men there? I’d love to go with you for the two summer
months some day –
I’m getting on with Nicholas [unclear: Levins] slowly – am about
half through – I daresay I can finish it – I was going
to say in time for you to take back – but you won’t want
to carry back too much now you have no car. However
I’m rather wanting you to take back some bottled
stuff if you can manage it & the [unclear: weight]. I’m so
glad you found the blackberry gone –
I’ll close now so that this can be posted
on the way to school – (hope you tomorrow Dec 3)
Gillian has not yet written to Mr [unclear: Epininette] – but
I see she has decided to give him one of the
Calendars she has made – She can’t tackle not
above yet – and her letter writing time is usually 2.30
after her own “rest” and when I’m just deep in mine –
at 3pm Tom takes them both for a walk.
All my love my own Darling One –
Your Ada
P.S. Did you mean I put the other snaps of yourself
in my letter to Darcey

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People mentioned

- Tom
- Mrs Metcalfe
- Gillian
- Perma
- Mr M
- W
- Meta
- Chris
- Glad Knight
- Grandma Chesterman
- Mary
- Davith
- Bullens
- Rickett
- Dexter
- Shannon
- Marrow
- May
- Anna
- Rybin
- Susan
- Michael
- Hazel
- Norris
- Pat
- Weir
- Player
- Chamberlain
- Nicholas [unclear: Levins]
- Mr [unclear: Epininette]
- Butler
- Clarice
- Darcey

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Topics

- family life
- christmas preparations
- children's education
- illness and recovery
- food scarcity
- wwii context
- adoption discussion
- personal reflections
- correspondence

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Hewer
- Levins
- Epininette
- weight

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Archivist notes

- The letter provides insight into wartime Christmas preparations and daily life in Cornwall, including food rationing and family dynamics. The sender's recovery from illness and the mention of a 'loan pamphlet' suggest a period of financial or resource management. The P.S. indicates that Darcey is a separate recipient of another letter, not the primary recipient of this one.

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