The series of books (3) called 'Before I forget....' are still available. They contain stories similar to this, written by members of the Banbury List. See the Banburyshire Website for further details. When I get some spare time, I plan to do another set. The trouble is, time is in short supply. I tried to get some from Sainsbury's, but they were out of it. They did try to extend the date on their stock, but due to a recent TV report, they were banned by trading standards!! (In joke for those in the UK!!). Ian -----Original Message----- From: Geyer Family <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, 26 May 2007 1.59am Subject: Re: [BAN] Still reminiscing on 30s/ 40s and so on! WOW, Have you ever thought of writing a book? You sound like you have a onderful colorful history and you should share it with the world! tories like that are slowly fading away. I am reminded by smells of ate of the river I grew up next to and the times my friends and I would get lost" on the river for hours at a time. And we were only 11 and 2! I wouldn't dare let my 11 year old go out like that these days! an Geyer exas USA ollyp wrote: Hi Lister Friends, When reminiscing about my earlier days I forgot two things that quite ften were my responsibiliy. This time it wasn't Mum that I had to satisfy, but ad! A Sunday task could be to make the mustard---Coleman's of course, the owdered sort from the yellow tin. I don't know what Dad would make nowadays of ll the varieties, and his elder daughter's liking for the jars of whole-grain ustard! Anyway the mustard had to be just the right consistency. Sometimes it as mixed with vinegar instead of water, as it keeps nice for longer. We didn't ave clear wrap to put over to seal it away from the air, in those days. Then sometimes the family shoes were my lot! Now Dad spent his formative ears in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, with service in India. Spit and polish as ingrained into him. He had firm ideas of cleaning and shining shoes, ncluding the instep between heel and sole! (Help, I was so carried away I lmost wrote "soul"!!!!!). Of course, alluding to my earlier missive, errand running was a constant ccupation because in the 30s/40s, buying in supplies had to be done on a daily asis; since refrigeration was not common. Fish was rushed inland from the oast, packed in ice, and rapidly became very smelly---you bought only what you equired for the one meal. Ditto for meats and other perishables At that time housekeeping was still very time-consuming and labour ntensive for most. I spare a thought for Mum carrying those heavy shopping ags, whenever I load up the boot ---with the loot---after a session at the upermarket. I remember her staggering home with full bags, or sometimes using oy's pushchair to convey the fruit and veges she was able to buy so cheaply ate on a Saturday night, prewar. It hasn't always been so easy for me, either, as in the late 70s, newly idowed, and living 10 kms from town and with our only transport being bikes, hopping was often onerous. A trip to town was OK. but the return journey with he prevailing wind and the gradient of the valley against me, was exhausting. I ad a saddle bag and panniers to hold my purchases---and besides shopping in own used to roam far and wide to the many little roadside produce stalls. These ave vanished now that the grapes have taken over from the orchards and market ardens. It was hard work at the time, but as Rhoda has said, when she had her amily in her tied cottage, we were happy! Down in the fastness of Nydia Bay I ad four children in 41/4 years, but didn't find them a burden. I never otti-trained them as when I could see that the time was right they stayed dry nd I could dispense with nappies! My laziness that way avoided much heartache n both sides!!! And I enjoyed my children's baby days, revelled in bath times nd seeing them in clean clothes; but didn't expect them to stay clean for long! hey loved their farm life, and fortunately had a wonderful, although too short time with their father. Regards, Muriel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ British History Online ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ttp://www.british-history.ac.uk/ ritish History Online ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message ________________________________________________________________________ Get a FREE AOL Email account with 2GB of storage. Plus, share and store photos and experience exclusively recorded live music Sessions from your favourite artists. Find out more at http://info.aol.co.uk/joinnow/?ncid=548.