Letter from Ada at Lutsan Farm discussing family, farm life, and plans

Date: 1943-04-29
Sender: Ada
Recipient: unknown
Location: Lutsan Farm, Sutcombe, Holsworthy
Original scan: 1943-ada-to-unknown-family-lutsan-farm-letter.pdf




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Summary

Ada writes from Lutsan Farm in 1943 describing the weather, farm work including threshing oats, children playing in the fields, and illnesses like Penna's stomach chill. She mentions visits from June Mackintosh and Yola, collecting eggs, and meeting family friends. Ada discusses domestic matters, expresses care and affection for the addressee, and mentions plans for help with household duties and potential holidays.

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Transcription

Bradworthy 31.
at Lutsan Farm
Sutcombe
Holsworthy -
April 29th 1943

My own darling One
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 rickle of oats to be threshed and a great threshing machine came - also some more men. Mrs Stacey 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 in 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’m so glad you had Jill & 24 his during Easter week end. I love you & have a child about - keep your hand in. Here come the children - so more later.
June & Yola went off at about 5 p.m. - in the rain - we had tea and the rain stopped for about ¾ hr and we went round the farm collected 48 eggs and saw a lamb, only born today.
So Jill turned you out of your huge bed! I’m afraid she twists you round her little fingers.
Poor you with the gardening all to do. Don’t kill yourself over it - Wish I could help you.
Thanks for reminding me about Wellingtons - I’ll see about them.
Canadian butter wrappings would be useful but not if you have to use coupons.
I don’t think the little silver beaten tea caddy spoon is in Bude - but will see when I get home - I had forgotten it ever existed.
There was a tiny tea caddy I used in the bedroom it might be in that if Mrs Stevens can find that

I’ll send you some table napkins. By the way there may be a tablecloth wearing out a little which might be more useful if I cut it up into table napkins - Ask Mrs Stevens. How are you off for sheets?
So glad the lilac trees Hilda gave you are in bloom this year.
Chris has a weeks holiday - but evidently does not feel she can leave Bertie.
May 1st We have been for a grand walk today up the lane belonging to the farm and where it twists and turns and climbs & wades all up and down over Mrs Stacey’s land.
Every now and then a gate from which there is the grandest view of the lake and all the land round it. W is definitely the walk we must bring you when you come here for a picnic.
Yesterday we went to Bradworthy and saw Mrs Hearn and her daughter Winnie and the sisters who used to entertain you in Exeter. All sent you greetings. Mrs Hearn was not there.

I don’t know quite what we are going home to - read Mrs Davido’s letter which I had a few days ago - also Mrs Petrini very nice one but which shows her hands will be far too full & 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 to do when boys are away from College.
She came 4 3 days a way & 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
of course would treat her as one of the family.
But possibly you have taken my suggestion and already looked her for Mrs Stevens and yourself. I think that would be ideal.
Rosemary Cottage Here I am on my couch with the two cats (kittens not here yet - you said they’d be due tomorrow)
The drive back from Lutsan was simply too wonderful for words. All the trees had come out as if by magic while we were away and the sun shone and the different shades of delicate green were so lovely. We came back via Kilkhampton. In spite of the weather it has been a most successful holiday and I’m so glad to have discovered such a nice place owned by such nice people.
We must certainly go there one day while you are here, and Mrs Stacey will let us have a fowl to bring home if we let her know the day before. Yes, I think we could spend a holiday there altogether. I don’t think you’ll ever be tired of leaving on some of the gates
when you'd climbed up some of the higher fields and looking at the lovely view including the reservoir - But you shall see it and decide. They lenched off 2 guns from the hill because we came home two days earlier - so we can spend that taking you & see it.
I posted you a little parcel just to tide you over the last few days before you came back.
I do hope it reaches you safely I’m afraid I packed it in rather a hurry.
Mrs Petrini made us some pastys for our dinner tomorrow - and Mrs Stacey let me bring back some stuff from the farm & see us over the weekend as I can’t get any rations till Monday - so we are all fine.
Mrs Davido has thoroughly cleaned the whole house - and tired herself out - I gave her an extra 5/- and told her to take a weeks holiday & if she could give me an hour or two every day as I had first planned I shall be glad -
Meanwhile I must get in touch with Mrs Tape

Goodnight - I’ll post this tomorrow in good time - All my love
Ada

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People mentioned

- Ada
- June Mackintosh
- Gillian
- Penna
- Mrs. Stacey
- Mrs. Stevens
- Jill
- Hilda
- Chris
- Bertie
- Mrs. Davido
- Mrs. Petrini
- Mrs. Brent
- Mrs. Tape
- Pamela Stevens
- Mrs. Hearn
- Winnie

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Topics

- weather
- family news
- farm work
- threshing
- children
- pets
- holidays
- gardening
- eggs
- walking
- help
- letters

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Uncertain words / phrases

- morn
- rickle
- debfa
- lentched
- Panghill

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Archivist notes

- Letter dated April 29, 1943 on page 1 from Ada at Lutsan Farm near Holsworthy.
- Discusses family, weather, farm activities, and domestic matters.
- Several named individuals are mentioned, including family and acquaintances.
- Reference to wartime rationing (Wellingtons, Canadian butter wrappings, and rations).
- Contains affectionate and personal tone, informal style.
- Some words are difficult to decipher but context helped clarify most.

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