Letter About Children, Visitors, and Family News

Date: 1942-07-15
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rising Cottage, 7 Granville Tee, London
Original scan: 1942-07-15-ada-to-unknown-family-news.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes about the children's interactions and emotions, recent visitors, rationing, and plans for visits. She recounts two stories showing children's care for one another, discusses rations sent and received, and mentions a recent children's party. Ada also requests the recipient to visit, either alone or with children, and sends regards.

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Transcription

House filled in by coal found

Rising Cottage
7 Granville Tee
London July 15 - 42

My own darling One

Have not yet heard whether we may expect Anna & Sylvia (not my an tied) so I'll write a line now - although I spoke all the news yesterday -
Two little stories to show how much the children are to each other.

Playing in the beach with several other children - Suddenly I heard Gillian say "No she is not naughty - she is my little sister and she is not naughty at all!"
I looked up. A small boy was near Penny who did not look as tho she needed defend - but Gillian would not stand any criticism.

"Both children heartbroken because the Democrat had turned ready to go - I tried to comfort them by explaining that if I had to go to get some more coal for us - this completely satisfied Penny - but not Gillian who sobbed out "Penny the Democrat is going away." Penny climbed up on the bed very close beside Gillian & looked up into her face & and said once more "But Gillian it must go & fetch us more coal". They are so sweet to each other.
We had a grand time noted - it came in on Sunday - after a picnic tea & bathe - (unfortunately Penny's cold increased by bathe but Gillian's cough etc has quite gone at last)

I'm glad you liked Terry's chocolate. Mrs B gave me 4 pieces - I've sent two more in yesterday's parcel.
I thought it was in connection with the Radium [unclear] y might pay a visit to Plymouth -

My darling one please say if you want me to visit you this summer at all - either alone - or with the children. (Let Grace / Eleanor ?) could come with the children if it was during her 3 weeks hols -
She will not come & live with me till my visitors have gone but I already have her ration book - as her mother has 10 and of course can't afford to buy all these rations - Grace prefers marg & butter - so I put her ration in your parcel yesterday. Gallagher bought lots of rations too so I'm well set up.

Can you get tomatoes? I sent you a few.
My "staff" are working well - both love working for me. Grace is dying for the time when she lives in - and for when she is 14 and can is here all the time. Gallagher thinks she is a bright promising child.
Jean came & made pastry of Gallagher - I sent you some.
Are you coming for a weekend this autumn? After your operation; or before. I'm dying for you to see the new "flat" as we call it.
The top of stair cupboard shall be for your things - Chopel things etc - which you could arrange behind the green curtain when you come if you like - If not we could push the bed there when your desk is in its proper place - made up - so you could rest on it if you like - if you just pulled it out a bit -
Gallaghan seems very fit - and is being so kind & helpful. She is one of the "asset" visitors.
Oh I forgot to tell you about Anne Field's birthday. It was on Monday and they gave a party and our two went 3 pm & 6:30 pm

It rained all day - so it was just the right day for a party! Two young army chaps were there and they gave the children a glorious time - they did enjoy themselves.
We gave a pencil box and snakes & ladders which gave much satisfaction.

All my love my own darling one
I'll close this now but add a line if I get news of Mayo's children before I post it tomorrow -
Your own Ada -

[In red ink:] Things didn’t go as well w/ L at Vaffected their study and

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People mentioned

- Anna
- Sylvia
- Gillian
- Penny
- Grace
- Eleanor
- Gallaghan
- Terry
- Jean
- Anne Field
- Mayo's children

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Topics

- children
- family news
- visitors
- rations
- party
- health

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Granville Tee (could be 'Terrace' but reads as 'Tee')
- Democrat (might be a child's toy, pet, or nickname)
- Radium [unclear]
- Chopel (possibly chapel)
- Gallaghan (name involved several times, could be Gallagher or Gallaghan)

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Archivist notes

- Letter handwritten, dated July 15, 1942, from Ada.
- Sender 'Ada' is presumed from the letter closing; recipient name not stated.
- Letter describes family news, children’s relationships, ration parcels, and local visitors.
- Contains some ambiguous names and references that may be local or family-specific.
- Red ink note at letter end seems to refer to study affected by some issue, unclear.

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