Letter from Ada about family, needlework, and daily life

Date: 1943-02-13
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown
Location: Rosemary Cottage, 7 Granville Tee, Bude
Original scan: 1943-ada-to-unknown-family-letter.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes a detailed letter discussing her needlework projects for family members, expressing mixed feelings about the materials and garments. She describes recent daily activities, care of children, health issues, and disruptions in household comforts like electricity. She references Valentine's Day and a variety of family members, offering help and asking questions about the recipient's wellbeing and routine.

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Transcription

Rosemary Cottage
7 Granville Tee
Bude -
Feb 13th - 1943.

My own Darling One

I shall begin this letter now as there is absolute peace and quiet at the moment.
Gillian has gone to school - Mabel to do my marketing and Penna has the cooking utensils (dolls ones) & a few biscuits & raisins and is having the time of her life in the nursery.
Hope you had a good day in London yesterday - shall look forward to our telephone chat tonight or tomorrow a.m.
This week for me has been a needlework one - I've nearly finished Gillian's blue jumper (made from wool - marked & sketched of the “Bay suit”). Mary Stear made Penna the year before last! The skirt of this won't take long. When made she shall wear it a little with the blue coat and hat and it will be a little change from the endless “Navy” - Penna is wearing the little bright red jumper as she had got tired of the navy. Soon she shall wear her pink woolen set & pink coat & hat.
Now I'll confess. I loathe Gillian's blue coat. Neither the material nor the cut are what the girls had when I ordered it. I was shown the new wartime material & told that wartime regulations did not allow the deep hems they used to have. I doubt if I would have ordered it had I seen what it would be! However I had no time to make a coat and it has tided me over the cold winter when she has at least been snug & warm & she has been known that I was not delighted with it. It is miles too big so will be O.K. next winter.
It was Gallaghan who did the ordering - but I also asked her to send some material patterns in case I decided to make the coat instead of buy it. Among them was some green material exactly the colour of Gillian green skirt & jersey. I got 1½ yds of this for about 15/-. Now I'm tackling this for the spring. For less than 10/- I've got lining, buttons, cotton etc and I'll make the smartest little coat for her in which she'll look our little Gillian again. Miss Ricketts says the old blue thing robbed her of her personality!
I'll enclose pattern & material. I couldn't get twist of the buttonholes but got some embroidery silk. I've got enough material now to make a little skull cap which seems to be the latest fashion as I might have enough wool to knit a little “tammy” like the picture in the pattern - Please return this pattern envelope as I keep the pattern -
If you remember the jersey of the green was a clumsy silly shape - Actually it was the first jersey I’ve knitted from a pattern - and is hideous. I dared not unpick it as it takes so long to knit and I might not get it done in time. I found a little fawn jersey, not very expensive or not very good, being machine made, but quite good enough in wartime. It goes nicely with the green skirt - a contrast. Having this, I will now dare to unpick the green jersey which also has green knitted knickers. As I have other green knickers I can unpick the knitted areas too. When washed and stretched this will provide me with enough wool to make a better jersey & a woollen beret or tammy. (These may not be done in time for the spring - but will eye in in the Autumn 4 weeks)
There that is my programme of needlework for the next few weeks. The pretty little grey, yellow frock that she sawing her Carol in will also go nicely with the green coat.
How colours now are - Blue for Winter, green for Spring and yellow for Summer - With a few extra summer colours thrown in.
Penna's colours are Navy or Brown for winter Pink or blue for Spring - and yellow for Summer with a few extra colours thrown in.
These have isn't that fun? Last winter you remember all my needlework was upset - nor was I well enough to catch up in the summer. I'm still a little behind - but will catch up all right if we all keep well.
I'll have to make Gillian a very light summer coat and shorten her yellow one of Penna.
Interruption - The electric man has come to fix the electric bell in Mabel's room. Yes I'm having an electric bell put from my bed & Mabel's room - This is really a great need and would have made all the difference to me when we had Joom. Only twice has Mabel gone to sleep again after her alarm has sounded - but if that happens I have to get up & call her. It really does make all the difference if I can get the warm tea in before I get out of bed - I suppose it is the remains of the rheumatism but in the a.m. I'm cold & stiff when I wake & my pyjamas feel clammy & damp - The contrast with the cold air then is very trying. When I've warmed up and had the luxury of a warm bath I'm a different person. By the way Mabel is steadily improving - especially with the fires so that I have been able to have a moving bath lately. But to go back to the bell. The actual bell will be in that sort of box place where the ship stands - i.e. not actually in the room you see - but near enough to wake the deepest slumberers. The bell plush by my bed.
This also saves me some anxiety when sirens go. It will be quite enough, if necessary, to collect the Children & take them downstairs without walking & calling the maids. I'll arrange a signal which will say "Come down, I'm taking the children down stairs" - and perhaps one which will say “Abandon ship”. which will mean get out by the best means you can - i.e. she could easily get out of the window on to Petrins roof et cetera etc etc. Any way I like to be able to communicate with her without going upstairs from actually downstairs of course we have the little telephone you fixed so conveniently -
Weather has been pretty wild again all the week with bright intervals - Today is grand and the glass going up - so we'll plan a “do” & Stratton this afternoon if it keeps nice.
There, darling, Penna is getting restless & Mabel needs me & Gillian will soon be back so I'll leave this to finish later.
3:30 p.m. - I took the children for a walk. Garden rollers street & Penna with her pushing dog. We found the skin of some sea bird - smaller than a seagull - The primaries of one wing were gone - but the other still whole. I collected these of the indian hats - I also got an ornament made at the White Elephant of small beads.
Just a flat piece of stuff thickly sewn over with green, orange & black beads. It will do magnificently for the front piece of the head arrangement - I got this before Gillian joined us. We all had a nice rest and now Mabel has taken the children out.
Sunday Valentines Day. Well my precious Valentine! what bad news you gave me over the phone last night.
It might have been worse - take what comfort you can from that - but the more I think of it the more I see your problems.
Hilda gets your breakfast & I gather tidies up for you - good for you are a tidy man & don’t make a great mess. Have you a gas fire? What warmth are you getting? The damp & possibly cold house is not good for your side. Do get yourself some new vests (wool, if possible wool & silk) if you won’t wear the wool ones I have that belongs to the pants.
You have “supper” at Jill’s house - Good - but where do you have dinner? or is their supper equal to a dinner? Who provides your lunch? Can Hilda get this for you - Who collects your rations? Oh a hundred questions go through my mind - Do you come back after supper to a cold house? or does Hilda ship & see there is a warm room for you - What about Fridays & coming back from London - what welcome (or lack of it) awaits you.
Shall I bring Mabel and the children and come and take care of you?
I’m not quite clear what has happened & Mrs Stevens the line was poor & I expect I must have heard wrong.
I thought you said she had broken her leg - later I thought you said “Collessia” but if leg it must have been “Patto” or is “Patto” the wrist?
You said she was in Addersholes for a week then three weeks rest & her daughter & wait on her - poor dear, how she will hate it. I must write to her. And that horrible daughter writing an you - I don’t like it at all - but perhaps she will serve a man better than she does her mother.
After all if was a man who fell for her when she was in this service - because she took such care of him - but that was before she was spoilt.
If there is anything I can do to help please let me know at once. Shall we spend the Easter holy with you? I mean go back with you after you have had a little holiday with us - or you come back with us after we had been with you. I’d be rather afraid that if we came & you first you’d have no excuse to come to us so you’d better come first & fetch us - How I ramble on.
But please keep me in mind to help if you see any way I could and let me know -
If you have any little tins of tongue or galantine etc do use them now - because it is an emergency time for you and you must keep up your strength. What about getting yourself some Extract of Malt - I believe this is doing me a world of good. I get 2 1/2 jars at Boots but they had have 1 lb jars as well.
Lentil soup is easy & made - Simmer them in water - you need to add & this so the lentils absorb it - a carrot & some celery adds flavour - but simmer & stir occasionally till thoroughly soft - flavour with salt & pepper - add a lump of marg if you have it - & serve hot.
All my love
Yours
Ada.

It will retread if you made enough of 2a 3 add milk a powdered milk if you have any -

You can still get small tins of kidney or oxtrint? Amp
Coxster free - Key number -
Home tastes in stock along -
There are also vegetable soups -


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People mentioned

- Ada
- Gillian
- Mabel
- Penna
- Mary Stear
- Miss Ricketts
- Gallaghan
- Hilda
- Jill
- Mrs Stevens
- Carol

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Topics

- family
- needlework
- clothing
- daily life
- health
- children
- weather
- valentines day
- telephone
- birds
- electric bell

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Uncertain words / phrases

- Bay suit
- Joom
- Collessia
- Patto
- oxtrint?
- Coxster
- Petrins roof etc etc
- Indian hats
- White Elephant
- dress
- twist of buttonholes

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated Feb 13, 1943, from Rosemary Cottage, Bude.
- Sender signs as Ada; recipient name not specified.
- Discusses family members including Gillian, Mabel, Penna.
- Focus on needlework, clothing colors and garments.
- Mentions wartime restrictions on clothing hems and materials.
- Describes household conditions, electricity improvements and health issues affecting daily life.
- References Valentine's Day and plans for future family visits.
- Includes small sketches of needlework and headwear.
- Mentions various people outside immediate family including Mary Stear, Miss Ricketts, Gallaghan, Hilda, Jill, Mrs Stevens.
- Details about dietary and health advice (lentil soup, Extract of Malt).
- Handwritten annotations and minor corrections present.

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