Family News and Daily Life from Bude

Date: 1943-02-07
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, 7 Granville Terrace, Bude
Original scan: 1943-02-07-ada-to-unknown-family-news.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes from Rosemary Cottage in Bude in February 1943, describing repairs to the road, visits and dinners with neighbors, children’s activities, Mabel’s strike at work, family letters, and a walk gathering wild flowers. She comments on the weather, the war situation, and expresses gladness at the recipient’s improving health.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage
7 Granville Tce
Bude -
Feb 7 - 1943

My own dear One -
It was good to hear your voice last night but too bad we were cut off in the middle of our talk.
One or two little items of interest I keep forgetting -
1. The road - Belle Vue has been repaired. The machinery was there four days. Penna went crazy with delight. Used to get permission from me to watch it - then she'd go to the pavement exactly opposite it & stand for hours just talking softly to it as Gillian did to the Caffonile.
2. Jean like turned up one dinner time when we were having pasties for dinner (Pasties are like big pies, ashes airly steamed!) She loved them. She and her husband now live at Morwenstow with the Okes.
3. Mrs Shannon (who lives next door & the Clerk and is Gillian's friend) came in the other day just as we were having our Mabels half day - We were make toast over my fire. She joined us & thoroughly enjoyed. I find she is letting her house & living in Stratton - she hates it there. She is keeping part of her house & comes in from Stratton & they feed in the cafe. So I invited her to dinner next day. We had our joint - She did enjoy her dinner & the children. It was a treat to us to have company.
4. Did I tell you about my strike? Mabel's work was getting so slack again that I said I'd strike and not bother about dinner. She could get herself a pasty and the children & I went to a cafe - Did I tell you this. Mabel wns to spend the extra time cleaning her kitchen. She has both a sense of humor & a sense of justice. So quite saw the point of my action & thoroughly enjoyed her morning cleaning the kitchen & eating her pasty. But this is the funny bit. At the cafe we shall had 3 sardines on toast & potato chips & a cup of cocoa each. The children were thrilled. The next morning Penna said, referring to our "snack at the Cornish cafe", "Mummie, last night we did have a lovely dinner at the Granville Hotel."
5. I'll enclose Daisy's letter re Gillian's birthday present. The book has come. The illustrations, which are many, are charming.
6. At last the hat belonging to Gillian's Coat has come. There, I think those are all the little items I keep forgetting. It is a glorious day - Mabels "d-day off" - I've got a casserole dinner so shall put it & everything else in the oven & take the children for a walk along the canal ---
Later - 5 p.m. We went that walk - as far as Hole Bridge & round by the road home.
The children each gathered a bunch of wild flowers. Daisy, dandelion, primrose, violets, wild geranium, wild strawberry, purple dead nettle, pink campion, pussy willow etc.
Now we have just had tea in the garden for the first time this year. The thermometer there registering 65 deg at 4.30 p.m - 60 now. There is quite a cold N.E wind but on our verandah that does not touch us - and the sun has been grand. I believe there is a comet visible to the naked eye somewhere near the Great Bear. I must look out for it.
We have had two or two sirens lately - but nothing more.
Home Guard are in charge of us now - all the soldiers have left - including Mabel's "Boat tail" who gets leave in April some time. I've discovered he is only 19 so it is a boy & girl love affair - and if it lasts may be all right. She has shown him to her parents and they like him. Mabel is more an "at home" bird now - comes home early even on her half day.
A letter came from him yesterday morning & Mabel stayed in during her "off duty" time & wrote him sheets & sheets with a sunshine smile on her face!!!! She was sharing my fire. Perhaps their friendship & him will keep him safe. Her sister Winnie has a job at the College where John works. I suppose boys aren't so particular about the cleanliness of their rooms etc. I'm sorry Winnie is there as she has to live at home & sees more of Mabel. However she will soon join the W.R.N.S.
Now I'm going to close and let Gillian take this to the post & catch the 6.13 m - then I'll give them a bath which they need badly as they played Red Indians this morning and painted their faces, legs, hands etc and are a sight.
So glad you are better and hope that sero calcin will give you the same resistance it seems to have given us.
All my love my own precious one.
Your Ada.

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People mentioned

- Penna
- Jean
- Mrs Shannon
- Mabel
- Gillian
- Daisy
- Winnie
- John
- Mabel's 'Boat tail' (possibly a nickname or reference)

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Topics

- family news
- daily life
- war time
- children
- garden
- meal
- weather
- local walk
- work
- strike
- letter delivery
- hat delivery

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Caffonile
- ashes airly steamed
- Mabels 'Boat tail'
- sero calcin

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Archivist notes

- Letter handwritten by Ada from Rosemary Cottage, Bude, dated Feb 7, 1943.
- Mentions local family members and neighbors including Mabel, Jean, Penna, Mrs Shannon, and others.
- References wartime context: Home Guard, soldiers leaving, and sirens.
- Describes daily life: meals, children’s activities, cleaning, walks, weather, and family correspondence.
- Some words difficult to decipher but context provides meaning (e.g. 'Caffonile' likely a place or object name).
- 'Sero calcin' possibly a medicine or treatment relevant to the recipient's health.

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