With the recession and our current economy drive, I find myself looking back to 1998/99 when circumstances left us in a very difficult financial situation. These are our fifth and sixth years.
DB = my husband DS = our son.
January/March
l943/1998 Buses are being restricted in some parts of the country
to help conserve fuel. A terrible accident has occurred on the
Underground. At the start of an air raid, a woman carrying a child,
tripped down the stairs.178 people were crushed and suffocated!
Cheese reduced to 6oz, then 4oz. Milk back up to 2½ points.
The
weather in January has been indifferent. Most days are cloudy, windy,
rainy and cold, with just a nice sunny day thrown in. It is nice to
do a spot of weeding on these rare days, go for a walk or a quick
bike ride and just bask in the mild warmth. It somehow helps to get
you feeling right to turn your face to the sun, inhale the good,
clean country air and notice the slight changes taking place in the
hedgerows.
The
cold, blustery days see me in the kitchen making soup and bread. My
first 2 loaves were a bit on the dry side, the next 2 better, so
hopefully they will set the trend. Today, we have had leek, potato,
bacon and pearl barley soup. During the week, I shall make pumpkin,
followed by chicken and celery to use up today’s roast chicken
remains.
When the oven is on for tea, or from baking bread, I try to use it for something else to make the most of the electricity being used. Date slices are something we haven't had for ages and DS was delighted to see some being made today. Tomorrow, I shall use some of the chicken to make Coronation Chicken, which is diced chicken, apple or grapes in a creamy curry mayonnaise. This can be served with rice or potatoes and a winter salad. I usually try to get 4 meals from a chicken, one of which is usually soup.
When the oven is on for tea, or from baking bread, I try to use it for something else to make the most of the electricity being used. Date slices are something we haven't had for ages and DS was delighted to see some being made today. Tomorrow, I shall use some of the chicken to make Coronation Chicken, which is diced chicken, apple or grapes in a creamy curry mayonnaise. This can be served with rice or potatoes and a winter salad. I usually try to get 4 meals from a chicken, one of which is usually soup.
February
was one of the mildest on record. Some days, it got over 22C! People
were even sunbathing on the beach. These unseasonally high
temperatures whilst not having much effect on the hedgerows and
trees, had a dramatic effect on the garden itself. Several summer
flowering plants have sent up shoots as high as 4", my daffodils
are coming out and unfortunately, so are the bugs.
March
was unusually wet, receiving on average, 4 times its normal rain.
This carried on into April with floods in many parts of the country.
Several people have been killed. The gardens will soon recover but
water damage to houses will take many months to sort out. Rain,
gales, snow, hail and frost have arrived often at the same time
causing destruction and hardship.
April/June
l943/1998
Budget brought in higher taxes on beer, tobacco, wines, entertainment
and non-essential goods. May 16th saw the 2nd National Thanksgiving
Day for the North African campaign. Public urged to eat more potatoes
to save ships moving the flour. Cheese now down to 3oz but milk up to
4 pts.
April - We
were given an Easter present of a small bar of chocolate and a kit to
make Hot Cross Buns, yummy. Easter eggs arrived via the grandparents
as well as a huge egg won in a raffle, not bad. I gave up sweets,
cake, biscuits and puddings for Lent, it was very hard work and I
hardly lost any weight, but oddly enough, I haven't gone too mad on
the eggs.
We
have decided to have a rest from bought sausages, either our tastes
have changed or the recipe, they just don't taste the same and we are
beginning to get a few more bits of gristle, which almost make me
vomit. So, having looked up various recipes, we are going to have a
go ourselves, but without skins.
I
shall have to get back onto bread making again as we tend to buy the
cheaper loaves and their taste leaves a bit to be desired. I'm also
going to get dried egg again as they do make lovely cakes and
biscuits.
I
have sown and transplanted several peppers and tomatoes along with
some fuchsias to enjoy later in the summer. We have dug up our patio
and laid down some polythene to keep weeds down. We have rounded off
the area and are going to lay down gravel to make a 'sea-side' effect
with grasses and possibly bamboo swaying in the breeze.
May
started
off very similar to February with hot and often humid weather.
Despite having the windows and doors open, the temperature in the
house became too warm and stuffy which resulted in increased but
leggy growth on my seedlings. I have decided to plant them out but
protect them from frost with dustbin bags.
We
have begun eating salads again and what a treat they are. The past 2
weeks have seen 26C, and us constantly on salad! Magic. The weather
cooled off considerably towards the middle of May and night time
temperatures began to drop alarmingly and I had to cover my plants
but luckily no frost. However, as May progressed, the weather turned
very wet and windy and although the apple, pear and plum blossom was
greatly increased from last year, the wet put paid to most of it. At
one stage we had 3 plums but lost them all. We had 9 pears for a
while but now only have 5, and the apples have not faired much better
with one tree having no apples at all!
June
- The fig is fig less but at least the loganberry, as ever, is
fruiting its heart out. The rhubarb was so floppy at the beginning of
the month that I almost dug it up thinking it had got some dreadful
bug or disease. Glad I didn't though as towards the end of May when
the rain returned, it went from strength to strength. The cherry
tree in the front garden has a few cherries on it but yet again is
plagued by black fly. Ho hum!
We
were at another craft fair end of May and although not warm, it was
pleasant and we did okay. I transplanted 12 lettuces of which 11 have
taken and we have just eaten the first one. A row of radishes, French
beans and Ruby Chard followed. My darling husband however, took it on
himself to tidy up the lawn edges, remove stones etc, the end result
of which was 3 radishes, 3 chards and 1 bean. He hadn't noticed my
labels and said I should have told him!!!
We
finally found some spare money to get the back garden finished.
Several plants and over a ton of gravel later, it looks lovely. We
even have a new pond re-styled from the old and a raised alpine bed.
We made a fountain from a 1950's RAF fire extinguisher, painted it a
lovely blue, matched up the shed in the same colour, painted the
garden furniture a deeper shade, and hey presto, a nice Mediterranean
garden.
Just
when we thought summer was arriving back came the wind, cold and
gales. Several areas of the country were once again flooded though
not as bad as last time. The wind has messed up the garden and now,
halfway through June, we have had to begin staking plants again. The
average temperature at the moment is about 17c.
Horror
of horrors, we went to the only supermarket we know that sells dried
eggs and they have stopped selling them. Now we can't get any at all.
Worse still, the hen-laying population have gone mad and many 1000's
are being slaughtered, as there is an egg glut. So, for the time
being, we have decided to pretend we have got chickens, given up
dried egg until another source can be found and change over to fresh
eggs. We shall increase our ration from 12 to 18 per month as we feel
sure this would have occurred should such a glut have happened during
the war and hope it saves a few chickens.
Ours
points system has gone haywire. DS is beginning to eat like a horse,
probably moving into his adolescence and is therefore turning to his
favourite item, cereals. With only 72 points per month to play with
it is becoming increasing difficult to make ends meet.
Our
average food spending per month has increased to £130/£140. Along
with all other household bills, this brings the total bill increase
to around £40 per month with no extra income to help. Somehow
though, we seem to cope which is just as well as business isn't too
great at the moment and I have had to cancel my wage. I hope to begin
it again in September. DS has only 6 more weeks at his junior school.
He then begins 'big' school in September.
It
is nice the see the blossom on the hedgerows. The elderberry is
superb and we look forward to picking them. This year, I hope to
remember to pick the plums in time. We have been saving our
newspapers not that we buy any, we only get free ones. We hope to be
able to buy a paper mache log maker and supplement our winter fuel
this way. We do however need hot and sunny weather to dry out the
bricks. So far, they are far and few between. I also hope to begin
making paper but again, need the warm, dry weather for drying the
sheets once made.
July/September l943/1998
Italy surrenders. On the 12th, was the 3rd National Thanksgiving day
for the Italian surrender. Dried egg powder has now increased to 1
tin per 4-week period; it was previously per 8-week period! In July,
milk was reduced to 3pts, and then in August, it was further reduced
to 2½ pts per person per week!!!
July
DS
has had his 'taster day' at his new school. It seems all my worries
were for nothing as he thoroughly enjoyed it and is looking forward
to starting in September.
The
rhubarb, which started so badly, has come along in leaps and bounds
with strong, tall growth. The loganberry is giving us its usual
glorious result and each day, sees more and more disappear into the
freezer for later use.
I
have planted my leeks and some more lettuce to help us through the
summer, when it arrives! The tomatoes are all growing well and
producing tiny fruit lets. The chilli peppers have been transferred
to a trough and are beginning to sort themselves out a bit.
Hopefully, later in the season, I shall be able to make my usual
winter supply of tomato and chilli sauce. I still have 2 bottles from
last year, plus 2 Elderberry Cordials and a Sloe Gin. We are now down
to our last 3 jams, all strawberry and blackcurrant but as the fresh
fruit season arrives, I shall start again. We get through so much in
winter as we love jam sandwiches when hungry.
My
3 ruby chard plants - first ever to survive - are all growing well,
at least the wet weather helps them. I have no idea what they taste
like but they are supposed to be okay, the top being like spinach and
the stalk a cross between celery and asparagus, which is great
stir-fried!!! We shall see, my family will probably never speak to me
again.
We
have joined the butchers 'Christmas Club' - similar I suppose to the
wartime pig clubs. It means going without now and having it in
December. £3 a month of our meat ration goes towards it.
There
seems to be an awful lot of ants this year. So far, they haven't had
the warm evenings to fly off, usually into our hall and porch, but
they are everywhere in the garden, especially the red ones, which
appear to be more aggressive than the black.
We
found a new blackbird nest in our Wisteria and our neighbour had a
strange, large bird in her garden. After checking in our bird book,
it turned out to be a French partridge - fancy that.
Down
in the bottom of the freezer, we found a chicken and are having a
full roast dinner today (Friday) as the weather isn't too hot. Our
sausage making is going great. As I don't stick to the same recipe
mostly they are good but sometimes they are wonderful. The best
recipe seems to be with the addition of 1 slice of bread, extra fat,
a few fresh or dried herbs, then onion and either a large blob of
tomato puree or a good dash of soy sauce, haven't tried them yet with
Worcestershire sauce as its not something I usually have in stock.
Weather
wise, it is a poor do so far, possibly worse than last year. We are
in early July, are wearing light jumpers as the daytime temperatures
are between 16C and 19C. There is still plenty of rain about and the
garden with just a few exceptions, has just about flowered itself
out.
Joy
of joys! We have found a supplement to a magazine, dated around the
late l930's. In it, is an article on food prices. Here are monetary
comparisons between then and now (1998): -
- ItemS/d£/p1/2 lb Tea1/01.501/2 lb Cocoa0/42lbs Sugar0/5.701/2lb Cheese0/61 pkt Porridge0/7½1 pkt Dates0/7½1lb Jam0/81/2 lb Marmalade0/31/2 lb Sultanas0/41lb Dried Pears1/01 pkt Wheat flakes0/9½1.7012 Weetabix0/81lb Butter1/41.501lb Margarine0/80.503lb Flour0/8½0.501/2 lb Haricots0/2Small Jar Bovril0/10Tin Sponge Pud.1/01/4 lb Lard0/2½0.081 pint Milk0/3½0.306 Eggs0/100.50Tin Dried Eggs1/31.901 Large W. Bread0/50.501 Large B. Bread0/30.601lb Fish1/01lb Eating Apples0/1½2lb Cook. Apple0/5Celery0/31lb New Potatoes0/40.301/2lb Tomatoes0/30.301lb Bananas0/60.501lb Raspberries0/6½Lettuce0/60.501lb Good Bacon0/103.501lb Rib of Beef1/01lb Neck Mutton0/101lb Sausages1/2 lb Dripping0/31 Bar Soap0/5½1 Bar Hand Soap0/3
Have
at long last found a stork cookery booklet, dated 1948 but still
operating under the rations and points system as indicated by a meat
meal for 4 with 12oz total meat content. Most of the recipes are very
good and although a lot of the puddings require steaming, it
shouldn't be too difficult to convert them to either baking or micro
waving!
I've
had a cycle around the lanes checking on the progress of the wild
plums. It looks as though it will be a bumper year, which is just as
well as my ‘domesticated’ ones are no more having either been
frosted, or blown off at an early stage, thank heavens for the wild
crop. I also came across 3 wild mushrooms.
I
walked to and fro past them several times before deciding to pick
them. Heaven alone knows what people must have thought. I reflected
with sadness, that as a child, I would have easily identified with
horse mushrooms, yet here I was, with all the typical inbred fear of
the adult, wondering if indeed they were mushrooms, or toadstools
resembling them.
Anyway,
after several looks, I picked them; their pinky grey gills and smell
confirmed them, almost, as mushrooms. I know my husband wouldn't
touch them, so I said a prayer and deep-fried them. The mushroom
smell was over-powering so I knew I was right. Being wild, they
didn't have the high water content of commercial ones and hardly
shrunk, the taste was absolutely superb. I wish I could find some
more. It won't be too long before the shaggy ink caps appear. They
have a slightly slimy texture but maybe deep-fried, perhaps in some
batter, they may be better. Possibly I could dry them, but it depends
on whether that process may accelerate the dripping of the ink!!!
Our
friend R. came around to play some music with us. We haven't
done this for months as she has been at college learning all about
computers and has now got a temporary 2 days job at the college. Her
youngest child is shortly due to leave home and goes to University so
she had not had too good a day.
She arrived with a bottle of red and white wine, some crisps and a pot of recently made strawberry jam. Yummy! The other day, she popped in as a friend was visiting for a few hours from Germany. This time, she came with a tub of home made spaghetti sauce, which we ate 2 days later, very nice.
She arrived with a bottle of red and white wine, some crisps and a pot of recently made strawberry jam. Yummy! The other day, she popped in as a friend was visiting for a few hours from Germany. This time, she came with a tub of home made spaghetti sauce, which we ate 2 days later, very nice.
DS
has come home after his residential visit to Derbyshire. He
thoroughly enjoyed himself and arrived back mucky and very tired. We
gave him his tea, bath and by 6pm he was in bed and didn't wake up
for 15 hours!
Today
he has gone to school very smartly dressed, as he is one of 6
children who have been selected to show the 3 applicants around for
the new Head teachers job. I must point out however, that his glee
was down to missing swimming. Not that he dislikes it but is not
allowed to wear a nose-clip and that starts off his sore nose.
DS
has left Junior School. We went to his final assembly (which we do at
the end of each summer term) but didn't want to miss this one, as the
Head, Mr. M. was leaving. It was very good, moving but with lots of
laughter. DS was awarded the Maths Cup as the top maths student in
Year 6. He holds it for 1 year and will have his name inscribed on
it.
It
is now almost the end of July. The weather still hasn't picked up.
You can tell it is summer by the temperature on the days it stops
raining! Still, we mustn't complain. In the USA, especially around
Texas, they haven't had rain for several months, the temperature is
around 42C, and crops, animals and people are dying. In Papua New
Guinea, they had an earthquake 18 miles off their coastline, which
created 3 huge tidal waves, 30 feet high. It is now estimated that 10
thousand people may have perished, with more than 30 villages wiped
clean away. In China, the Yanksee River is swollen and threatening
the whole area along its length. If it breaches the defences, it is
estimated that 10 million people could loose their lives and more
than 30 million will be left homeless. It is hard to comprehend loss
in such high numbers.
DS,
I. (a neighbour) and I, went pluming this week. There are simply
hundreds of them about, more red than yellow, which is unusual.
Anyway, not being too greedy, we picked for ourselves; 3lb of yellow
and 5lb of red. All are in the freezer ready for pies and jam. I.
brought some jam over as a thank you for taking her. We have done
this since DS was about 3. It is fun, hard on the head when un-ripe
ones drop down, dirty and sweaty but very rewarding.
We
went to the Sandringham Flower Show with our crafts. It started out
well, but for the first time in as long as anyone can remember, it
rained heavily during the early afternoon and lots of people went
home. Our sales were half of last year, which in turn were half of
the year before. If this trend carries on for the rest of the year we
will be in serious trouble.
We
went once again to the Living History at Kirby Hall. Then the
following weekend, we are going to see some friends at Knebworth
House. After that, we have another craft fair then hope to go to Nana
and Granddad’s for a week and visit places in North Wales on our
English Heritage Family card.
My
dad is not coming over from the USA. In my heart, I knew he wouldn't
so am at least prepared. Got a letter from my niece who with her
friend Jo, is hiking around the world. They are halfway through their
yearlong journey and are staying in Australia for a month with
relatives. They sound as though they are having the time of their
lives!
We
have invested in 2 back to back card displays. We used them for the
first time at Sandringham and sold 43 cards in the one day.
Hopefully, the trend will continue. I had 5 new cards on display,
most of which, sold out.
August 1943/1998
August 1943/1998
Yesterday was my birthday. Got a packet of
luxury biscuits plus an I.O.U. for a present from DB and DS (The
present they were going to get me was sold out!) Also received, were
a letter rack, flowers and a lovely book. In the evening, I had a
phone call from my sister, we chatted for nearly an hour. It has been
a long while since I have spoken to her for so long.
Finally
got around to trying some Ruby Chard vegetable for tea. It tasted
earthy and rather like beetroot. Also had a few French beans. I don't
think we shall grow the chard again but at least we were able to try
it. I shall have to get some new bean seeds, as this plant was the
only one from a whole row of seeds!
Think
I might get around to making my jam in the next few days. Went into
last years supply only to find it had all gone. I will make some with
loganberries, redcurrants, and plums and shall also freeze my rhubarb
before it dies down. It has been such a glorious display and I shall
be very annoyed with myself if I fail to harvest it. Not much point
in digging for victory if it spoils.
With
DB’s help, we cut, blanched and froze 5lbs of rhubarb. Managed to
get 6lbs of jam made in some lovely assorted flavours, blackcurrant
and wild plum, rhubarb and loganberry etc. Went to stay with Nana and
Granddad for a week. Had a good time. Popped into North Wales for the
day and visited 2 Welsh Heritage properties. As we were English
Heritage members, it was free and saved us £20.50! Came back home to
find tomatoes ripening all over the garden. Most are of the mini
variety so didn't take long to eat. The fig tree has decided to send
out fruit, too late I fear for eating and they will also be too big
to over- winter.
My
neighbour, during an over the would-be fence chat!, showed me a
lovely large apple I hadn't noticed. It is the only one on the tree.
My 3 pears are still growing, as are both patches of rhubarb. The
rains have helped the leeks to start growing and the chilli peppers
are going mad. It looks like we shall have to pick the elderberries
soon to make our cordial. I emptied the 'larder' the other day - a
small cupboard above the stairs (we don't have stairs by the way - a
private joke) In it, I found a large bottle of tomato and chilli
sauce, so we have started on that, also, 1 bottle of elderberry
cordial and some 2 year old sloe gin.
Coming
back from Nana’s helped fill the larder with marmalade and pickle.
We hope this year, to pickle some onions, mustn't forget, as all this
will need doing in our busy pre-Christmas craft period. I also have
to make a small batch of mincemeat and think about homemade presents
as part of our wartime Christmas spirit.
Last
night, 25th August, it was quite chilly and after saying how cool it
was in the front room, we decided to light the fire - imagine, a fire
in August!!! It was lovely. We only stoked it once and it lasted well
into the night.
I
went to gather elderberries the other day - none. The birds had eaten
them all. This is only the end of August; normally they would be
hanging their heavy heads begging to be picked. Still, I did have a
nice, long, evening bike ride and came home happy for that.
DB
has started autumn pruning the pyracantha and I have started clearing
the beds of flowers. We still have tomatoes, chillies, lettuce,
rhubarb and 3 pears in the garden. Shared our one and only apple with
the neighbour who found it. He enjoyed it very much and commented on
its flavour. It was ready to fall off despite its pips being still
pale. It was tarter than usual but very nice.
It
is now the end of August. Last night the bell went and it was our
neighbour. He gave us half a sack of potatoes and one eighth of a
sack of dried peas and wondered if we could make use of them - silly
man!
September
1943/1998
Went
off to Bedford the other day on our Faith in Action run. DS went with
his dad and I with R. We had, as per usual, a good, long chat. Now
she is working 3 days a week, it’s hard to catch her in. Guess
what, after delivering our boxes, we walked back via the lovely
central river and found... elderberries! Managed to gather enough
(luckily R. had a spare carrier bag) to be able to make 1 or 2
bottles of cordial - oh joy!!!
Tomatoes,
well my outdoor ones, have been rubbish this year. The slugs, due to
an abundance of rain, have given themselves a world cup this year as
far as nibbling goes. On top of that, many have split or have
'greenback'. So, I decided the only course of action was to gather in
the stalks, complete with their green tomatoes and hang them indoors
- where, I am pleased to say, and they are ripening nicely.
I
decided it was time to gather everything needed for the annual Tomato
and Chilli sauce make. We managed to get 2 large bottles, 1 medium
and a small jar. This year, we decided to have go using Scotch Bonnet
chillies. Not having used them before and fearful of their
reputation, we decided to risk using 2. A quick taste revealed this
to be okay, but the sauce does have a habit of getting hotter with
maturity! We shall have to see.
R.
has given me permission to raid her fallen apples, which I shall soon
do ready for mincemeat.
Weather
wise, the middle of September sees the rains still falling every few
days and with daytime temperatures of around 18C and night time about
7C. I have just put the electric blanket back on the bed even though
we haven't been desperate enough to use it yet. I don't think it will
be long though. Twice now, we have had to put the heating on for the
odd hour or two.
DS
has successfully started senior school - well almost. He did his
Thursday and Friday. Monday mid-morning heralded a call from school
saying 'pick him up, not feeling well'. I must admit, he did look a
bit peaky and had a headache but after an hour or two, he bucked up,
like they do!
Today,
his second Monday heralded a phone call; 'can you bring one of my
books in' said in a very despondent manner. Ah well, hopefully all
will go well for next Monday.
We
had 700 litres of oil delivered to see us through winter. Next month,
we shall get what coal we can. We prefer to use a coal fire during
the day as the person who put our central heating system in, omitted
to install a temperature device near the pump. Although the boiler
cuts out using its control, the pump carries on working with the
result that our electricity bill rises above and beyond what we think
it should.
Next
year, hopefully, we shall get around to putting in a new pump and
temperature control and see if that makes any difference.
I
asked DB if he could build me one or two 'bee-hive' compost
containers over the winter months. We usually use two dustbins (which
semi-block the coal bunker) and they are not composting well enough.
They are close to the tumble drier outlet and the ants seem to find
them very cosy, building nest after nest in them. When you want to
use them, it takes days for the ants to disperse and is not a
pleasant job.
October
l943/1998
Italy declares war on Germany. Toys are getting difficult to buy.
More potatoes and wheat for our bread have been grown than last year.
This frees more shipping space for munitions.
At
the beginning of October, I went down to our local Junior School to
give a talk on war rations. I took 5 carrier bags of different
rations (as well as a modern and its equivalent war-time cake!) I
have been down to the school many times to help with various projects
but never just to talk. All went well until I was requested to start,
then the nerves kicked in. My throat tightened up, my hands shook,
and whose voice it was I do not know but it struck quite a
familiarity with Micky Mouse!!!
It
took a good 10 minutes before I could speak properly although
everyone assured me I sounded fine when asked. The kids thoroughly
enjoyed it; especially the cake testing and I think they were
surprised that over half of them preferred the wartime cake. Maybe
they don't get the chance to eat home-made cakes or it could be the
fact that although the recipes both made sponge cakes, to them, the
war-time one tasted of ginger.
DB
is still waiting for his throat operation that he had been informed
should be some time in November. Good.
We
managed to make 3 jars of mincemeat and 3 of chilli pickled onions.
DB's parents are due in a couple of weeks at half term. We shall find
out for definite if they want to come for our wartime Christmas. If
they do, I shall give O., recipes for cakes and pudding.
We
have finished tidying up the front garden but still need to complete
the back. We have netted our gravel beach area in an attempt to keep
the cats off over winter. They seem to treat it like a toilet, which
was my fear when choosing such small gravel.
We hope next year to
gravel the front garden again. So have decided to net the back to try
and train them away, then choose bigger gravel for the front and
transfer a top layer onto our 'beach'.
We
seem to be having a week of reasonably mild weather after a colder
spell but I don't think it can last much longer. The leaves are
rapidly falling, conkers have fallen and the birds are beginning to
strip the pyracantha and hawthorn.
I
have saved the peas our neighbour gave me and added pearl barley to
them for a soup base ready for later on. We have one small canister
of gas for our emergency cooker and hope to get another can just in
case.
October
17th saw our first ground frost. It wasn't enough to make everything
white, more a glisten of white. It was enough though, for me to clear
out our summer containers and plant them up with winter pansies.
That
is always something I have wanted to do but never done. They look
very sweet. DS thinks they look rather pathetic but I explained they
still had to grow more yet and would look very nice once they doubled
in size.
We
phoned the chimney sweep today and were told it would be 11th
November before he could come. We have decided to light the fire as
and when it is needed as the chimney was swept in May and has hardly
been used since.
Still,
the delay at least means we can wait for new coal until next payday
so it’s a blessing. R. and D. have gone away for a late 2-week
holiday. We are feeding their pets for the first week with another
friend doing the second. She has two enormous apple trees in the
garden and has told us to help ourselves. We have and have made two
large apple pies and 20 small ones, yummy.
We
are already thinking about our war-time/home-made/economical
Christmas. Two things already decided for the tree are Gingerbread
Hearts and 'Stain-glass' (boiled sweet) biscuits. Nuts and raisins
will be packed into matchboxes along with dates and figs, wrapped in
pretty paper and attached.
Tonight,
after feeding the pets, DS is going to help me make some fat cakes
for the birds. We are forecast another light frost for tonight and as
they are already merrily stripping our berries, thought we would give
them something else. Its basically melted fat, bird seed and
breadcrumbs mixed together, pushed into a yoghurt pot which has
string fed through it, and left to set. The pot is then removed and
the cake is hung in a tree.
No
good on the bird cake front! I think it might have helped if the
weather had been cold as they fell apart as we hung them. Still, no
doubt something ate them and enjoyed it.
The
weather is very fickle at the moment but we are very lucky compared
to the Honduras who has suffered their worst hurricane (Mitch) for
200 years. It was Grade 5, the worst kind and instead of dissipating
on hitting land, stayed at full force for 3 days. It delivered a
whole year of rain in those 3 days, provoking massive mudslides.
One
poor woman was swept off her house roof, being separated from her
husband and 3 children in the process. She was washed 6 miles out to
sea and was picked up one week later. Over 10,000 people have died
with many thousands more unaccounted for - terrible.
It makes me very
sad when I hear people saying "Well, what about our poor people
down south who have had their homes flooded" It just doesn't
compare; we simple cannot comprehend the destruction.
However,
more locally, our weather is behaving strangely. One moment very cold
and windy with daytime temps at 7C, then a few days’ later,
spring-like days at around 17C.
October
half-term. DB’s parents have been with us for 10 days and we had a
great time. They brought down the much promised post-war decorations,
streamers that I remember (as well as DB) from our own childhoods.
They are coming for Christmas and Nana has gone away with 2 recipes for
a wartime cake and pudding which she will bake in early December in
case they don't keep although the pudding should be okay as it has
1/2 pint of rum in it - mmm.
We
have explained once again about the kind of Christmas we are planning
and asked them not to bring tins of biscuits and sweets etc - hope
them remember. If not, we have decided to hide them and not have them
out where they may be of temptation.
November
1943/1998
In
November, milk was decreased further to just 2 pints per person per
week! Fresh eggs per person, when available, totalled just 30 for the
whole year!!!
DS
has settled in his new school and most days goes off quite happily.
He has changed teachers after the half term and is now in the top
class for most subjects, consequently, his homework has increased!
Today,
11th November, DB heard from the hospital about a possible operation
date of 10th December, which is a Thursday, the day before we go to a
3 day craft fair at Blickling, Hope the secretary got the date wrong
as he was told it would be on a Tuesday - 8th? We'll see.
5th
November saw our group-packing day for Faith in Action. Although we
packed the usual 12 boxes, it seemed very slow and tiring and we
ended up almost 45 minutes longer than normal. DB’s parents were
still here and we persuaded them to come, Nana to iron and Grandad to pack
the boxes once the clothes were bagged and labelled.
Went
with a friend last night to Swaffham to give a talk on my painted
glassware to a ladies group BPW. Had sales of £128!!!
Had
P. to tea whilst the parents were here and talking of Christmas past
she said how much she enjoyed Indian fruit chutney I made her many
years ago. Well, we had the apples, so I bought the rest of the
ingredients and will make her some. DB has given me a small present
list and we know DS would like a mini stacking stereo, so only me to
decide but I'm finding it impossible.
I
need quite a lot of things but they are the kind that only I can buy
so I shall have to have a long think and hurry up my decision. In
honestly though, I think its also to do with the kind of Christmas we
are planning. Its almost as though the presents will get in the way.
We truly have more fun opening the 75p presents on Christmas Eve. No
one knows what’s in them, whereas on Christmas Day, they are
usually what you have had on your list so there is no surprise.
As
this year is the 80th Anniversary of the ending of the First World
War, there have been lots of programmes on the television, mainly
documentaries. Very informative and extremely moving with the
capability to make you very angry at the inept decisions and
Victorian state of war tactics that cost many thousands their lives.
Stories
of people who had been shot for cowardice who many, many years later
were found to have not been cowards but were merely pawns in a game
of politics. Too late to apologize or relieve the agony for their
families who suffered rejection and shame from their country folk.
Still, must get off my soapbox but it does make me so angry.
This
Sunday sees us at Peterborough at a one-day craft fair. In the past
we have had sales of between £200 and £260 - can't guarantee
anything this year as people simply are not spending their money.
After that, we have a 3-day fair in December, where we hope to dress
up. DS in his 95th Rifleman uniform, me in my late 19th Century and
DB as a Victorian. That’s if it’s true what we have heard about
everyone dressing up. If they need us all to be Victorians, DS will
still pass but I will have to done a shawl and change my head dress
to a mop cap.
Made
P. her Christmas present of Indian Chutney, hope she likes it hot.
The recipe said 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper but that could be
increased to 1 1/2, so I compromised and used 1 spoon. It now has to
mature for 4 weeks, so will just be ready in time.
Spoke
to DB at dinnertime about Christmas present buying. He like me, shows
no sign of wanting to get started and we both admitted that our
favourite bit is the 75p presents on Christmas Eve. Still, we have
been pricing stacking stereos and conferring with DS on which he
might like to have.
DB
has finished my beehive compost container. Although it was built
using pressure-treated timber, we have used pale blue wood paint to
help it match the other wooden items in the garden. Before placing
it, we shall have to dig deep to get up bulbs and plants from the
place where it will stand. Can't wait. I've been waiting to do my
final winter tidying up just so I can make a start on filling it.
Now
that my new compost bin is up and running, I managed to get a bit
more of the garden tidied up. I have also asked a neighbour if I can
have the contents of her rabbit hutch next time she cleans it out
(minus the rabbit of course!)
We
have had some very cold weather in this 3rd week of November.
Daytimes have been cold, frosty and windy with an average temperature
of around 6C. Night time has been colder still with -3C on average
and severe frost. I have just bought some new birdseed and have hung
it up after sterilizing last year’s container so as to avoid the
birds catching salmonella.
DS
and I have completed out Christmas Eve 75p present shopping. This was
the first year that he has done the whole thing himself and very
'chuffed' he was too. DB has made a start with 2 but still has
another 6 to buy.
Took
P. into town today and she treated us to lunch at the German-style
'Schnell Imbiss' - yummy.
Bought
B. and P. their present, some floppy discs and paper to print on.
They are both on O.U. courses and we hope they will be of use. B.
will be coming with me next Friday to show the Junior School children
how to make a Wartime Christmas cracker. Hopefully, they will make 2
hats from newspaper and paint and decorate them. There will be a pair
of dice and instructions for a dice game, 2 sweets and a balloon to
put inside the cardboard tube (kitchen roll inner). Then the whole
thing will be neatly wrapped in more newspaper and decorated before
applying a label. Hope they like it.
Update:
The making of the crackers went well if noisy. Although there were B.
and I plus the two teachers, it was still hard work with one or two
pupils disrupting from time to time. After a spell in the corner,
they calmed down.
December
1943/1998
In
1943, there was a mild flu epidemic in December.
Had
our first Christmas craft fair. It wasn't too cold but the days were
very long, not finishing until 8.00pm. Still, although the sales were
not fantastic, around £390.00, we felt they were ok for our first
visit and have booked next year.
B.
came round with our present, a brown box covered with sacking
mumbling about having to use it or it would go off. The thought of a
turkey reared its head but she had already assured us it wasn't one.
We all crowded round excitedly and removed the sacking. There, before
our eyes was a 'Dig for Victory' parcel - excellent. Inside, gathered
from her own and friends gardens were:-
Walnuts,
celery, carrots, apples, swede, turnips, brussels, cabbage and
potatoes - lovely. I think I can honestly say it turned out to be the
best and most exciting present/time of the season.
Time
passed us by this Christmas. The day arrived and I hadn't done all
the things I had hoped for. DB’s parents who were due to arrive on
the Sunday, phoned to say they were ill and would come down Tuesday
(I hadn't thought they would come until Wednesday anyway!).
When
they did arrive, his mum was still unwell, Christmas lunch being the
first true meal she ate without looking as though she was going to be
sick. DB got DS to kindly hide the shop-full of chocolate
biscuits/bars that I knew they would bring.
I
thought it was safe to calm down when Nana handed me a carrier bag of
presents to hide, announcing it was full of sweets as you can't have
Christmas without sweets. All this, despite constant reminders about
not bringing sweets!
I'm
afraid that my temper got the better of me and I told them what I
thought of the sweets and the fact they hadn't listened to what we
had said. That put the mockers on the next two days as I steamed
silently like an un-vented pressure cooker. You would think that
after 17 years, just once, I might be listened too.
The
opening of the 75p presents went well and was enjoyed by all. Some
very nice things we got as well. Tissues, tea strainer, soap, bubble
bath, toys, books, tools etc.
The
tree looked great with its edible presents. We had 'Stained-glass
biscuits', chocolate covered spoons, bags of marshmallows,
gold-sprayed nuts, matchboxes of dried fruit and mini-boxes of
crispy-coated nuts.
Weather-wise,
it was wet, windy and relatively mild with daytime temperatures
around 10C and night time usually 3C. Gales were forecast for Boxing
Day but so far, haven't been too bad. Maybe we'll get some snow in
the New Year.
Been
to have a talk with my bank manager about the business and between us
have decided on a loan. It will be used to pay off the last few
months of my old loan plus the overdraft. That way, I shall get rid
of the constant bank charges (up to £20 per month!) only have an
annual arrangement fee.
All
in all, I have worked out that over the 4 year period, the loan
versus staying how I am, will involve an extra £700, which spread
over 4 years is not too bad to try and keep my business afloat.
CHAPTER
SIX 1944/1999
January/March
l944
Bevan Boys started work. These were boys
and men who were chosen to be miners whether they wanted to be or
not. 2 oranges per person available on ration. Things that are hard
to get hold of are:- dried milk, leather, and torch batteries. Book
salvage and recovery drive to replace those lost in libraries etc due
to bombing. Lemons on sale, no restrictions!
Happy
New Year! This is our 5th year on rations. Apart from the points
system slipping a little, we are still adhering to it quite happily.
The weather has been very wet and reasonably mild. Average daily
temperatures are around the 12-15C mark and night time between 2-7C
(in Norfolk anyway)
I
have been busy feeding the birds as despite the warm weather, there
is not a lot for them to eat and I need their greenfly/slug/snail
control for summer. They have nearly stripped all my plants of their
berries. They are most welcome, that is why I planted them. The
polyanthuses planted last year are beginning to flower and the
snowdrops are about 1" high. One or two daffodils have poked
their leaves through but I imagine that when the cold weather
arrives, they will stop their growth.
We
are all fine at the moment. DB’s throat operation went well and he
seems to be swallowing better. DS and I both had a horrid sore throat
and cough that lasted 3 weeks but so far, we have all escaped the
flu. The cold weather really is needed I'm sure to kill off some of
these bugs when people are outdoors coughing and spluttering. Indoors
is another matter. At the moment we are loath to go shopping due to
racking coughs and abundant sneezing. Lets face it, there is only so
much you can do holding your breath!
DS
has his birthday shortly and has invited friends around for a game of
Warhammer and pizza, hopefully not at the same time!
The
weatherman says we can expect some cold weather in the next few days,
so we had better get coal and wood into the house. In the cold
weather, I really enjoy cooking, especially soups, as they are
filling and warming. I had a go at bread making over the holidays so
once the cold weather really gets going, I shall start up again.
There is nothing better than the smell of hot bread, in a warm house,
when outside is cold and white with frost.
DS’s
birthday was a great success with him, V., D. and his dad, having a
knock-out war-hammer game, followed by tea, then the 3 boys having
another game before home-time.
As
both DS and V. are both interested in Warhammer, they stay behind after school one day a week to play in the Warhammer
club.
The
snowdrops were wonderful and the daffodils look great, many different
varieties, you tend to forget from year to year, what spring flowers
are in the garden as they have such a fleeting appearance compared to
the summer bedding which seems to go on forever.
SAD
NEWS!
Granddad
went into hospital for a small operation (so he told us) and we went up
to keep Nana company. Originally, only DB was going to go but as it
would only mean DS missing 4 days school, we all decided to go. Thank
heavens we did!
It
was quite clear from our 2nd visit to Granddad that all was not well.
The 1st visit, he looked like any frail older person after an
operation and the apparatus that surrounded him was what I expected
for the type of op he had.
Day 2 he was conscious
and well with it if in discomfort and kept asking if a certain
document had arrived and seemed agitated when we said it had not!
Still
didn't fully twig! Day 3, his neighbour in a nearside bed told us
Granddad had been very ill during the night and the ward had called
the doctors as he seemed to collapse.
At last, a sister on duty, and
we asked forthrightly to be told what was going on - terminal cancer!
Granddad looked poor but the next 2 days he rallied enough to chat to
us, still asking after the forms which we now knew were his and hers
funeral arrangements - he must have known!
Each evening, DB
and Nana visited on their own. Day 8, he was peaceful and remained so
until he died at about 2315, still in the same position as when DB
and Nana had visited. We got the dreaded phone-call to come quick but
as the nurse put the phone down, he died.
That
afternoon, as I said my normal goodbye, I waited until everyone had
left the room and told Granddad, the paperwork had arrived, stop
fighting and let go. I found out from DB, that he had said the same
thing in the evening. We both felt he needed permission to die, maybe
we were right. We all arrived to say our goodbyes, kissed him and
left.
It
took 11 days for the funeral to happen. We all knew we had to pack up
the house to move Nana with us as being 92 and nearly blind she needs
a little help even though she is capable of cooking, cleaning and
ironing etc.
We had to start packing and throwing things away whilst
Granddad was still alive, but tried hard not to cross the line of
insensitivity too often. Sleep was nil and eventually, DB and I took
some pills that the chemist recommended, they work very well.
In
the 6 weeks from Granddad going into hospital until 9th April when
Nana comes here, we shall actually only have about 15 days to clear
their house and pack. This, allowing for DS's schooling, will involve
something like 6 return journeys!!!
Thank heavens for the Easter
holiday is all I can say, even though over the 4 days of Easter, DB
and I are attending 2 separate craft fairs. Talk about gluttons for
punishment.
DS
has been an absolute brick. Being a child, he has carried on almost
as normal and has broken the tension on many occasions. Nana with J.
is on a packing and cleaning spree – J. must be in her late 70's!
Nana is unable to keep still, her way of dealing with all the changes
but she will have to slow down when she comes to us, as there isn't a
lot to do here.
Change!!!
The
weather is very changeable at the moment. Altering between warm and
sunny (one day at 26C!) down to cold, rainy and gales. The entire
garden is awakening. The snowdrops have finished, the daffodils are
in full bloom, the fruit trees are opening their buds and the
Wisteria looks like it might be very good this year. The birds are
nesting in the hedge and the Pyracantha and all is well or will be
once we are all settled.
DS
had returned to school after his 2-week absence and has seemed quite
happy. We haven't had any time to grieve but it
will come.
Easter
came and went. Both the craft fairs were truly awful, more problems.
Now, on top of everything else, I have to decide whether to give up
the business at the end of the year.
April/June
1944.
Rations increasing in some lines such as dried milk now 1 tin per
customer instead of per family. Canned sausages are points free, but
canned fruit sales are suspended. June 6th saw the start of landing
on the France beaches to begin our assault in Europe - D. Day. V1
bombers (pilot-less aircraft) are becoming more of a problem,
especially in the South, their common name - Doodlebugs.
Removal
day came and along with it the inevitable tears and anger. We shouted
back, there is only so much we can take and have decided to stop
walking on eggshells. Nana has been with us for a few days. It is
like living with a storm, never knowing when it is going to break.
There have been more vitriolic outbursts but we have shouted back and
calm is restored for a short period. We knew it wouldn't be easy but
frankly, the whole situation is awful!
Today
sees the burial of Granddads ashes (April 14th). We also have to go
and order a memorial stone, which takes about 6 weeks to arrive. We
are meeting DS off the bus then proceeding to the churchyard where a
very short ceremony will be performed. At least then Nana may have
somewhere else to aim her feelings other than at us.
On
a different theme, food - one of life’s pleasures, Nana being with
us has resulted in an increase in our rations as follows:-
Points
96, Meat £30.00, Bacon/Ham 4lb, Tea 2lb, Cheese 3lb, Butter 2lb,
Fats 2lb, Milk 50pts, Small Evaporated milk 10, Shell Eggs 16, Dried
Eggs 2 tubs every 6 weeks, Wash Powder 3kg, W.U. Liquid 2,
Conditioner 2 litres.
The
weather has altered dramatically with the arrival of cold winds,
rain, hail and snow. Some parts of the country have had several
inches but so far we have only had flurries with no settling. Last
night saw our first frost for a few weeks and daytime temps are
around 8C.
Today
is 6th May. We have walked up to the school to vote for our local
councillor. The weather has been quite warm for a week or so but
today it is cloudy. Nana has settled a bit more but can still be a
handful on occasions. We went to view a bungalow yesterday and it was
perfect for her.
She
is worried about having to get rid of some more of her bedroom
furniture but it can't be helped. There is a small lawn at the front
but a gravel garden at the back, a greenhouse, large shed, fish pond,
conservatory and a huge covered in car port which should dry clothes
nicely, if she wishes.
Have
just been to inspect my front garden. DB has surrounded the front
octagonal with bricks so the hover mower doesn't keep falling over
the edge. The rest of the lawn will have the same treatment when we
can afford it then the whole thing - except the lawn - will be
covered over with gravel to suppress the weeds. The wallflowers are
nearly over, polyanthuses have finished, the daffodils are all
deadheaded and the poppies are already in flower. All fruit blossom
has now dropped, we have cherries on the tree, 3 plums, 3 pears and
hopefully quite a few apples once they have self-dropped in June.
There
are still a few leeks in the front which are trying to flower so I
shall have to make our favourite soup, leek, pearl barley, potato and
bacon and freeze it for the next chilly spell.
DS
has been busy at school doing his end of 1st year exams. Considering
he had 3 weeks off, he is doing remarkably well - 91% in Maths, Level
5 in English (4 is the average), 95% German, 78% Science, 66%
History, the rest will follow including any corrections to my
errors!!
He
is also trying for 100% Attendance this term. Despite having a very
heavy head cold, he still attended and we were very proud of him. He
still goes after school with V. to Warhammer club and with E. on
Friday to Badminton. His other main playmate is D., they both share a
love of N64 and messing around generally. They, along with 2 older
boys, have formed a Computer Games Magazine, which they hope to sell
around school. Hope it goes well although we think they need to think
about it a bit more especially from their cost point of view.
Tonight
for tea, we have a few sausages, which I think will have to be done
as Toad in the Hole to stretch them for 4 people. Still, I can always
do a pudding if we are hungry.
Our
last fair was once again a load of rubbish, so reluctantly, we have
decided to give up the business at the end of the year and run it on
a smaller basis as a hobby, doing only those we feel would earn us a
few pounds. I've just returned my year-end tax forms and have asked
them what I have to do to wind up and how things will be affected if
I choose to do it as a hobby.
Also,
there is a bank loan to decide what to do with, how to pay it each
month etc. Maybe, we'll have one or two good fairs that will enable
us to pay a big chunk off thereby reducing the monthly payments, time
will tell.
Have
just added up our food spending for the 1st month that Nana has been
with us - £200.00 - what an increase! More bricks have been added to
the front garden, just under 40 to go then we can put down the
gravel. The irises, which I transplanted into the front last year,
have been blooming marvellous - literally!
Each
stalk has had between 6 and 9 flowers, which I have taken care to
dead head as they die. The poppies are blooming early but are a
welcome addition. I just have to transplant a few more plants as well
as buy in some late flowering perennials then the front will be
finished.
Painted
the oil tank a lovely deep blue last week, it really shows up the
greenery well. Weather is generally dry and sunny with temperatures
around 16-19C. Occasional heavy showers help to keep alive my
transplants. So far, DB’s anti-cat netting in the back garden seems
to be paying off, the cat-poo has certainly decreased in number. Have
bought an aubergine and one tomato so far but it is too early to
plant them out, also, my Scotch Bonnet seedlings are through but I
don't know if I will get any fruit on them as they are 2 months
behind schedule.
We
have another craft fair this weekend, lets hope it too is not rubbish
otherwise I shall have no chance of reducing my loan before the end
of the year. Have found a recipe for Elderflower Cordial. It is from
a book called 'Hedgerow Cookery' by Rosamund Richardson, now
discontinued.
It
smelt and tasted wonderful. I only made half the recipe to begin with
but think I shall make some more and freeze it in plastic bottles. It
keeps for many months if stored in the fridge. It has to be greatly
diluted but undiluted would be a lovely addition to ice cream,
gooseberries (jam or puddings) etc.
Made
a full batch of Elderflower Cordial and froze it for use later in the
year, it is just yummy! Have just had a few days visit from my dad
who lives in the USA. The visit went well and we had a lovely time
apart from a major outburst from Nana, who didn't like the fact I
wasn't paying her enough attention, or was jealous or something,
heaven knows. Our relationship is now well and truly strained and
even when she is behaving herself, I can't relate to her at all well.
Hopefully, completion and moving day will come soon and maybe our
lives can return more to normal. They can never be normal again as we
have the responsibility for helping to look after her but at least
she will be out of our home.
The
weather in late June has alternated between hot 26C and cooler 19C.
Most of my summer plants are finished and have been cut down. The
garden is looking very patchy but more plants are coming into flower.
I hope to go to a garden centre and get some late flowering plants to
take me through the tail end of summer and into autumn.
DS's
school had a parents evening which we attended, minus DS. They are
very pleased with him apart from the usual comment of 'he doesn't
write enough'
Today
20th June, DB, DS and I are off to an organic smallholding open day
near Watton. There are 5 acres to look around, plus plants to buy.
Although I have been a member of HDRA from many years and members
have these open days twice a year, this will be the first one I will
have visited so am looking forward to it.
July
l944/1996. Bacon ration increased from 4oz - 6oz per week. V2 rockets have
started to drop on London and southern counties with huge loss of
life and mass destruction of property.
The
weather in July has been horrendous with daily temperatures in the
30's and night-time in the late teens even early 20's! Even summer
quilts have been too hot. Our 3 little ponds have been evaporating
daily and needed constant topping up to keep the frogs happy. Yet
again, at the end of July, the wild plums have begun dropping and in
some places have gone altogether. Plants have flagged, some spring
ones are sending up new shoots! and many autumn ones are in full
colour, so yet again, come autumn, the garden will be empty.
Nana
has moved out, into her new home. We are still visiting to do a
myriad of tasks, and she still has some major outbursts but at least
we can now walk away and come home to our quiet haven, at last.
Salads
have been the order of the day in this humid, sticky weather. Most
lettuce is from our garden, the odd cucumber from a neighbour and
tomatoes still bought in but soon, we shall be eating our own. My
scotch bonnet peppers are beginning to form flower heads but as I
planted them so late, I don't know whether the weather will be good
enough for the fruit to ripen.
Rationing
continues unabated except for the odd slip-up. On the odd days of
cooler, windy weather, we actually choose a winter menu and
thoroughly enjoy it. Today, we are blowing some of our meat ration of
a huge pork chop each, with new potatoes, sweet corn and carrot, and
sage and onion stuffing - lovely. Yesterday, another cool day, we had
meat pie, potatoes and vegetables plus rice pudding and pureed apples
- from the garden.
Have
been busy reading up on chickens but realised that it had to be
either chickens or a vegetable plot, the veggies won. I really miss
home-grown vegetables and chickens would be too much like pets,
having to monitor their needs plus getting people to look after them
when we are away. On top of that, would be the glut of eggs. We are
now used to only one egg each per week/fortnight and don't think our
stomachs would accept easily, extra rations of eggs.
Slowly
but surely, the plants are being moved from my mini-allotment into
other parts of the garden. DB is going to build me a mini wooden
fence, which we shall paint blue to match the garden. The plum is
going to be moved elsewhere and the fig, once its fruits have
ripened, will go altogether. This year, it reaches over 10' with very
little reward and completely blocks off one bedrooms light and hides
a whole south-facing wall. The cherry tree in the front is also going
as it collapsed under the weight of black fly yet again.
We
are busy using up last years chutneys, jams and pickles, sauces,
fruit etc. to make way for this year’s crop.
August
- September l944/1999.
On 17th September, blackout was lifted and 'dim-out' conditions
introduced. There is a general feeling that the war will soon be
over.
Today,
19th August 1999, I have harvested some rhubarb for a crumble. The
crumble has got brown sugar and ginger in it and the rhubarb will
have some syrup for a change. DS is not too keen on rhubarb but loves
crumble and custard. I think his hormones are switching on again. He
is eating constantly and we have had to curtail his cereals in favour
of bread, which fills him up for longer and doesn't eat into our
points rationing!
DB
and DS have gone, with Nana to Ely to pick up Great Aunt J. She is
coming to visit whilst we go on our holidays - to Derbyshire. We
don't care what the weather does; it will just be so nice to get
away, no phone calls, no visits, no worries!!! DS will be back to
school in 2 weeks time - a year 8 person! He doesn't seem too worried
but we shall have to wait until the night before and see how he
sleeps.
It
is only 9 months until the end of the war. Will our rations cease? We
don't know. We feel we shall stay on them but maybe have some luxury
items and treats on top, or else we shall get the usual items but in
the good rather than economy range, time will tell. We all do know,
without a shadow of a doubt, that rationing has been a lifesaver in
this household. It has helped us remain as debt free as possible,
allowing for a few slip-ups.
It
has kept us well fed, full up and without weight gain, except for DS,
being a child with the normal age-weight ratio gains. It has kept us
fit and well. Our levels of colds and coughs has been minimum
compared to our friends and neighbours, it has increased our mental
capacities with regard to maths on the working out and constant
re-adjusting of rations.
Thoroughly
enjoyed our week away. Great Aunt J., seemed to enjoy her visit with
Nana, although she looks like she has been kept busy and in need of a
rest.
Took
Nana to the doctor who has put her on anti-depressants, a big
improvement within just one week. She has also started going to Hot
Pot lunches once a fortnight and seems to enjoy it.
DS
started back at school with no worries. His merits points grow
unabated and he now seems well settled. He says he is determined to
get a parker pen from a school for a full year attendance. By
Christmas, he has achieved his first term with full attendance.
L.,
my nephew will be coming for Christmas and New Year, he is excited,
as being an orphan, doesn’t get many opportunities to celebrate
with family members.
October/November
l944/l999
– Cheese rations rose from 2oz to 3oz. Milk is in very short supply
and is at 1 pt per person per week. Coal and golden syrup shortage.
Weather is very bad with heavy rain and gales. Frost has now joined
the rain and gales. Home Guard was stood down. Christmas cards are
very expensive and there are no Christmas crackers or currants
around.
L.
thoroughly enjoyed Christmas. We had lamb with all the trimmings and
a sponge pudding with mincemeat stirred in to add flavour. Nana was
with us for tea on Christmas Eve after which we opened our 75p
pressies, great fun.
She
came for all of Christmas day until early evening and seemed to enjoy
herself, then on Boxing Day, we had both her and P., a neighbour. We
played games and had a reasonable time allowing for Nana who is
finding it more and more difficult to join in due to her poor
eyesight and memory for remembering the rules!
On
New Years Eve, everyone in the cul-de-sac, decided to have a street
B/B/Q., to bring in the New Millennium. It was brilliant, probably
the best celebration I have had for a long while. We all managed to
stay up to bring in the year but after that, we went to bed although
we could hear the party still going strong at 3.30am!
January 1945/2000
– Petrol on sale again hardly any coal is available. Seville
oranges are for sale but there is no extra sugar. The weather is
intensely cold. In February and March, grapefruit and other citrus
fruit became available.
Happy
New Year, Century, Millennium! Went
to Nana's for Sunday dinner on January 2nd
then took L. to the bus station to return to Lincoln.
DS
returned to school quite happily and celebrated his birthday by
staying at home! He got £75.00 in cash, a torch, kite, some pens and
sweets. He was very pleased and after paying his debt to us of
£20.00, is spending the rest on a new N64 game. I baked him, as
requested a chocolate, coffee and lemon marbled cake, decorated with
lemon icing, walnuts and orange & lemon jelly fruit. Yum, yum,
even used real eggs and butter.
The
weather in January has been a mixture of nightly frosts and cold
windy days, combined with warm but wet days. The vegetable patch out
the back is almost complete, just one large piece of concrete to lift
to finish it off. The plum tree seems to have survived its move but
we’ll only really know in Spring, if it sprouts leaves.
February
1945/2000
Today
is February 1st
and it is sunny and mild but with quite a gusty wind. DB is busy
mending the bath as the taps sprang a leak and whilst fixing those,
we realised that the plug must have had quite a long-term small leak
judging by the completely rusted away drip tray!!!
The
bathroom is now on a major over-haul. The toilet leaked severely a
few weeks ago, mended that. Then the sink felt left out and its taps
started to drip, mended that. Obviously it was too much for the bath
itself, which decided to go all out and have a major swoon!
DB
simply could not disconnect the taps so he had to saw through them
and the pipes, rip the bath out and re-position the bath, 6”
backwards to give himself more room to work. Now the whole bathroom
will need re-decorating but it was a job that was supposed to be done
after the dining room. Ah well, such is life.
Tomorrow,
Wednesday 2nd
February, we are off on a day trip down to London to see the Imperial
War Museum, at long last. DS has a day off school, so we hope to
catch an early train, take a full days pack up and not return home
till early evening.
I
hope to sow my tomatoes and peppers at the end of this month as last
year, with regards to Granddad, everything was too late to give a
good harvest.
Enjoyed
our trip to London. I was a little disappointed with the Imperial War
Museum, as I had hoped it would have a few more domestic settings.
Come the next morning DS was feeling very sick and ended taking the
day off school, which unfortunately put paid to the good start of a
whole school year without illness. Now he has to wait until September
to start again.
Got
my seedlings started in the heated propagator and they took only a
week to come through. Have given Nana some of my vegetable seeds to
encourage her to grow a few things.
February
has on the whole been wonderful month weather wise. Lots of warm
sunny days, which we shall no doubt pay for later in Spring.
March
1945/2000
March
saw another upheaval in our lives, this time in the form of the
taxman. I phoned him up to asked a legal question about my business
transactions and was informed that I had to close my glass painting
business if I wished to carry on doing work for the data base chap.
What a task. It even involved changing banks and accounts and filling
out 3 tax forms, which I shall have to have help with.
I’m
almost done on that score and once I’ve seen the taxman to finish
the paper work, it will be all done and dusted.
March
saw more reasonable weather and a grand response in the garden.
Everything is growing well and yet again, some plants have gone mad
and started flowering early. The vegetables are coming along nicely
and the plum tree is in leaf so that’s good. The apple and pear
blossom is out and the frosts have arrived, as is often the case with
pear blossom so yet again, we shall have few pears no doubt.
DS
has been busy at school taking his yearly exams to check he is on
course for everything. He has done very well with results from
78%-92%. His English has been marked down and we are not happy with
the teacher, as he doesn’t seem to be helping DS much with his
problem areas. I really must go and see him!!
April
- June 1945/2000
Paper and envelopes in short supply. President Roosevelt died. Hitler
dead. Air-raid warning system stopped. London tube stations closed as
air-raid shelters. May 8th
V.E. Day!!
May
10th
Channel Islands free.
April
has arrived in its usual unstable format. Warm sunny days followed by
cold wet windy days, warm nights chased by frosty ones. Easter is
late this year and is followed immediately by the May bank holiday so
the schools have an extra day off. Decided to go away for a week
over Easter to get a break. Went on a canal boat, which we haven’t
done for nearly 11 years. DS was 18 months old when we last went.
The
weather was very changeable with 2 very hot sunny days with cool
winds, which resulted in sunburn. 2 very wet and extremely windy days
which found us struggling to get the boat out of the locks. The rest
of the time was mild and cloudy. The boat wasn’t too bad but
generally we had a good time and DS managed to open and close 60
locks. Not bad for such a young chap!
I
have ceased monitoring our shopping but still find that generally we
are on war rations. It has simply become a way of life. We do eat
more fruit and treat ourselves to special foods every now and then.
The bill has risen by about £40.00 per month but we’re sure quite
a lot of that is general food price increases.
It
looks as though protecting the pear blossom has worked. At long last,
we have a small but worthwhile crop of 10 pears. The apples
originally set but have all fallen off. The beetroot and parsnip
seeds have been rubbish but the potatoes are all growing well. The
weather is reasonably warm but very wet.
July/September
1945/2000.
August 6th and 9th saw the USA drop two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in an attempt to end the war with Japan. The Japanese
surrendered on August 14th which became know as VJ Day.
The
summer is so cool and wet. None of the vegetables seem to be doing
well. No apples, no plums, hardly any vegetables except peas, which
are thriving in the damp with no sign so far of mildew, amazing.
The
problem with earning money when you are not used to it is that you
have more to spend and spend it you do. We feel lucky that we are at
last able to buy the clothes we have needed for so long and also to
get items in the house replaced or repaired. The cost of this is that
the zing seems to have gone out of everything. War rations are
relatively the same; as food shopping in this manner has become a
habit. It is oh so easy to just pick this up, then that and before
you know it, the shopping comes to over £200 for the month, unheard
of for the last 5 years. We are becoming lazy, not too worried if
this or that doesn’t grow – we can always buy it – can’t say
I like this new found wealth.
My
nephew L. came for a holiday in August. Although we didn’t go out
much, he seemed to enjoy the break and has been invited again for
Christmas.
Forgot
to mention. We now have 3 guinea pigs. I had one as a child. It got
its head chewed off by a rat so these live indoors with us. They
appear to have no smell, except a strange, sweet smell when the
toilet is full so have invested in cat litter which is working well.
They are called Gerty, Daisy and Maple. Gerty and Daisy are an
obvious choice because of Gert and Daisy from WWII. Maple because she
is maple syrup coloured.
They
are quite comical to watch especially when running around at full
pelt. They have quite a turn of speed as well as the nifty trick of
being able to leap, turn a full 180 degrees whilst in the air, land
and still be running. They all have different voices, although Maple
utters a constant scream at times. She is finding the ‘pecking’
order a bit difficult to understand and generally seems not as
intelligent as the other two.
They
all have a similar taste in food with little individual likes and
dislikes. We think they will cost us about £10.00 a month. Can only
hope they don’t need the vet much as I gather vets bills are a bit
on the steep side.
End
of September and still all is not well in the garden. The summer
flowers fell by the wayside, the autumn flowers started in July so
yet again, the autumn garden will be a bit flat.
This
is where I end my story, hope you have enjoyed it!
This is a wonderful record of your son's formative years...what a discipline to have installed in to you at the age where life long patterns develop x
ReplyDeleteI've just read through all the War Diaries. A brilliant read and very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them, we certainly enjoyed living them!
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