Letter from Lutsan Farm about family and farm life

Date: 1943-04-29
Sender: unknown
Recipient: unknown
Location: Lutsan Farm, Autcombe, Holsworthy
Original scan: 1943-04-29-letter-from-lutsan-farm.pdf




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Summary

The letter describes recent weather at Lutsan Farm, family activities, threshing on the farm, illness of Penna, and logistics about help with household duties. It mentions visits and challenges with mice on the farm, and reflects positively on the large number of eggs from the farm.

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Transcription

at Lutsan Farm
Autcombe
Holsworthy -
April 29th 1943

My own darling Ane
Yesterday your little note and today your lovely long letter to answer - I shall begin this now but post on Sat from Bude.
Weather is still poor, but a minute ago the sun actually "broke the skies" as Penna says for about ½ a minute - That is the first sign of clearing - but the sky is still thick with cloud. We dress in mackintoshes and long boots all the time and Gillian says that there couldn't possibly be a more wonderful place than this. So all is well.
Today June Mackintosh and Yola her friend, both of St Catherines cycled over from Bude. At the moment they are exploring the farm with our two who are delighted & have two big girls, & the big girls seem pleased with them too.
Did I tell you about the threshing? There was a huge rick of oats to be threshed and a great threshing machine came - also some more men. Mrs Storey had 10 men to feed that day. We all entered into the spirit of the thing and when Nellie took a huge tray of eatables along at 11 am. The children took the cups & I took a huge can of tea which we doled out. In spite of the cold wind & the dust from the threshing machine the children spent the whole of the day in that field thoroughly enjoying themselves. Penna got a chill on the stomach tho & spent the next day in bed and took nothing but water - which she couldn’t keep down - till tea time when she ate a couple of slices of toast and today is completely recovered.
Gillian however spent the day on the farm with the men threshing - with the cows being milked and collecting eggs. She unfortunately saw a man deliberately kill a little which she wanted to keep. Hence her letter to you asking for a white mouse. This morning we went over the threshing field and it is literally covered with dead rats of all ages and a few dead mice - so her only comfort is in the hope of a little white mouse of her own.
I quite enjoyed a quiet day with Penna and as I had plenty of needlework to do I was able to occupy myself and amuse her when she wasn’t asleep. This place is grand even in the rain - but too much damp brings on my rheumatism and after all it is actual physical rest I’ve been needing.
Yes it is wonderful to see so many eggs all at once - and we’ve eaten more already than we had eaten for a year I should think. They are so huge that the children simply can’t eat a whole one at a time. But the goose’s egg fairly took one’s breath away - it was huge.

I don’t know quite what we are going home to - read Mrs Davis’ letter which I had a few days ago - also Mrs Petrins very nice one but which shows her hands will be far too full to help me at all. Perhaps after the rest Mrs Tape has had she may be able to come to me at any rate while you are here occasionally. Her sister-in-law Mrs Brent might give me a little help. By the way Mrs Mackintosh thought she had got a new maid a little girl from Panghill age 14 just left school. She agreed to give her £1 a week & even such long holidays as no work & do when boys are away from College. She came of 3 days only & then just didn’t turn up. So I’m wondering if there is any help at all to be had.
Pamela Stevens will be 14 next Nov 9 - Do you think she'd come to me when she leaves school? She is a dear little girl and I have a soft spot in my heart for her and

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People mentioned

- June Mackintosh
- Gillian
- Penna
- Nellie
- Mrs Storey
- Mrs Brent
- Pamela Stevens
- Mrs Davis
- Mrs Petrins
- Mrs Tape

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Topics

- weather
- family
- farm life
- threshing
- children
- maid
- eggs

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Lutsan
- Autcombe
- Penna
- Nellie
- Mrs Storey
- Mrs Brent
- Mrs Petrins
- Mrs Tape
- Panghill

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated April 29, 1943 from Lutsan Farm, Holsworthy area.
- Mentions several people by first name or title; family and farm-related activities described.
- Describes farm threshing event and associated hardships.
- Mentions medical condition possibly related to rheumatism and physical rest.
- Last page ends mid-sentence; transcription complete as far as text shows.

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