Letter from Ada about family health and daily life

Date: 1942-01-24 to 1942-01-25
Sender: Ada
Recipient: Denise
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1942-ada-letter-to-denise-family-health-news.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes to Denise apologising for not visiting due to illness and reports on the family's health, especially children and friends. She describes the use of serocalcin medicine and shares news about children's activities, including playing at home and making toys. Ada mentions knitting and sewing projects, updates on family members including Mabel and Winnie, and expresses love and care for Denise.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall.
Jan 24th - 1942.

My own Dearest One,

I've been vaguely uneasy about you all the week - but imagined it was because of the planes coming over S. E. England. Oh my darling I am so sorry and I want to come straight to you when you are ill - tho' I'm afraid if I attempted it I might only add to our problems.*
Well I'm glad you are going to try serocalcin. I think it has been most helpful to us here especially Gillian and tho' I've been dreadfully under the weather the last 10 days I'm picking up at once now I'm taking the serocalcin & I hope it will set me up. I had the muscular pains too - mostly in my back - buttocks and shoulders. In fact all day today they were so bad that I had a hot bath & did not take the evening serocalcin but two Empirin instead - and I'm even so much better - in fact feel almost well today - a glorious sunny day. You have all my sympathy & if there is anything I can do for you please let me know. I got a bottle of rosehip syrup that you told me to go into my next parcel. I do hope Mrs Stevens is keeping well and taking care of you.

I've given you our news over the phone. This week I've let Mabel put the children to bed most nights. It has given me a rest and they have come down to me & have their hair done. This afternoon I let them have a tea party while I went & changed my library book. I met Mrs Russell & Jean & we let Jean join Mabel & our two & tea & Mrs R. I went across to the Violet Tea Rooms. We had a nice tea, daintily served and a nice chat. The governor is proving a great help. Jean is a nervous sensitive child, a little difficult to understand and has taken a great dislike to school.

On Mabel's half day the children were sweet with me - we all made tinsel at the fire for an hour. At last I tackled their two stick “horses” - I've put heads on them - one of an old baby mitten with thumb for one ear & the addition of another - and one of a sock with two felt ears on the other. They look like this, and are the admiration & envy of all the children & a great joy to whoever is permitted a ride – I told you about the Rolledscape & the rapture it causes. It is her “greatest treasure” she says. She is taking great care of it.

Sunday Jan 25- 11 a.m. The children have gone out for a walk with Mabel who has set the table & left me at the salad to make & potatoes to cook. They’ve taken doll prams & a horse - it is a glorious summer day. I’ve just made up a tiny parcel of serocalcin for you - put it in an old tiny serocalcin bottle - I've put in 24 tablets from my new bottle of 60 which taken over 30 days makes the prophylactic course. If you’ve already got yourself a bottle and need it all - that is O.K. I will get another 60 tab bottle & take out 24 tabs for you and send you the rest to try. I've got it & sent it straight away in case you have no one to send it & it gets delayed. It is a simple matter of me & get as both Farmers & Dent have plenty & sell plenty - I think it is a good thing. I'll send the rest of the serocalcin in your weekly parcel.

Penna was playing alone in the nursery and made this arrangement with chairs & black out boards. She did not know what she was making - but Gillian was thrilled with it and it did look exciting. More & more they will have great times together. At last I've covered the two nursery mattresses - one orange - one green. They look very nice.

Grace turned up invited & got a walk with the children - Must tell them & meet her from church next Sunday.

I'm sending some enclosures - more names - I got another body. I use them on the children's things as well as yours. Letters from Gillian, nice letter from Nat Georg Security & the serocalcin book in case you want to rely on it before starting your course.

Got a nice little piece of material this colour to make a skirt for Gillian. I'll put a few pleats in it but it is too thick to take many. It goes with the jersey of the boys suit that May (Spears) made Penna Xmas 1941. I'll unpick the trousers & enlarge it for Gillian - this will only mean knitting new sleeves & yoke - see picture. The shaded part is what I will have to knit - but of course it will all be the same colour when finished. It is a pretty blue & triple paler than her school coat and will be a change for the second half of the term - Penna can wear the pink.

I feel so sorry when I remember that I altogether forgot to bind your coat sleeves. Wouldn't Hilda want to do it for you? Perhaps I could find some braid to do it with if she has not - It wouldn't take her long - Old Drummond Potsman also had the sleeves of his old coats bound - he just loved old clothes. He once said to me that on his tombstone you could write "He loved old clothes & children" something like you.

These darling are - this is just a little bit of home chatter. Now I'll take it to the post & go over Summerlease and think of you - I'll ring you up tonight.

All my love my precious one - Take the greatest care you can of yourself for all our sakes.

How high did your temperature go? Is it quite down now?

Yours own - Ada

The primrose is fun and golden - There is a lovely white & [unclear: arendla] today.


Can't remember what I sent you in the last parcel - but the bacon was less - let Mrs Stevens get yours on Sat if you haven't already got it for Ladds. I sent you a bottle of rosehip syrup - seem to be plenty about now - I also sent you some iodied tablets (put them in an old loginge box - takes no notice of name or lid - name of tablets is on the bag inside). I sent you blackcurrent jam & a super drink if your throat is bad any time.

I'll send you another Cauliflower if it travels so well.

I talked to “Grandpa” about Browning - we quoted him to each other - He must have some sort of a soul & be able to understand and appreciate Browning!

The Mabel problem seems to be working out O.K.! Grace vexed her more in. Penna lent her two dolls - Gillian filled her vase with snowdrops & violets - I put her a new cake of scented soap & saw her bed was warm etc - (with a gas blanket extra!) So she felt rather like coming home.

What Mabel is chuckling about (and I am too secretly) is that Winnie, the sister who has been leading her astray, has got the sack for coming home late. So we all feel a little vindicated. Mabel has also broken with her friend Veronica.

Mrs Patrick called yesterday. She could scarcely believe Mabel was the same girl she had so improved and had such nice manners. I told Mabel this to encourage her. Thank you for your guidance in this.

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People mentioned

- Denise
- Gillian
- Mabel
- Jean
- Mrs. Russell
- Mrs. Stevens
- Winnie
- Veronica
- Mrs. Patrick
- Penna
- Old Drummond Potsman
- Nat Georg

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Topics

- family health
- serocalcin medicine
- children's activities
- daily life
- making clothes
- communication
- caregiving

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Uncertain words / phrases

- arendla
- Rolledscape

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated January 24 and 25, 1942, from Ada to Denise from Cornwall.
- Mentions use of serocalcin medicine and physical ailments including muscular pains.
- Describes children's activities, homemade toys (stick horses), and social visits.
- Includes sketches of toys and clothing designs.
- References to family and community members with some unclear names.
- Handwritten text is generally legible with minor unclear phrases noted.

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