Hi Folks, As a child in the 1930's and 40's we moved about a lot. It didn't particularly occur to me wonder why at the time, in some ways it seemed to me like adventures. I knew we weren't well off, but we were warm and loved. However, recently I was sent my Father's notes on his life. Not really a diary just observations and this and some chats with my elder sister has given me some clues. Rent of a few shillings a week was hard to find so if they put the rent up we had to move. One of my sisters had a 'weak chest' and often these cheap places to live were in undesirable places from her health point of view, so we had to move. Remember that medicine was not what it is today. Often in doing this they 'jumped out of the frying pan into the fire' and so had to move yet again. At one time Dad was working in Banbury in order to get work at all and so was away all week. He cycled to and from there in all weathers each week and home for the weekend. We were living in Brinklow, Bretford and Coventry. Mam who was the 'manager' of the house, felt she had to make sure he had a bit of money in his pocket as he was away, so she sometimes ended up with only a shilling to get the other six of us through the week! She had to find a way. This resulted in knocks on the door at all sorts of ungodly hours and it would be some little urchin saying 'tell yer Mam to come quick, me Mam's started'. After a quick admonition to us to behave, she was off to help. She would also take in washing for others while they had their 'lying in'. Cleaning was another job she did. There is a lovely picture of me winning a baby prize and apparently I was dressed from top to toe in re-cycled Shantung silk cami knickers... a gift from some lady Mam cleaned for! This had been lovingly hand stitched into a dress and kickers in what was left of the evening after all this work was done. The Wattis's next door had a fish and chip business, so my family earned money peeling spuds for them in the evenings.... 1 hundredweight on weekdays, 2 on Fridays and 3 on Saturdays! Later in the 40's when my sisters were older they had a job in the shroud factory which was, of course, very busy during the war. They used to make these all day and very fine they often were, having hand embroidery and smocking on them. In the evenings they used to bring home 'outwork' to do. Making hundreds of bows and rosettes out of satin, also to be stitched on the shrouds. This brought in a little extra money and all could help in some way. I think my job was to count them and stash them ready to go back next morning. It's amazing what you can do if need must! Dorothy -- Dorothy Gibbs (in Hertfordshire UK)