Ada's Letter from Bude Haven, May 1942

Date: 1942-05-03
Sender: Ada
Recipient: Darling One
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1942-05-03-ada-to-darling-one-bude-news.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes from Rosemary Cottage in Bude Haven, Cornwall, on May 3, 1942, to her 'Darling One.' She describes daily life, including a planned walk, a trip to the bank and Boots, and the children's (Gillian, Joan, Penna) entertainment. She expresses concern for the health of Mrs. M and Margaret, mentions Gallagher's family illness, and discusses the challenges of wartime, such as shoe coupons and food scarcity (rabbits, sausages). Ada reflects on her own health and morale, noting an improvement after a period of rest, and looks forward to the recipient's visit to Bude. She also mentions seeing the eclipse and sends her love.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.

May 3 - 1942
11 a.m.

My own Darling One
I'm sipping the very last drop of my Winegavis
and enjoying your letter which came first post.
W is good & I hear a little of your news.
W is trying to rain - the wild. I plan to take my
first little walk if it clears up - W will only
be to the Bank to get some money & to Boots
to get some [unclear: hipayrup]. or then if I feel like it
along by the river, or anywhere that it is nice
- The prayer book was a beauty. Yes there is a
lovely one upstairs too - just the sort I like
but this one are Gillians so. Small enough to take
to Church easily. The red areas you I got are
now rather beyond my eyes - I think at the
time we got them they were the best in the shop
- any [unclear: further] worry about we - I can always use
the upstairs one. When weather is a little better
I shall take Gillian to Church or [unclear: Rudy] with
me -
Yes, the entertainment certainly put new
ideas into both Children. Gillian fixed up
her nursery for a show to which Joan
& I were invited. Then she & Penna
did nursery Rhymes & dances & us. W

was Gillians idea but she was a trifle
overcome by shyness when she actually
started doing the nursery Rhymes. But
Joan & I were very appreciative & that
helped her & once when she was doing
little Jack Horner - was just getting a
little shy about it Penna rushed to
her rescue & without the slightest hesitation
or shyness said "He stuck in his thumb
& pulled out a plum & said What a good
boy I am!!!" with appropriate actions -
Gillian joined with no in a roar of
laughter & then was not shy herself again.
Yes, your daughter Penna is fast
leaving babyhood - and a charming little
girl she is going to be. Yes she is old
in her capacity of Consideration - older
than either Gillian or Joan -
Yes I noticed the Signal in the Bude
paper - hope it will get up on board so
- it may have done - but I don't seem
to have been out all winter (I have once or
twice & got [unclear: masquillen]) but I've worn out

indoor slippers & my outdoor shoes have
scarcely been on me all winter - seven
Coupons!!
What a busy week you have had - I'm glad it
included a dinner out & Burgundy.
Hope Russ's plans came off. You folks seem
to be going ahead in spite of the war.
Shall think of you & your paper on Wed.
If I ring up it will be tonight or Friday.
Glad you had a spot of Sunshine - We
have been short again!
Did you see the Eclipse of the Moon? I
did not - sorry to say. but I saw
a total eclipse when I was about 9 years
old & shall never forget it.
Later - Just had your Call. W is good to hear
your voice. Now at [unclear: Carture] and Conversation
Gallagher has had a pretty rough time lately
- all her family have been ill off or on but
she remarks in her letter "I only wish I
could come & help you get & give you a proper rest
I think we have all had enough of this long
winter". Now does that mean to suggest
that she is not free to come - or that she'd love
to come not only for my sake but in order to
get a bit of Bude springtime" - Well I'll
ask her. As far as you are concerned

I'm so keen on Bude in early summer
- May or June that I'd sacrifice an Easter
holiday - which is still rather cold if it meant
a longer holiday a little later - The only thing
I fear - is that anything should stop your coming
altogether - the promised "Spring Offensive".
Anyway I'll send Gallagher a little note
inviting her to come between now & Easter
say within the next 5 weeks - It would be an
absolute change for her and she also feels
at home & happy with me.
You will see by Chrissie's letter she feels
a bit tied to Dollie - but in my letter to
her which I wrote today I did ask if
there was any chance of them having a
holiday soon & said there's always a place
for her. There & the Dal Car is still going strong.
By the way you still have not remarked
on "Perocalcin" for colds which Chris has
mentioned in her letters - is it any good?
Metcalfe family is rather in the soup. Let the
news out - Mrs M is down with what the nurse
who visits Margaret says is lumbago - She won't
have a doctor - but I between you & me I'm
pretty sure it is [unclear: Savett] much more serious
than that. She looks really ill to me - has

been getting thinner all the winter. You remember
she was X-rayed last year - result negative -
- well - I'm suspicious -
Poor Margaret looks pasty & drawn - her time is
near now - I called on them this morning
and they gave me 3 really new laid eggs.
Dolly looks fine in her postman's uniform.
Well, I've said if the baby starts coming in the
day time they or Joan can bring Julia here
if that baby comes before Mrs M. is better. They will
be rather in the soup. I should only have
Julia for the actual birth day - and if the day
was fine I'd send Joan out with the two of
them and have peace & quiet even if I had
to get dinner.
I'll ring you up Friday night & hear how you
got on with your paper -
I'm glad you got some sausages every week. I
did try for them, we did not care for the last
lot we had. We often get a rabbit which we
cook in the pyrex dish - it lasts us 2 days or the
cats get the head etc - so it suits us well. The
other day when I was treating I sent Joan &
forage - She got a very nice sheeps head
which she cooked beautifully - We did do
badly at all [unclear: for a] well!!
I enjoyed a [unclear: walk] and this am with Penna.

We only went to the Bank - Metcalfes and P.O.
& back - and I did ache after it - & Penna had
a real "Gillian sort of Cry" after it - but the Chinese
fond (2d day) set us up & we both had a long
day sleep & I feel ever so much better now. As
a matter of fact I feel my morale is better
now than it has been since that lovely
surprising trail you paid us - was it in Sep or Oct?
When I first started to rest - I kept falling asleep
- a dozen or more times a day - so I think
my mind has had a chance to rest as well
as my body, and when I've got back my physical
strength I'll find my mind very refreshed.
So don't you worry any more - I feel very much
more fit now & free whatever we may have to
face this spring & summer - the line still got
to get my strength up. I've got an appetite
today for the first time.
There this isn't such a long letter - I'll
pack up a parcel to you tomorrow.
So glad you saw the eclipse -
All my love -
You are Ada -

"Look back & give thanks - look forward & take
Courage" - so says my Calendar -

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People mentioned

- Gillian
- Joan
- Penna
- Russ
- Gallagher
- Chrissie
- Dollie
- Julia
- Mrs M
- Margaret
- Metcalfes

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Topics

- family life
- children's activities
- health concerns
- wartime rationing
- food scarcity
- local news
- personal well-being
- moon eclipse
- travel plans

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Uncertain words / phrases

- hipayrup
- further
- Rudy
- masquillen
- Carture
- Savett
- for a
- walk

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Archivist notes

- The letter provides a snapshot of domestic life in wartime Cornwall, highlighting the impact of rationing (shoe coupons, food) and the resilience of families.
- The sender, Ada, expresses concern for the health of several individuals, possibly indicating the strain of the period.
- The mention of "Spring Offensive" and the "Bude paper" grounds the letter in its historical and local context.
- The abbreviation "2d day" is used for "second day."
- The initial 'W' is used ambiguously, sometimes referring to the recipient and other times to the weather.

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