Oh, those were the days, my little fat chopped friend. We lived in a two up two down cottage, which was heated by a coal fire in one room. Hot water came by way of a big old geyser, eventually being replaced by a more modern version (pictured). In winter we had several army blankets on the beds, so
bleeping heavy that once you found a comfortable position, you stayed in it all night, such was the effort to move.
We knew all our neighbours, and we called them all ‘Mr’ or ‘Mrs’ - we were never allowed to use Christian names.
I walked to school every day. I went to Brownies, guides, youth club, Sunday school, I sang in the choir for many years. (I was thrown out of said choir, but no matter…..)
The shops closed on Tuesday afternoons, Sunday shopping was just not a thing, and shops that opened after about 6pm were almost non existent.
We had one holiday every year, it was in the U.K. We went on a coach.
If my mother ever had a UTI, she’d take out an ad in the Oldham Chronicle…….. ok, I’m lying. I never heard my mother discuss ‘down there’ with anyone, ever.
Power cuts were a thing, making toast with a toasting fork over the fire was a thing, getting a
bleeping good hiding for swearing was also a thing (it clearly did me the world of good…..)
So there you are my little chubby pal, there you have little glimpse into my childhood.