Family news and updates from May 1942

Date: 1942-05-09
Sender: unknown
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, Granville Terrace, Bude Haven, Cornwall
Original scan: 1942-may-family-news-from-bude.pdf




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Summary

This 1942 letter from someone living in Cornwall provides updates on family members, especially Penna and Gillian, and their experiences including school life, birthdays, letters received, household routines, and gardening. It notes children growing up, the sender's busy week, and some reflections on happiness. The letter also discusses Chinese characters and a poem.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage,
Granville Terrace,
Bude Haven,
Cornwall.

May 9 - 1942.

My own darling One

I've three letters of yours to answer - one with Bath enclosures - one little note & a long letter - the latter full of interest - but I will not comment on it till I've given you our news - in case I have no time -

I've had a busy week - but I think the keynote of our life now is "happiness" - strange isn't it? - it seemed before to be frustration all round.

* Beginning at Penna - she is blissfully happy at being at last the much envied schoolgirl - and has "grown up" in a night - e.g. "Mummie I aint darling any more I'm schoolgirl" or "Mummie I aint dear any more I'm Movemma". She definitely wants to be called "Movemma" now. Don't you think we might? Then - well - more of her later - (there a big interruption on phone which looked a call to you wrong - hope to be speaking to you soon.) The parcel & letter to Penna also letter to Gillian came safely - a golden telegram from Mr. F. [Flav?] - & a letter for Daisy (with stamps) & her two Godmothers & certificates from one & parcel from the other (Chris) & everything gradually accumulated and piled up in by herself - she does not suggest opening any yet. Gillian has got her a money box which records the number of pennies (like a car does miles) and when they reach 36 the box automatically opens. She got it at the White Elephant -

I'll tell you about her birthday when it is over -

I'm continuing to drop in on any farm we pass and have a few more names of "possibles" - I'm quite certain it is a farm we want to go to when we take a little holiday - Also am enquiring for "help" - have some answers -

I'm getting on splendidly with the work. With about 2½ hours free of the children in the mornings just gives me to break the back of it. Of course this week was not normal - with getting started & unpacked & Movemma into school - and now her birthday and a whole pile of thank you letters to be written - but I think our routine when established will be very good. We have been sleeping till 7 a.m. all of us but as I don't attempt anything but dressing & breakfast & school first thing it is good to get the sleep.

6.30 a.m. Wake - two dresses
8 a.m. Breakfast (we've been 5 cups each more days.) etc. etc.
8:40 a.m. Start for school & be there 8:55 a.m.
On return journey I do shopping if any
20 minutes make beds & “do” bedrooms & bathrooms
this takes about 20 minutes altogether.
20 minutes Do my sitting room & nursery (unless kitchen done the night before as I have done something.)
Wash up, prepare dinners & lay it in the kitchen. So far I've been able to fix dinners so that it can cook itself
11:35 a.m. To school & fetch children by 11:50.
When we reach home I've generally one or two essential "jobs" prepared for each child that will keep them busy till I've done the final towels & dinner which we serve as soon as it is ready - usually about 12:45 -
1:15 p.m. Children to rest. I wash up & have a cup of tea & then a rest myself. Am usually ready for this by 2:30 p.m.
3:30 - Walk, Beach, picnics etc. according to weather.

I'm finding the Burgess' late high tea method rather good - at about 5:30 - then myself don't need any supper till a cup of cocoa at about 9 p.m.
Eggs are plentiful so we have one for tea - a sandwich else fairly substantial - but this is all an experiment - after tea children have bed, etc - and then my quiet every as usual.

Here your call - you sound tired - but I hope will feel better after a Sunday rest.

So you were interested in "Dora Burgess' correspondence in the Bratton Post - Well you get her at her best there - but typically herself in that. She is a critic every inch of her & itches to enter into any argumentative battle - Having been warned by you re the rather narrow mindedness possibly, of her group I just let her speak as much as she liked - and as she didn't wait for answers it was crazy - a silent audience was all she wanted - I agreed every now and then when I saw a chance but otherwise smiled over my seeming. She badly wants to write a book!! but her husband says it would cost too much - She'll burst if she

make enquiries. We have pointed good friends with Joan - but I feel it would be fatal to press or even ask her to stay - but she knows she may - as it were make a fresh application for this job!!

Now for your letter -

Thank you for the lovely snaps - What icey had - love yours we had icicles like that round some of the cliffs - I don't know whether we did this year - did not go out to see.

I'm so glad "Chinese Rose" is not hurt by the move - it is hardy and you may be developing the green finger. How sweet those snowdrops are. Our garden here is in full spring bloom - a "patch-work quilt" again.

Gillian was very pleased with the P.O. of 2/2. thanked you over the phone. I couldn't get her to write - she kept putting it off (I think she is a little tired of writing! - Mrs. Rogers & Miss Nice say she must be held back - so I didn't push it - I was glad she spoke to you.

On her "Coming day" she went round telling everybody about it - no one understood of course & discussions arose. Then she wanted to know when my "Coming day" was. It all led to a little further knowledge of her adoption.

I told her that I came to my mother on my birthday that my mother had to have me because there was no one else to choose from and I think she was quite glad to have a baby girl - but we chose Gillian - there were plenty (?) of others we might have had but of all of them we chose her because we wanted her so badly. That night she said her prayers & said "Oh dear God thank you so much for giving me to my mummy & Daddy & making me so happy - Amen -

Here you rang up - is this letter clear or muddled - I'm under the influence of the luminal now - it's first effect - I feel fresh & happy - no frayed nerves but no sleepy ness yet -

Thank you for the book of poems - that is very interesting about Marsham Church - I must tell Gillian about it - she will love & have a church specially her own - Penghill is Olaf - and the Burgess's nearly called their little boy Olaf but thought it would need too much explaining.

They say travel is dreadful - I guess I'm wise to stay put - thank you all the same for your invitations - I will write to Winnie from Penghill - I'm not keen either on the Bath idea - but will not discuss it at the moment but leave you

a success.

Your Chinese "welcome guest" was beautifully written and I read it before reading your letter and interpreted it "The Happy Coming Guest". It is rather the literary style - not simple Mandarin - is literally this:

1. 喜 Hei - Joy a happiness
2. 来 lai - come
3. 之 z tyu a connective with a possessive mean
4. 客 ke 'keo' guest.

might be interpreted thus in order to get the full meaning of the word 之 which is a word of the old literary style & full joy of 之 meaning "The guest belonging to (the category of) 喜 之 Happy or Joyous Coming" 喜 来

There I'm not forgotten all my Chinese - I'm no dictionary here.

* I see I began a theme of our happiness & started at Penna -

Here is Gillian - She is being my big daughter and allowed to do so much for me - messenger & all sorts of new jobs - even older messy the floors.

Joan - obviously finds her new job exciting in some ways - and a slow setter, got in others - & notty & do after 4 p.m. but dress up & go out on to the cinema.

Me - well I don't feel I'm keeping anyone away from a new job - and the quiet working at my work are in a way restful & satisfactcory and when I have the children in the afternoon I'm fresher for them.

Joan was terribly difficult to train - she wore me out.

This letter seems so long - I'll leave no room & tell you about Penna's birthday - so Goodnight my dear.

The rock garden here is a dream. Mrs. Rhebetta has a customer who says I'm the only gardener in Bude!

Monday a.m. Yesterday it rained all day.

Penna was thrilled with all her presents especially yours. Every bit of wrapping paper & wool she treasured but shared with Gillian - Then I let her write & stamp all her own thank you letters - and Daisy sent her a book of stamps with which she stamped the envelopes - What joy -

She had books, a bag - a wooden mattrien from me - She was the happiest little girl -

Mrs. Lloyd came & tea with Nyria. I'd got a 1/2 Chocolate cake on which we put the fairy and 3 candles. Gillian said it

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People mentioned

- Penna
- Gillian
- Movemma
- Daisy
- Winnie
- Joan
- Olaf
- Mrs. Rhebetta
- Mr. Burgess

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Topics

- family news
- children
- birthdays
- daily routine
- school
- letters
- Chinese language
- gardening
- jobs
- happiness

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Bath enclosures
- Mr. F. Flav?
- Movemma
- Mrs. Rhebetta
- Nyria
- mattrien

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated May 9, 1942 from Cornwall location.
- Discusses family members Penna, Gillian, Movemma, Daisy, Joan; mentions others such as Winnie, Olaf, Burgess family.
- References to daily routines, children starting school, birthdays, and household duties.
- Contains Chinese characters and a poem interpretation.
- Some words unclear or contextually uncertain but mostly transcribed faithfully.
- Letter is apparently a long response updating on family events and reflections on happiness.

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