Letter Discussing Family Health and Visit

Date: 1942-08
Sender: unknown
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Greenhill Terrace, Bude, Cornwall
Original scan: 1942-aug-letter-family-health-visit.pdf




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Summary

The letter discusses a recent family visit, health concerns of the children (including chickenpox and a cold), and house care. It describes caregiving arrangements for the children and talks about the children's personalities and needs. The writer mentions the help of Mrs. Tapes with housework, the nervousness about potential bombings, and plans for childcare and education.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage
Greenhill Terrace
Bude
Cornwall

Aug 2 1942.

My own darling Olive -

It was good to hear your voice last night. How I wish you could have been with us when Winnie & Sam were here - Hope you will have a good time talking it all over with her.

I. For me personally the usual routine of health - or rather unhealth - took place that happens when you come -
I. Preparation of the event.
With Mrs. Tapes care of the house always I hope this will be easier in future although this time the alteration to the house rather increased the pressure - and I’m afraid the painting of same will increase it again before your next visit.

II. The event - i.e. your coming on in this case Winnie’s - followed by rather restless enjoyment of the sea. You see the first time W. came - she arrived at 5 pm by bus & we all flew down to the sea - I did not realise how much colder it was there than up here & Gillian stripped down with just coat & cardigan & paddled as high as she could. W did Winnie little no harm but sent Gillian right back - even ran a temperature & had to have Dr. Morgan - Penna’s cold has never quite cleared up & we discovered spots on her - she may have had chickenpox I. M. thinks (Caught it I suppose when staying with Nyrien) so G. may be in for that too. Both children are much better & too full of spirits & be treated in any way as invalids - and Gillian has cut a huge molar top right - & lower right gum swell.

III in the sequence is generally you get ill - but that not happened this time.

IV. Me. Well I was swaying & feeling rotten all yesterday - but as Grace was here all day she took the children off my hands and I rested for hours on my bed - twice unpinion -
Grace is a nice child - has two priceless gifts - strong mother instinct & imagination. The children are always happy with her - no squealing & none of that sort of hysterical roar Gillian used & get with Joan. They had a dolls tea party yesterday - and sure enough Grace had a doll on her knee too -

I enclose Grace’s school report -
She told me off her own bat that she loved best the folk - “And did those feet in ancient times” and “When I survey” and “And didst thou love the race that loved not thee” -
A slight difference & Joan’s favourite i.e. the popular jolly hymns -
Her family have risen to the occasion and given her new slippers & shoes and tooth brush, paste, etc etc - so it is all very exciting - But her imagination at night is a bit of a problem -
She has never slept alone in her life and is afraid of that room upstairs - The first night came bursting into my room midnight - so I took Gillian in with me & let her sleep in G’s room - Actually she was still alone and I can hear a yare above me better than in G’s room - next night we let her have Penna’s big teddy bear & a cat. I had promised to open her door when I came to bed and so I heard Mickey jump on to the floor & did so & peeped at Grace who was sound asleep cuddling the Teddy bear. However at midnight she was down again - Did not like the sound of the cistern - also admitted being afraid of the loft behind those doors - I tended to the cistern (raised the ball) and showed her all over the loft with a torch light & how the doors locked on her side anyway etc - and gone her Minnie - and shoved her bear & toys on the floor for me - Well she went back to bed & slept still wakened this a.m.
Today I must let her help me clear out some of the loft things so ordered & so get familiar with it. But I’ve persuaded & let Gillian sleep up there on the settee for a night or two. We are nervous about Penna & the windows so she can even take down blockout bands. I hope for goodness sake no convoy will be bombed! Gallaghaw lay in bed & watched this happening last night -
Mrs Headon has so entrusted Grace to me that she wants me to tell her about “periods” etc when I think I should. She will be 13 next Friday - You see she is more use than Joan in that - she is much better with children - she is more co-operative & “bridable” as the Scotch say - and very much easier & teach - has more imagination & grey matter and is already very attracted & all of us having known us from the start. Being only a child I can & did examine her head after she washed it, or do anything in that nature without causing offence and I can influence her along with Gillian - Bible stories etc together - But of course she cannot do the work Joan did even when not at school - has not yet the physical size or strength - but Mrs. Tape will do all the heavy clearing the few days she is here. She is settling in splendidly - so happy & smiling & quiet - but steadily extendting her sphere of work i.e. not only does the Verandah & greenhouse when clearing my room but also sweeps all the front garden - Brushes & windows shine She has found a woman to do my big laundry at Markham Church - and herself does a little bit of laundry here when I want her to. There, that is a lot about our domestic arrangements -
I’ll pay her dinner at school 4d & her buses & station - As she becomes older - i.e. say next year when she leaves school & comes to me to work - I’ll give her a wage & less clothes & guiding her how to clothe herself - I’ll teach her to sew - she has already learned to use a machine at school -
You are right about Morwenna gradually defending Gillian and taking care of her - I’m so glad she shows those tendencies and will take my place in time - but I’d like to train someone like Grace & take care of you all domestically & so release both you & the girls of all that sort of trouble -
Now for Winnie’s visit. A great success - They spent a lot of the last day here looking for a place for next year. They favoured Crackleton’s.
Winnie & I always enjoy each other - Clement, Heather, & Anna & Sylvia made the next group and then the four little ones & Grace when she was with us - Gillian still admires Michael, but was off colours herself & he was rather absorbed in toys & off

However she had Michael & him in her room where she enjoyed her books etc & called her “Jilly” Hayel was sweet with Penna who spoke of her as “The girl that speaks to me.” Morwenna herself fell completely for Clement. Spoke of him as “Clem, you know, that other Daddy.” They will tell you what they thought of Bude. Anna & Sylvia reminded me very much of May & Chris. Anna slept outside an the rest awhile & Sylvia upstairs -
Thank you for your Wed letter
I’m trying to relieve G. of any sense of responsibility for Morwenna - and to this end I’ll certainly not let them go to school alone yet - a G. would again be responsible for something much too big for her. I let G. go almost anywhere alone - she does much shopping for me. The latest was to get a Chamber of Laurence room. She went to two or three places without the slightest embarrassment and finally brought a huge one in an enormous fish basket lent her for the purpose. She nearly always changes my librarian

and discusses the choice of books with the librarian much & her delight. The Rositer & owning the land. So many are like that. They can never give to another’s work or property what they’d give to their own.
My love & Daisy when she is with you. I’ll try and make a parcel that will be helpful for her visit.
Now don’t forget there is extra sugar ration for how long I don’t know - be sure & take it - also the tin of dried eggs you are allowed on your old book.
Glad you enjoyed Evans visit
Now my darl are - I’ll take this to post. Grace is going home & tea as a sister from London is here for the weekend. Her “off duty” is to be when she or her mother want her - but her mother says there is so much to do at home that it is far more fun for her to be here all the time.
Well my darl are - this is rather a “Grace” letter - but her advent should relieve me & give you more attention & has in fact given me time to write a all this. All love

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People mentioned

- Winnie
- Sam
- Gillian
- Penna
- Grace
- Joan
- M. Tapes
- Michael
- Clement
- Heather
- Anna
- Sylvia
- Daisy
- Hayel

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Topics

- family visit
- health issues
- children
- house alterations
- school
- childcare

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Tapes
- Gillian
- Morwenna
- Gallaghaw
- Hayel
- Rositer
- Crackleton’s

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated August 1942, location noted as Rosemary Cottage, Greenhill Terrace, Bude, Cornwall.
- Discusses health issues including chickenpox and colds among children.
- Mentions several family members and carers, including Mrs. Tapes and Grace.
- Describes children's personalities, fears, and school attendance.
- References wartime concerns such as bombings and rationing.
- Handwriting is mostly clear with a few uncertain proper names and places.

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