|
West End Cottage
Kirkmichael
Maybole
Ayrshire
Dear James,
I am sorry I did not manage to
send a telegram as promised, but hope that Mrs. Beattie delivered my
address to you before you receive this.
I cannot go into details of all
that has past here as it would take too long, but we happened to be very
unfortunate regarding our lodgings. We were taken to one house where a
very old man stayed alone, and could get no reply so had to return to
billeting quarters again. Of course I had to carry Jim all the time and
that did not help matters.
However, after waiting until
the very last, another woman and I were fixed up in a cottage along with
our families (this woman has five of a family) but oh what a house! This
house is supposed to be occupied during the winter months by the owners
who have a farm somewhere nearby. It was in a filthy condition and the
woman and I have been cleaning up since we came in, scarcely stopping to
take a cup of tea. Cobwebs over everything, no pots, pans, beds or
anything. Jim was put into the bottom drawer of a wardrobe in a blanket to
sleep. We had to go into the village to get a bottle of milk heated as I
was frightened to give him any more cold milk. We had no coal to light a
fire, I wonder if she thought she was housing pigs?
I would have come home at once
only the villagers have been so kind. One man came in his car and gave us
a very large basket of tomatoes then came back with coal until we got coal
of our own. A woman gave me her pram until I could get my own. I think I
had better stop telling you any more as it would take too long.
The officers brought us new
blankets and things are looking a bit better now, but has left us pretty
tired especially as Jim was very cross. Of course he couldn’t be
otherwise. It would have been ideal if it had been ready for occupancy as
we have the house to ourselves. I have a room and kitchen with use of
bathroom and scullery. We have electric light but no gas, back and front
door and a nice bit of ground at the back. The owner receives 31/- from
the government for housing us but believe me she should be paying us for
cleaning the place.
The headmaster, who is in
charge of affairs here, visited us today to see how we were managing and I
told him I was seriously thinking of going home and I told him a few home
truths about the place. He was very nice indeed and advised me to try and
remain now that war has broken out. He was going straight up to her place
in his car to have a good talk with her. He said she ought to have had a
woman in to clean the place up as she was being paid for the house.
Of course don’t think because of this that conditions
here are all the same. Some of the people have got into comfortable homes
and some of the children are in a big home where they are having a grand
time. Minister and schoolmaster have got children in their homes, we have
just been unfortunate.
I have been advised to tell you to go to Mr. Allardyce,
Bath Street who is in charge of evacuation and ask him if he can have the
baby’s pram sent down to the billeting quarters in Kirkmichael as baby has
no bed here. If they send it down you won’t be charged for carriage
because after all we are providing a bed and should not be made to pay for
carriage. I have to provide food for Betty, Jim and myself and some of the
foodstuffs are very dear. Cheapest eggs are 2/-. I am going to make
enquiries tomorrow regarding the upkeep of two homes as it just can’t be
done.
If you are not working on Sunday perhaps
you could come down for the weekend. You would have to take a train to
Maybole and then get a bus, as Kirkmichael is 3 miles from Maybole. Or
else take the bus to Ayr, then another bus to Kirkmichael, come off at he
town hall and the house is only 3 minutes walk up.
I went to bed at two o’clock on Sunday morning and
rose at seven and after breakfast never managed to get another cup of tea
till five o’clock at night, we have been so busy getting things shipshape.
It is now quarter past one on Sunday morning as I am writing this. The
kiddies are sound asleep and quite content looking.
I will have to watch for the postman going
down in the morning as there is only two mails a day. There isn’t any
pictures and there are only four shops and need I add there is no noise.
How are you managing at home? Are you fixed
up with anybody or have you got anybody to do your cooking and washing? I
suppose you will be finding it very lonely but although things are looking
black let’s hope that the clouds will roll away and that we won’t be long
away from each other, because I know that I am missing you and home.
Did you get any news of Katie and Maggie and all the
nieces and nephews in Govan? You can write and tell me all the news as we
will need plenty of letters here it is so quiet.
Tell all at home I was asking for them.
Yours forever
Annie xxxxx
Don’t worry about us as we will get along alright. Just
hoping you will manage also.
|