Babies – Page 10 – A Family History in Letters

August 28 1952

28th Aug. 1952.

Dearest Mummy,

I have been meaning to write all week but as usual we have been in a tizzy, & last night which was to be devoted to letter writing I only managed to write to Ruth & Amy I thought I had better get that done as the wedding is a week today – isn’t it incredible? Did you hear that the parcels had arrived safely except for one “porridge plate”? So I can replace that easily & Ruth seems delighted with them.

Ruth Stainthorpe had been Cyn’s bridesmaid, and her father, Dr. Stainthorpe, had given her away.

Thank you so much for your letter & also Lindy’s present, cards & cable. She had a lovely birthday – actually spread out onto Sat. too, as we hadn’t time to shop on the weekend Mill & Ford were here, so we decided to just give her a card & book on the day & take her shopping on Sat. a.m. We gave her all her cards at breakfast time & she thoroughly enjoyed looking at them all & so did we & laughed & laughed over the “potty” one, as that was to be one of our presents to her. We had talked about a “party” & decided against it, as we hadn’t seen Karen & Jennifer for ages & anyway thought Lindy would be really happier & less confused just alone with her presents. I made her a cake with pink icing, but I’m damned if I could find Amy’s candle & holder! I searched high & low & turned out all the drawers, but in the end I stuck some toothpicks in the middle & hope they look like a candle in the snap! We didn’t either eat the cake or take pictures till Sunday as the end of last week was so cold & we couldn’t sit outside. I got quite worried as Lindy had no winter clothes yet, but this week it is broiling- over 90° today & the mosquitoes are worse or as bad as they ever were. We can’t go on the grass at all & Lindy is smeared with 6.12 & still gets bitten. To return to her birthday – Cec came home early & we had great fun & opened all her presents. She loves her red shoes and after a struggle to get them on she was most intrigued! Of course she likes to play with them & chew them more than wear them, but on those cold days I was very glad to have them for her to wear as the floor was cold. She didn’t walk or do anything extraordinary on her birthday, but was a sweet happy baby all the time. As far as I can tell she seems just about the same as when you left & does nothing new, but probably you would see a change.

On Sat. after her nap we took her downtown & went to Frieman’s toy department. We got her some “Building Beakers” made by the same people who made the “Crackles”. They are bright plastic cups (12) which fit into each other & then turned upside down have a rim & can build on each other too. We went & looked at feeding dishes & they were $8- we nearly collapsed! So we went to that Baby Shop on Dalhousie St. where we got her harness & got a wooden toidy seat, a blue pot, a pr. of plastic pants, & a lovely little dish there. The dish is china with three compartments & in each compartment are pictures of pretty little coloured dogs, cats, bunnies etc.! The outside is chromium & holds the hot water & it is very nice we think. Linda likes it too & has been eating well. I am just thrilled with my daughter because on Mon. I cut out her early bottle (she never wakes till after 7 now & never seems to really need it) & after breakfast took her to the bathroom & put her on her little seat. She was slightly alarmed but very amused at my grunts & then amazed at the results when she grunted too!! She has performed each morning since, so see! – no trouble if you leave it long enough!!

On Sat p.m. we began to shop around for furniture for a spare room & went to a few places with ads. in the paper. We ended at a bachelor’s flat- he was selling everything & going into a furnished place & also worked at the Council & – hold your breath- we bought a desk, armchair, chesterfield, chest of drawers & daybed!! He is in no hurry for the money so we are paying him on time! The desk (oak – old, but nice), ch. of dr. (old & we will refinish) are for the front room – the daybed is just a small metal frame with thin cotton mattress & cover, will go in “your” room, & sleeps 2 people in an emergency- the ch’field & chair (about 1 yr. old- dark red-) are for the sitting room & the other chair will go upstairs. It all came this morning & we feel very pleased with ourselves & just full of furniture!! We hope to let the room early next month, so will get it fixed this weekend – it should look very nice, I think. Have all sorts of other things to tell you- Lindy’s other presents & cards- what we’ve been doing & answering your letter, but have no room & it is time for lunch anyway, so will write later in the week. My love to everyone & a hug from Lindy- please thank Auntie Trix for her share of the cable.

Lots & lots of love from

Cyn.

The spate of weddings that suddenly appeared in the Costains’ lives in the summer of 1952 is a subtle reminder that now they are part of the older generation- been there, done that, have a baby with another on the way. Cyn had worked as a teacher for ten years, throughout the war and after, and although Cec had just finished with university, he had been an older student at Cambridge and Michigan, with his war years as a naval officer behind him. Now they are established with a permanent job, and the younger ones are getting married- Cyn’s bridesmaid, Ruth Stainthorpe, Keith Innes from the NRC, and then Al McNamara, Cec’s friend from university at home. Cec and Cyn are becoming part of the stable community at the NRC, staying there, looking for a permanent house, nurturing their growing families, entertaining and helping each other, as the younger post-doctorate fellows come- for 2 years- and go. So this summer, as well as preparing for weddings, they are getting ready for a lodger to help with expenses from among the new arrivals.

August 18 1952

10:45 a.m. Monday 18th Aug.

Dearest Mummy,

Mil & Ford & Monie & Judy left just over an hour ago, & having washed Lindy’s pants etc. I am having a cuppa & writing to you! The funny thing is, that about 15 mins. after they set off with all their bag & baggage & canoe on top of the car, I took Linda to her pram in the garage & behold! here is a whole lot of stuff that looks like a tent & icebox etc. etc.! They are going to camp at another place for a week so I knew they would need it- I rang Cec & we had a confab. & then I rang the Ontario Provincial Police & they were very nice & after hearing the story said they would stop the car & get them to phone me. So far I’ve heard nothing, but I bet the Pems. will have a fit when the police come tearing after them & stop them!!

We have really had a lovely weekend & we all seemed to enjoy it, but golly!- Cec & I seem to have been on the go since I don’t know when! His week’s holiday turned out to be really hard work all the time. He finished the bedroom on Mon. quite quickly & then began on the sitting room straight away – the same cream colour. We finally decided to leave the paler green – it just about halved the job, & as it is not our own house etc. it seem to be silly to go to too much trouble. It needed 3 coats & what with having to do the edges with a brush & finish off around doors & windows it was a lot to do & Cec was painting till 11 o’clock one night & he finished on Thurs. evening. I didn’t do a thing to help, but was busy all the time – I had the previous week’s ironing to do, then more washing & ironing & Cec had less time for Linda than usual really, so I was busy too. On Thurs. evening Cec got the vacuum up & we did the sitting room thoroughly & put the navy covers on the sofa etc. & it looks very nice. So sunny & light & clean & each time I look along the passage to the sitting room I think someone has left the light on! It looks more curtain-less than it did before but I hope we soon remedy that.

On Friday I got Monie’s bed ready & all the things for Mill & Ford & tried to clean up the bedroom – I got the paintwork cleaned & the floor swept but hadn’t time to scrub it! Cec put up the curtains & we are very pleased with it. Ford phoned at noon & said they would arrive for dinner & had had a lovely trip. He phoned from Ottawa about 5 & Cec picked them up at Dow’s Lake – remember that pretty lake on the way to the Island Café? I thought Mill & Ford looked just the same as in 1947 & Monie’s little face was the same altho’ she is so big now. They are all so nice & they & Cec got on wonderfully & of course Lindy was their darling! She was a little shy on Friday, but on Sat. she was all over Monie & having a glorious time. They brought her two rubber dollies & she just enjoyed every minute & was so good. She loved the doggy & said her second word after “car”- “baff” for bath! Ford went to Kingston & got the car on Sat. & Mill & Monie went to the shops & got soaked!

Yesterday Ford took Cec & I a ride in the canoe & afterwards we all went to the Island Café for dinner – Lindy too! She sat in a high chair & was the entertainment of the entire room with her antics – squeals & playing peek a boo with the people at the next table & one thing & another! They gave her a balloon which she bit this morning! Looked a bit surprised at the pop but didn’t mind! Must stop- singing from the garage! Thank you for your letter & Lindy’s card – will answer soon. XXX from Lindy – lots of love from us all- Cyn.

We arrived safely at Fish Creek but late. Had two beautiful days then the rains came. Will break camp & head for home Saturday. I am getting anxious to see Hugh [their son]. We had such a lovely weekend with you. Thanks again loads for everything. Hope Linda had a happy birthday. Say “hi” to her from us.

Love – Ford, Mona & Mill

August 11 1952

11th Aug. 1952.

Dearest Mummy,

I have just had one of my famous age-long conversations with Connie – probably the last as they leave for Montreal a week on Wed. & sail the Friday after. We have invited them over on Monday evening- we didn’t want any visitors this week as Cec begins to attack the sitting room tomorrow, so we made it Mon. & even if the Pems. are still here it doesn’t matter. I had a letter from Milly by the way, – telling me that the dog is coming too!

Thank you very much for both your long letters- we were certainly surprised to get the 2nd one from Miami & until I read it I couldn’t believe it wasn’t just some swanky paper you’d pinched from somewhere! I hope the rest of the journey was placid & uneventful & that you arrived safely in Trinidad with no more excitement. I am so sorry that you were disliking the thought of Trinidad so much & hope that when you got there that things weren’t so bad as you expected & that at least you have a nice visit with Janie & Bill. I am afraid that you have left us feeling very badly over not staying for Algy & I feel that we should have tried to straighten things out before you left. Both Cec & I hate to have you feel that we have being mean & ungrateful for all your help. When we refused your offer to stay you immediately were convinced we didn’t want you & didn’t see any other reason, but if we hadn’t wanted you, we would never have asked you in the first place & we loved having you while you were here & you certainly helped us tremendously in all ways. However, we both felt that we were getting very dependent on you & to a certain extent were not shouldering our own responsibilities- as yet, we’ve had no experience with managing the family & house on our own & the longer you were with us, the more apt we both were to let things slide & let you do them. Because of this, we thought we should learn to be on our own & manage by ourselves before the other baby came, because if you had stayed over that time, I know we would have found it 10 times harder. As it is both of us are having to get adjusted now to doing a lot of things around the house which you did before & it is hard work but we should do it. I know that the wrench of leaving Linda is the worst thing, but that would have been just as bad or worse in Feb. or March & it would just have been putting off the time. I don’t know if this has made our attitude any clearer – it is difficult to explain & doesn’t really do much good to hash it over, but you say in your letter you wonder where you failed & we just want to tell you that as far as we are concerned you didn’t fail at all – you were wonderful to us all & we had a lovely year together.

I haven’t answered your letters at all, but will write soon again! We seem to have such a busy time last week – to the Douglas’s on Wed. – to Dr. & Mrs. Petrie’s on Friday & we actually went to the Spectroscopy picnic on Sat. afternoon! Linda didn’t care for all the people much, but was good, but we were all tired yesterday. I slept till 12 & it poured all day long! Today I washed etc. & Cec finished the room upstairs & it looks lovely. Your baby is as sweet & good as ever – full of fun. When you ask her to kiss you she giggles & gets all embarrassed! XXX Linda

Lots of love from us all- Cyn.

August 5 1952

Tuesday. 5th Aug.

Dearest Mummy,

This is the day that you were leaving, and by now you will be well on your way. I hope that everything went smoothly & that the flight will be good – also that you have a nice welcome from Auntie Trix etc.

I wrote to you last on Thurs. & have really very little news as we have done nothing over the weekend, but my intention was to have a letter awaiting you at A.Trixie’s & although I have slipped up on that I thought I would do my best.

I said that we had done nothing over the weekend, but I meant nothing terrific! We worked quite hard & Cec cut the grass on Sat. & painted some of the room on Sunday. I got my breakfast in bed on Sunday & thoroughly enjoyed it! Monday was a Public holiday & it just poured with rain all day. Cec painted some more, but it was so damp that he couldn’t put a second coat over what he did on Sunday as it was still not dry. The ceiling is finished now & it looks grand- the walls all have one coat & parts have two, & already the room looks light & airy & twice as big. We should easily get it finished at the weekend & then next week Cec plans to take the week off & tackle the sitting room.

Lindy’s cold is just about better today, but up till now the poor little honey has been very snuffly & runny-nosed. It has been damp & coldish which hasn’t helped, but I think she is about better now. Her appetite is fine & today she & Cec were eating grapes!

You will be amused to hear that we are mad at Connie & Len! Yesterday they rang up & asked me about our babysitter – theirs was away & they wanted one for Wed. So I told them about Donna, then rang Donna & arranged it for them, then rang Connie & told her it was all fixed. A little while later Phyl Douglas called me & asked us to a little party on Wed. evening for Ruth and Keith (before their wedding), & it turned out that Alec had seen Leonard earlier & asked him & they had calmly annexed our babysitter and we had none! We were so mad – you can imagine! – we called the other girl & she was ill, but finally the “Cy – Cec combine” is coming into action & Cy is coming over for us. But wasn’t it a mean trick as they knew it was an “office” party & would surmise we’d be asked too. We are supposed to take something silly for Ruth & Keith so think of getting a “Doctor Spock”! Must stop now. Lindy sends a big hug & a kiss – With lots of love

from Cec & Cyn

July 31 1952

31 Acacia Ave.

Ottawa

31st July 1952.

Dearest Mummy,

I have just been writing to Mil & hope the letter reaches her in time before they leave – I had no idea they would be so slow – the letters I mean. Your last nice long one written on Sunday arrived yesterday, so that wasn’t bad, but mine to you don’t seem in any hurry.

Thank you so much for your nice long gossipy letter. Cec & I both enjoyed hearing your doings and are glad that everyone is being so kind and giving you such a riotous time. They all seem to lead such a gay life after our quiet sedate existence that you must feel in a whirl! Milly & Ford certainly have given you a nice time & I am so glad that they are coming up here & that we can do a little bit in return for all the times they have entertained me. I was telling Cec that I am sure Margs & Monie would be wishing they could come along too & meet him as I am sure that in their place I would be envying Mil & wishing I could satisfy my curiosity! The sing-song must have been great fun and I can just see Ford in his element & organizing the whole thing beautifully. I don’t wonder that they don’t serve drinks when they have so many friends. I am most impressed with all the gorgeous meals you are having- you will be putting on weight! You kept talking of my meals & no economizing on food but I think the “Sim” girls beat me hollow. Turkey- scrummy! (Did Alan eat any or is it still hamburgers!!)

I am most amused at your tales of Alan- he sounds a bit too much like Bill to be much fun! Did he say why he had a suspicion he was to get a young brother? I should imagine Margs & Bill would be most surprised!

All your bathing & drives sound lovely, but I was wondering whether the camp was clear of mosquitoes now & if you were being bitten. We are having another plague just now & I sat in the deck chair with Lindy for about 10 minutes on Tues. & got my legs just eaten. One got into Lindy’s bedroom one night too & bit her face 3 times & one poor little hand has about 6 bites & one or 2 on her arm, poor little thing. But of course she doesn’t seem to care! Both Lindy & I had got little bits of snuffly colds this week. Two nights the temp. has dropped very suddenly after hot days & that must have done it, & of course Lindy with no bed clothes on. Last night we gave her an aspirin & I made her a little sleeping bag out of the pink blanket Lea gave her. It has a drawstring around the top & we tie it under her arms & anchor it back and front with a big pin. To our surprise she doesn’t seem to object at all & goes in it without protest & goes to sleep all right, so I am most relieved. She is beginning to get used to having her runny little nose wiped & even tries to blow! Theodore is a great success & she loves him! She knows his name now and when we say “Where’s Theodore?” she looks for him & goes and gets him! She chews him & when we pick him up & give him to her she always giggles & thinks it is a big joke! Of course she is quite the sweetest & the cleverest baby in the world!!!

Cec is being so sweet & taking care of me & seeing I don’t do too much or get lonely. On Monday, after wash day I was tired, so he shoo’ed me out of the kitchen & did all the cleaning & washing up. On Tuesday I ironed in the evening & he came & trimmed & fitted the kitchen linoleum & fixed the hot water tap so it doesn’t squeak! Yesterday evening Lee & Jim asked us over for a game of bridge, so we got Donna & went & had a nice time. They are thinking they might build a house now & had all sorts of plans & things which we looked at. They were going to Toronto this weekend as Jim’s mother is still stuck there.

Today I called Connie & she said that Christopher really seemed better today & had eaten his breakfast. He really seems to have been quite poorly, poor little fellow, & has been eating nothing & only drinking water & juice mostly since Sunday so he has lost weight & looks quite pathetic Connie says. Lindy & I went on a walk to the Library this afternoon, but we didn’t call to see Christopher as we thought he may not be strong enough to cope with young women yet! Yesterday, Cec was talking to Linda & began “Your boyfriend – – –” then he stopped and said “No, I’m not going to call him that. I don’t want you to have anything to do with that boy – he’s not good enough for you!” I laughed & laughed!

I must stop now as it’s nearly bedtime & I am going to have a bath. I feel I haven’t answered all your letter yet, as I meant to say how tickled we were at your huckleberry picking bath & the Vicar & his dog, but I had better leave it till another day.

This will be the last letter I will write to New York & I hope that all goes smoothly on your departure & that Janie will finagle a nice long visit for you with her & that you will have a good time. You must tell her & Bill to have a daughter – they are lovely! One nice thing is that St. V. at least isn’t so far as England & once we get our boarder we will start saving for our Winter Trip to the Sunny South!

Lindy sends a great, great big hug & a lick & lots & lots of love from us all-

Cyn.

A reminder note about Cyn’s cousins: Aunt Ettie’s 3, the ‘Simmons girls’, Milly, Marguerite, and Mona (Mrs.Banner) are all married and live in New York State, and Carol has been visiting them. Margs and Bill have a son Alan who must be about 12. None of them have met Cec, and now Milly and Ford Pembleton (the Pems) seem to be planning an Ontario visit in August. Cyn hasn’t seen any of them since her year in Toledo, 1947/8, but of course they exchange letters.

Carol will fly from New York to Trinidad and stay with her sister Auntie Trix, and the Otways, Janie and Bill her nephew, before going home to St Vincent. And Cyn and Cec are planning for a visit there in the future- it takes a little longer than they thought since my brother and I can both remember it!

July 27 1952

31 Acacia Avenue

Ottawa.

27th July, 1952

Dearest Mummy,

Thank you so much for your lovely long letter and the wonderful parcel which arrived yesterday. I couldn’t think what toy would make the jangle-jangle noise when I looked on the label & when I opened it & found all the pennies & dimes rolling around I laughed like anything & wondered if the Customs had been puzzled too! The moccasins are beautiful & thank you very, very much for them. They fit nicely except for being a tiny bit narrow, but my old ones soon spread into boats, so it is a good thought! Lindy just loves her Theodore & wishbone chewer. She is such fun with parcels now & takes a great interest in them – she was right in on the opening & wanted to play with the string & then the paper & finally was just enchanted to find her bear inside. She had a wonderful time with my shoes too – she had them on the floor all day & put her crackles in one & then tipped them out & put them in the other & thoroughly enjoyed herself. We have put the money in Lindy’s piggy bank so she says thank you very much dear Grannie, for that as well as Theodore & my wishbone – it was a lovely parcel.

Monday 2 p.m.

I was so sleepy last night that I couldn’t go any further, so here I am once more while Lindy is up in her bed crowing & cooing away. She had a long sleep till after 11 this morning so doesn’t feel very weary now, but she seems quite contented up there. We have just had more people around to see the house – it has been a constant stream this past week as the houses were advertised in the paper last week & there have been 3 or 4 lots of people each day. Fortunately for me, Mrs. Graham gets most of them but I have had plenty. I think it Mrs. G. must enjoy holding forth to them – I notice the people who go around her house take ten times longer than the ones who go round ours!!

I find on re-reading your letter that I have made a mistake in when you were going to Milly’s. I was thinking that you were going for the weekend & going back to L.B. on Wed. so that this letter would arrive at the same time, but now I see that you left on Wed. & will be back today. I hope that you enjoyed your time at the camp & look forward to hearing about it & what Hugh and Monie are like now. We all enjoyed your letter so much & hearing of all your gay doings – after your quiet life here you will feel in an absolute whirl! Marga seems as full of energy & as fond of entertaining as ever – is she looking well & how are Auntie Ettie & Monie? I laughed over Monie’s cat family – she doesn’t still have a dog does she? – and Allen’s puppy must be sweet. I am glad that Alan isn’t as bad as he was painted & that you think he is a nice boy – perhaps it was just a phase he went through!

We still seem to be wildly busy all the time – although not doing much! Monday when I last wrote was a wet cold day & I had the worst time drying diapers- quite a crisis nearly arose! – but Tuesday was as hot as ever. I cleaned the house in the morning & in the afternoon June had invited Lindy & I to tea. In spite of being hot, there was a nice breeze so I thought we would walk instead of getting the car from Cec, but golly! – the last 1/2 mile seemed 100! Lindy was all dressed up in Gunborg’s yellow organdie & looked a picture, but although she enjoyed the ride we both were hot & tired when we got there. June had also invited the girl Joan from the apartment above & her boy Gordon (16 mths) whom she has talked about & poor little Lindy when we went in & I put her down, was so hot & tired that her little lip went down & a little whimper began! When I picked her up she just buried her little head in my shoulder & cried- the first time she ever did that. I noticed that since you have left & I am alone with her all day, she is much more of Mummy’s girl than she ever was before- so isn’t it a good thing you were here to prevent it happening sooner!

June gave us a very nice tea & Linda soon recovered. The boy Gordon was incredible- to begin with he is huge- big & tall & beefy & a head twice as big as Christopher’s, but blonde & better looking! He had begun walking the week before & was trotting round quite well, but the most amazing thing about him was his appetite! The moment food appeared his eyes gleamed, his mouth opened & he just tore towards it – he ate about 4 scones, 3 cream cakes & 2 iced cakes – just wolfed them down one after the other & would have gone on & on! His mother just laughed & Mrs. Broomhead kept giving him more cakes on the sly! He had Lancashire Hot Pot & Cabbage & rice pudding for dinner too! Can you imagine!

Wed. I washed and had a real hot day for it again, but however Thursday was cool & I got my ironing done, so that wasn’t bad. Lindy & I went to Joanisse one day & to Roger’s another & she got more Abdec, a new pair of plastic panties & I got my new Vitamin & calcium tablets. They are huge red things! On Friday I had my appointment with the Dr. at 1:30, so I got Cec to come home for his lunch an hour later than usual. Linda & I had our lunches & I left Cec’s all ready & he just put Lindy to bed & gave her her milk after I had left. The Dr. was very nice as usual, and what do you think? – I didn’t gain anything last month! I was so pleased with myself! He asked me all the usual questions & when I answered them he said “Well my goodness- all the right answers!” & he didn’t even bother to examine me! I have really been feeling fine this past week though- hard work must agree with me!

On Sat. Cec had his sleep in & then we went to the Dominion & Lindy rode in the cart while we shopped. Then we went down town & bought one of the rollers & just a quart of paint to try out. In the afternoon Cec took up the horrid old kitchen linoleum for me & I scrubbed the kitchen floor while he cut the piece the Douglas’es had given us to fit. Then we had quite a struggle getting it down, under the frig. & stove etc. but the change is wonderful! It is a marbly cream coloured linoleum with little black & red squares here & there, & it is so clean & light that the whole kitchen looks a different place. We still have to fit it around the radiator etc. & there is enough left to go in the back entrance & in the breakfast nook so we are thrilled. You would be too! I am now encouraged to wash the kitchen floor!!

We got so late laying the linoleum that we were all behind & we were having a special dinner as it was our anniversary! An anniversary spent laying the linoleum & our anniversary present paint was quite something, but we didn’t mind! We had broiled steaks & tomatoes & chips & peaches & cherries for dessert, so our dinner was nice, & we had enough whiskey left in the bottle for one highball each, but we had to rush as we were going to Connie & Leonard’s for bridge. The babysitter came & we had quite a nice evening – lousy bridge as usual, but Connie & I had a good chat! Christopher woke up & came out to see us – apparently he’s been giving them a lot of trouble at night recently & not eating & generally acting up & on Sunday (yesterday) Connie called to tell me he had a temp of 102° & she had rung up the Dr. He came & it turns out that the poor little fellow has tonsillitis. Earlier in the week Lee called me up & told me Barry had a temp of 102° so I gave her the name & phone of a Dr. & Cec took over our fan as it was very hot in their apartment but next morning Barry was better, so they didn’t have the Dr. They think it must have been too much sun & apparently now he is very careful about going in the sun & doesn’t like it.

Our little Pooh has woken up & is helping or hindering this letter! She is as sweet as ever & says to tell you “Ga-ga-ga”! She says “car” all the time now & points at cars as they go by in the street & points at pictures of them in magazines & says “car”. Cec is very amused, as he says she says “car” with a very English accent! She looks up at airplanes in the sky now & calls them cars too! It has just begun to rain so I have had to dash & take the diapers in – & of course I’m yearning for my cup of tea but I’ll finish this first.

Yesterday Cec got up for Lindy & it was heavenly- the first thing I knew was having my breakfast arrive! I had a lovely lazy time & when I got up Cec began painting our prune room! We got cream coloured paint in the end & he began with the ceiling & did it all once & 1/2 of it a 2nd coat before the paint ran out. Cec says the roller is very good & quick (Lindy has been helping with this page!) but the wretched prune colour is still showing through a bit. Jim & Lee & Barry came to tea in the afternoon & found Cec still painting & me with no “face” on, but they didn’t mind. Both Lee & Connie, by the way, said to thank you for your letters.

I forgot to tell you that one day last week I was getting lunch & Lindy was crawling around playing. I heard coos of joy in the passage as I thought & after a little while went to see what she was playing with & found her 1/4 way up the stairs! She was thrilled with herself & all set to reach the top! I sat beside her & she climbed 3 or 4 more steps & she showed her Daddy when he came home, but we have watched her since & she hasn’t ventured any more.

She is getting quite bored with me writing, so I had better stop & have tea. Seems funny not having you here for tea too. If it stops raining we will take this letter to Mr. Dube & post it. I forgot to tell you I had a letter from Joan Cox last week with a snap of her & Don & Sue at the christening. It is very nice- Joan looks well (but plump – says she’s dieting!) & the baby a pet.

Lindy sends a big, big hug & cuddle to Grannie & says she doesn’t get half so much attention now you are gone- Mummy doesn’t even put her hair in a curl most days!

Love to all, most of all to you- Lots & lots of love

Cyn (plus Lindy)

Got A. Moo’s dress for Lindy last week – it is cute – white with tiny red spots & red trimming. Pants to match!

P.S. Posty just brought your letter. Thank you so much. Will write soon again. I am tickled at the thought of seeing the Pem’s- will write to them.

July 21 1952

31 Acacia Ave.

Monday morning.

Dearest Mummy,

I have just put Lindy to sleep in the garage & not having a thing to do thought I would write to you! Actually, I meant to write yesterday of course, but we asked Angie & Paul Routley to tea & it was a very hot humid day & their apartment was stifling so we persuaded them to stay to dinner & they ended at leaving around 11, having washed all the dishes for me.

I have been so busy lately- no one to sit around & gossip with or have cups of tea with! – and Lindy has been wonderful about sleeping in the morning- till 11 and after each day, so I have had a nice long time without interruptions. On Wed. afternoon we went down to see Phyl Douglas as I told you & we had a nice obstetrical chat! She is full of praise for my Dr. Smith – she has her old family Dr. but says she has heard so many good reports of Dr. S. & that if ever she changed she would go to him. She has offered to give us a piece of linoleum for the kitchen floor which they had in the other house & don’t use, so I may yet keep the kitchen floor reasonably clean!!

On Thursday I did a good old clean of all the rooms, & it was another really hot stuffy day. Lindy & I sat on the grass in the afternoon & Mrs. Graham entertained us with light chatter!

On Friday we had our shopping expedition & it turned out very well. Lindy & I went with Cec in the car to work & got back here at 8:45, so I just bathed her & gave her breakfast as usual. Then she slept till 11 & I washed and tidied etc. and then off we went in the car, picked up Margie & the boys & went to the Dominion. The boys were thrilled at Linda coming shopping & behaved beautifully! Lindy sat off in the little chair in a nonchalant fashion & surveyed one & all in a lofty way, but really seem to enjoy it. She chewed a box of cereal & squeaked & everyone said “Oh look at the little baby!” We drove Margie home & then went straight to pick up Daddy & it all fitted in very well- especially as he carried all my parcels in for me!

It has been so hot & sticky ever since Thursday – no breeze or air at all, & today it is dull & cloudy & looks drizzly – just when I have diapers to dry too- I washed them yesterday but only got about 1/4 hung out, so have the rest still sitting here.

On Sat. Cec had his morning sleep & I got up & then I did a big old cooking. It was so hot that I didn’t know how well the meat would keep, so I made a meatloaf; cooked two little tongues; made a chicken casserole (saved some for fried chicken that night or Cec would have been so sad!); baked a cake (mix!); and made some little tart cases. I felt it was a noble effort! Cec finished weeding the front path & it looks very nice & neat & on Sat. afternoon he went & helped Cy paint the outside woodwork of his house. Cy can’t go up ladders or stand heights at all, so Cec is going to help him & Cy will help us paint our rooms. I forgot to tell you that we put an ad in the paper for our rangette & sold it to a young French couple for $35.00 – we asked $40.00 but they were humming & hawing & we wanted to get rid of it, so when they offered $35 we accepted. Now the prune room is doomed! Lindy & I walked over to Cy & Margie’s on Sat. about 5 & saw the painting & had a little gossip. Margie has just had the most wonderful present from her Father – a lovely big new refrigerator with a big freezer compartment. They just had an ice box before so she is thrilled to bits & it really is lovely. A few weeks ago Cec told me that they had bought a vacuum cleaner & it turns out to be a Kirby, one of the super jobs the man demonstrated to me, so they are well set up!

On the Sat. evening at about 9:30 Phyl arrived with the raspberries I told you she was getting for me & they were really gorgeous. In the whole 6 qts. there weren’t more than 3 squashed berries & not one bad or horrid at all. Cec & I set to then & there & a bottled 9 jars full while they were fresh. We thought at first we’d just pack them in the jars, but with two of us working it didn’t take long & we found that they fitted beautifully in the big roaster to boil, so we did them straight away & they look very nice.

Sunday was my turn to sleep in, so Cec looked after Lindy & bathed her & I just lay back & didn’t get up till 10:45! Lovely! I just got through my chores before Angie & Paul came at 3 (made sandwiches, iced cake & made raspberry tarts) & then we had such a nice chatty time that we were both glad they stayed to supper. They were both delighted with Lindy & you would have been so pleased with Paul after George, Mummy- he just loved her & played with her & made such a fuss over her. He kept saying “She’s a lovely little girl – let’s have a baby right away, Angie!” We had chicken casserole, beans & corn, salad, hot rolls, raspberry & coffee for supper & they both thought everything was wonderful – such nice guests!

It is 10:30 now & not a dish washed, so I think I had better get cracking. Thank you so much for your note – we were so glad that you arrived all right despite a bumpy storm & that the girls & A. Ettie were waiting for you. Just what I thought- gossiping & drinking tea till all hours! Give them all my love & a hug from Lindy- tell me all about them & particularly what you think of Alan & Milly’s family! I hope it is still nice & cool with you & that you have fun shopping – don’t forget to buy some nice dresses. Did the girls think you looked purty when you arrived?

Must stop- hugs & love from us or & a big, big wet kiss from Lindy- With lots of love from Cyn.

(P. T.O.)

P. S. Just had a call from your bank & you have been giving your friend Mr. Pridham of the Hearing Aid people heart failure! Apparently the last cheque you wrote him for the extra cord etc. ($13.30) wasn’t presented before you closed your account & it bounced!! He, apparently, didn’t know where you were, & didn’t remember my name, so looked up the City Directory for the address & found it listed for Lt. Cdr. Roberts & on making inquiries about him found he had gone to Florida, so the poor man was in a tizzy!! However, he embraced me verbally when I phoned him & told him we would send him a cheque & you could pay us, so everything is under control. We will send it off today & you can send us a Money Order or something. It is now 1:30 & it is still raining & has done so ever since I hung the diapers out! I shall now proceed to take some in and drape them around the place as we are reduced to 5!

Lots of love

Cyn

This letter is going to take a while, because one niece has re-directed it to her sister up-state!

A few notes of explanation to add: both Carol Ewing and the sister she lived with in St Vincent, Auntie Moo, were hard of hearing, and had little access to technology or specialist medical care on the island. When they visited relatives in New York or, now, Ottawa, they could get help, and the relatives would keep the help coming. Both wore Hearing Aids a bit smaller than a pack of cards tucked in their décolletage, with a cord running up to the earpiece. Cyn sent Carol her special batteries (which she had to cross Ottawa to get from Mr. Pridham, presumably) for decades!

Now that Cyn’s live-in baby-sitter has gone off to New York, she is adjusting to life without her: to get the car for errands, she and the baby have to drive Cec in to the NRC building on Sussex Drive and pick him up later at the end of the work day. Then she was free, within the confines of the baby’s schedule, to organize her grocery shopping at the Dominion and give another NRC wife and her boys a ride too. Clearly, Margie and Cy Garret and their 2 boys were within walking distance of Acacia Ave., and Alec and Phyl Douglas, who had 2 children a bit older, lived close by too. Cyn and Cec found good friends among the NRC community, as the letters will show.

July 16 1952

This first letter after a year’s gap is written the day after Carol left Ottawa, travelling to a series of visits on her way home. After almost a year of living with Cec and Cyn and helping look after her beloved grandchild, it must have been a wrench leaving, even if she was going to other loving relatives.

And note about air travel 70 years ago: security wasn’t much of an issue then, although safety kept onlookers away from the planes. Ottawa had two small airports, one military, Rockcliff, and one civil, Uplands, and anyone could come in, mingle with the departing passengers, hug them, and watch them trail out to the plane, and wave goodbye. They could watch the planes take off from inside or outside, although Cec, Cyn and Linda seem to have missed this. The NRC had research facilities out at the airport, which would grow even as the airport did over the decades.

The letter is only dated Wednesday, but was postmarked July 16. Canadian air letter forms cost her 10¢, and I like the design better although there is less space than the American 10¢ forms.

Wednesday.

Dearest Mummy,

I thought I would send your A.M. letter back to you & now having begun it I realize I could have sent you an ordinary A.M. letter for 7¢, but after all what is 3¢ to rich people like ourselves!

I hope that you had a nice flight to New York with no bumps & a prompt arrival. I am sure that Auntie Ettie & the girls would be waiting for you & although I expect you would be fair wore out, I imagined you all sitting drinking cups of tea & gossiping for hours! Cec got quite worried because he didn’t see your plane go up, & we drove around the airfield to see if you were still sitting in some corner of it, but no signs, so we decided you must have sneaked off into the clouds when our backs were turned! Jim & Lee were off to see a house, so they dashed away but Connie & Len were in no hurry. Christopher had cried at the big noise the plane made but Linda didn’t although we thought she might & Cec carried her away from the doorway when it roared. Connie & Len asked us back for a cold drink with them, which was nice of them, but Lindy was so sleepy we said no. Connie was really very sweet & seemed most upset at your going- it was nice of them all to come, wasn’t it? On the way home Lindy sat on my knee & we sang (!) to her & before we were 1/2 way back she was fast asleep. She roused when we got home & Cec put her to bed & I warmed her milk & she drank it & fell straight to sleep again, the little pet. We were all pretty tired, so Cec helped me wash up & we had a glass of ginger ale & then I had a bath & went to bed & I don’t think Cec was much later.

It is lovely & sunny but cool today & so much nicer than that awful close heat. I hope it is the same with you & that you & Auntie E. are having a “dunk” in the canal! Lindy woke at 7, but was sleepy, so had a sleep in the garage this morning & is asleep again now (2.0 p.m.). I did a big wash (always is!) & you will be amazed to hear that I was shamed into bleaching your sheets, pillowcases & the kitchen towels etc.! Linda was so good & played in her pen at the back after she woke up this morning & never murmured until she heard me talking to Mrs. Hughes & then she began yelling “Ma-Ma-Ma” at the top of her voice! Phil Douglas rang up to ask if I would like some cheap raspberries at the weekend (I said “oh yes” & “yummy”) & I am to go down with Linda for a chat later this afternoon. Already today seems a week long, so it’s a good job I’m busy. I thought of you this morning over my cuppa – I have decided to have tomato juice instead in future- better for Algy & less trouble!! Linda sends a big, big hug & says “I miss you Granny.” We all do. Lots & lots of love- Cyn.

Getting Started in Ottawa

The Costains arrived in Ottawa at the end of September 1951 and found a temporary home in an apartment in Eastview (now Vanier), a working class neighbourhood with a mix of Francophones and Anglophones. And, to the excitement of Cynthia and Carol, almost immediately Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip came to Ottawa at the start of their Royal Visit and were photographed waving (as they had on their wedding day) to Cyn in the crowd.

And the baby was fine. Arrayed in the lace trimmed nighties and the double breasted cardigan her loving relatives had made her, Linda continued to flourish. ( And I remember that chair, red and white.)

Other babies were arriving, both in Ottawa and Ann Arbor…

Christopher Bovey arrived 5 days after I did, and Mary Jo & Pete and Lee & Bob Mills had boys too.

Cec and Cyn also met the people who worked in the NRC with Dr. Herzberg in the Pure Physics Division, people who were to become close friends: Luise Herzberg, Alec Douglas, Jack Shoosmith are the first 3 in the top photo, Cyn on the sofa in the second, and Dr Herzberg in the third.

As with the Sutherlands in Ann Arbor, efforts were made to be friendly and helpful to newcomers. With the system of post-doctorate fellows coming to the NRC for two year stints, young couples were always coming and going, and the Costains were made to feel welcome. Later, Cyn and Cec, as permanent residents, would entertain new arrivals and help integrate them into their Ottawa life. (I started my baby-sitting career with a post-doc couple’s baby!)

The baby kept growing.

Money had been tight for the beginning months, but the December accounts show a luxury they had not had in Michigan- a telephone.

At Christmas, the gifts sent to England were mostly candy, as described in Cyn’s present list, but the loot that arrived for Linda was amazing. Among the cards which arrived were pictures showing the growth of their friend’s children: they did call us the Baby Boomer Generation.

In January, photos show Linda alert and happy, and she had a new cousin: Terry, another Costain boy, born to Cec’s brother Russel and wife Errol in Saskatoon.

Although I don’t think Cec ordered them, the Tailors and Robemakers’ price for a PhD. Gown and Hood from Cambridge confirms that Cec’s degree had been granted. Dr. C.C.Costain certainly looks delighted, holding his daughter. The February accounts show that Cyn’s money from England finally had been transferred, and they were able to get ‘Cec’s Insurance’ $95.35 (Canada did not have medical care then), splurge on Cec’s clothes, make several withdrawals of ‘Cash’ and pay Carol back $200 for loans made in Ann Arbor and during the move.

In March a Get Well card in the scrapbook suggests that Cyn had German measles, fortunately a month before she became pregnant again. Her birthday in April was celebrated and then they MOVED- two sets of rent in the accounts, and the mover’s fee- to Acacia Avenue, still in the same area of Ottawa, but closer to the wealthy houses in Rockcliff, with a conclave of NRC families close by. It was half a duplex, and the photos show the baby, now crawling, with grass with trees and swings available, something I’m sure Cec and Cyn had been looking for.

Now that they were settled in a more satisfactory home, preparations were made for Carol to return to the West Indies after the summer. First she would visit her sister and nieces in New York State- they had visited her in St.Vincent during the past couple of years, but she had not seen their homes or their families. Then she would visit other family members in Trinidad before returning home.

Unfortunately as summer approached, the Costains indulged in a colour film, so the photographs in the scrapbook are not as clear. Linda at 10 1/2 months says goodbye to Grannie standing rather precariously, and I’m sure Carol was very sad to leave. But the letters to her resume, so we get a clearer picture of life in a growing family in the 1950s.

My First Journey

My first journey

On Thursday Daddy & Mummy & Grannie & I drove from Ann Arbor to Ottawa in MacTavish. We left late on Thursday evening & arrived there on Sunday morning. I was 5 weeks old & slept in my little car bed most of the way or on Grannie’s knee, & at night we lived in cabins. We stopped in Toronto to see Auntie Lily & Uncle Milton. It was 600 miles altogether and Mummy & Daddy said I was very good all the way.

Except for when I woke them all up pulling my hair.

It is funny to read about car travel almost 70 years ago- seat belts unknown, so the baby travels unrestrained in her car bed or on her grandmother’s knee. And I’m sure Cec was smoking throughout, totally discouraged around babies today- I can remember as a little girl MacTavish’s cigarette lighter which popped out when glowing, and the lovely smell of the newly lit tobacco, before the less pleasant smell of actual smoking took over.

They drove on Highway 2 all the way to Prescott, and Cyn’s markings show them stopping at Chatham, Hamilton, Toronto, Belleville, and Kingston before turning north to Ottawa at Prescott. In those pre-Hwy. 401 days it took much longer than it would now- the road goes through the towns rather than bypassing them- and there were no fast food rest stops then, so trips were more leisurely, with stops in towns for food and fuel. And the proud parents wanted to show off the first girl in the new Costain generation to Cec’s aunt and uncle so there was a social visit too.

The September account book shows details of the tidying up needed before leaving the States- the mundane housekeeping bills to Dairy, Detroit Edison, and the Trojan Laundry mingling with one-of-a-kind expenses such as a sum to the Michigan Department of Revenue, and the rather expensive cost of binding and mailing the thesis. However, there is no October entry dealing with the cost of the journey. Normal life resumes in November when they are settled enough to be getting a salary and paying rent in Ottawa.