I came across this on Facebook this morning and identified with it immediately. I suspect none of my readers will share my reaction, all of you being so young that is. However, I understood all of this. What memories returned, childhood, games played, fears, the wireless and malnutrition. All the good things we remember from the 'good old days' when everything was better!
Pasta we never had, though we might have occasionally had spaghetti, not something parents enjoyed dealing with when kids are around, and curry was something dad talked of connected to his two years service in Poona in the days of long ago. Pizza was of course unknown.
'Smiths Crisps,' sometimes a whole big box full of them, came supplied with wee blue bags of salt, to sprinkle among the contents, several wee blue bags in the big box.
Indeed, rice pudding and hardly ever real white rice. Not that this would feed us mind. Potato soup, bread to dunk, and spam fritters or fish and home cooked chips were mainstays.
'Camp Coffee,' I always liked that. It was the only coffee we had, very pricey, and unusual but kept for company when they arrived. There used to be an army officer with bright tartan braid on the front being served by an Indian servant. This was changed and the servant became an Indian Officer about 30 years ago! Never see it now.
'Heinz Beans,' though I remember 'Crosse & Blackwell' also existed. Yoghurt however did not until I was well into secondry school, so about 1965 I would say. I had one, rotten it was, and never had another for 25 years.
I do not know who wrote that but I understand it well. They missed out gray ex-army blankets stamped WD, on the bed with your overcoat on top to help the warmth. Jack Frost on the windows and pound, shilling and pence in your pocket. Too many and you leant to one side.
The SNP struggle continues. Having established his right to use information at his hearing Alec Salmond has now learned the Crown Office (friends with whom?) wishes some evidence to be withheld. This is intriguing as this has already been published somewhere. The games people play. Who is behind this move, who benefits, who wins? Find out in next weeks (or days) exciting chapter...
4 comments:
I used to know people to whom that use of the car would have appeared normal....happy days!
Leo remembers those army blankets...made, appropriately enough, from shoddy. They were heavy but gave no warmth but to this day he needs a heavy coverlet to get off to sleep.
His first Saturday job as a lad of about seven - yes, I know, but this was Wales - was putting salt into blue paper twists and then doing up the bags of crisps with a stapler....clearly he did not work for Smiths!
Frost on the inside of the window panes...all too common...as was trying not to burn your fingers on the penny you had heated to apply to it.! Never had enough coins to imitate the leaning tower of Pisa, though...
The Salmond evidence has to be blocked at all costa, it seems....at the moment his lawyers donlt want him to appear in case he is stitched up for something else he hasn't done...interesting times!
YOu'll be glad (???) to know that Camp Coffee is still going. Sadly in a plastic bottle, and new lettering. What's the matter with these people? I found an even older image for it than you describe, and it's a Scottish one, too! https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/17451517282035926/
They all ring a bell with me Mr A. No elbows on the table and having to ask to leave the table. Also having to use a knife and fork properly.
Fly, Aye, the Salmond case has a lot to uncover. Stapling crisp packets? A good career move? Those blankets were not warm, and I expect dad brought one home everytime he had leave while in the army!
Jenny, Great picture! 'Camp' must be a seller in the better shops.
Dave, Knife and fork, sloppy eating means I have forgotten all those rules.
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