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| Fergus OMore:
Ah, well! It's rather nice to think that so far I must be the oldest- to write :loco: I can recall 'milk monitors' who issued 1/3rd pints of milk and 'ink monitors' who went around topping up the china inkwells to use the steel nibbed pens! I can even remember school -when it was open only half days a week whilst the air raid shelters were being built. I was 9 and old enough to recall the cutting down of iron railings-- to make munitions. Now that's economy! All the aluminium pans were being re-cycled to make-- Spitfires. These cost -or so they said a vast £5000. The swarf from the railings and pans made icendiary bombs. I recall us having to put a practice one out with a weird and wonderful hand pump in preparation for when the Germans dropped the real ones. They didn't mention that they would have 7 bombs and a dud- or so we thought. Ah, well :bang: I couldn't remember exactly what we had to eat but Wikipedia seems to detail what is a definite cure for obsesity. There was NO fat people on British wartime rations. Someone found a use for chalk- yea, we had it on school blackboards but it was ground up as well- and added to the bread. Great for indigestion-- they sell it now in pricey prescriptions. I got to 11- the boys got back from Dunkirk and they were put up in the church halls and miners halls. At least, the places were getting some use which is far from today. Clothing was 'handme downs' and I recall my mother making collars for my couple of shirts from the shirt tails- and the new tail was a bit from a worn out pillow case. Footwear for a growing lad was a problem but we got coupons or points and got clogs which used up less points and these were soled with wood with steel edges. Absolutely fantastic on an icy school yard. I got to 11 and spent much of my time tearing up bits of newspapers into tiny bits to be mixed with animal glue and plaster- to make relief maps for the local Home Guard. I can't recall making much progress in education but the rest of the time was spent making models of airplanes and ships and things to go on show when there were appeals to buy planes and things. Someone mentioned razor blades, once they were too blunt for a father to use, they went to carve models and sharpening was by using water and a piece of broken glass. Perhaps that's enough from a generation that is still about now and knows how to go Green |
| DaveH:
Hi --- Quote from: Fergus OMore on February 15, 2012, 12:38:07 PM ---All the aluminium pans were being re-cycled to make-- Spitfires. These cost -or so they said a vast £5000. --- End quote --- The sad fact was not one aluminium pot (or pan) was recycled to make anything during the war years. However it was a good moral booster. Don't forget all the coal fires burning, approx 16 million in Britain. Remember the "pea soupers" :beer: DaveH |
| Fergus OMore:
I wonder whether you are right about the aluminium -the Germans certainly re-cycled our crashed aircraft. As for 'pea soupers', it was the Dark Satanic Mills long before the War. I recall the strawberry jam that was made from turnips and wood chips- more than one way of going 'Green' :hammer: I was looking at a book that was written by an old mate of mine called' Barlow- Some Early Recollections'. It was written by Colonel Alex Johnson MBE, TD, DL. and is available free on the web. Alex and I come from adjoining pit villages of Tyneside and we meet up now and again at banquets etc. Alex tells the story of how they were so poor that the bedding was washed out sugar bags. It's a great read. |
| DaveH:
Norman, I can remember some "pea soupers" after the war, on a bus with my mom, the bus driver stopped the bus we all had to get off. Had to walk the 3 miles home half way it started to rain the smog lifted, got home dripping wet just as the bus went past. :beer: DaveH |
| Deko:
Hi Ade What are RAZORS, :scratch: Oh!! i just about remember using one about 55 years ago. :coffee: Just use scissors about once a month now. How's that for green, (sorry its very grey now) :lol: Cheers Derek |
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