Letter form Emma Duffin to her sister Celia. Emma thanks her sister for a book of poetry sent to her, most probably a Christmas present. She describes her day-to-day work as a VAD, including interactions with the patients and the enjoyable weather. At the time of writing she had worked for 13 weeks without a day off.Emma (1883 - 1979) and Celia Duffin, born in 1888, were two of Adam and Maria Duffin's nine children and they were educated at Cheltenham Ladies College. Emma served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) during the First World War. She served initially in Egypt and was transferred to northern France just before the Battle of Somme, where she remained to the Armistice in 1918. On her return to Belfast, Emma worked as an illustrator of cards and books, including children’s stories written by her sister Ruth.Also Celia served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) during the First World War. Along with her sister Ruth, she published a book of poems titled 'Escape Poem' (illustrated by their sister Emma Duffin) and published by Maunsell & Co. Ltd in 1929.This letter is part of a rich correspondence between various members of the Duffin family, a large prosperous family living in Strandtown, Belfast. Several family members served in the war, including Major Terence Duffin, who served as a staff officer with 107 Brigade, and later with Royal Irish Rifles; Major Charles G Duffin MC, Royal Field Artillery; and their sisters Emma, Celia and Dorothy who served as Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADS) in Egypt and France, and with the YMCA.