ChaoticMusings

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

We are in for a hard winter.

Magica · Go Outside

No we went thorough in the 70s, coming home to a dark house when a teen, lighted candles, didn't bother us at all.. I loved it. So if it happens again, it won't bother me.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Magica wrote:
No we went thorough in the 70s, coming home to a dark house when a teen, lighted candles, didn't bother us at all.. I loved it. So if it happens again, it won't bother me.

It does bother me Mags.

I know of a lot of people who are really struggling now, I have even heard some people have turned their fridges off they are so afraid of using the electric.

Obviously I remember the 70's too....and the blackouts.

I dont remember people being so poor they had to choose between keeping warm or eating.

Magica · Go Outside

True Syl, life was different then.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.

Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.

Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.

Date: Oct 22 1:02 PM, 2022

Someone said that inflation is a tax on the poor. I have noticed that the price of many cheap food items has gone up by about 30 to 50% (cheap items in budget supermarkets) compared to food items that were higher priced to begin with.

Separate to this some supermarket shelves are still fairly bare, with some of the cheaper items no longer available. This seems to be due to ongoing transport issues caused by previous covid lockdowns - there were claims that this led to a lack of lorry drivers (is that still a problem?) - and by supply issues associated with Brexit and a failure to obtain reliable alternative supplies.

Magica · Go Outside

Exactly, we had good meals. None of the take aways as a meal but fish and chips on occasion as a treat.I

No phones, computers etc. Life was much simpler but better imo. We never went without.

-- Edited by Magica on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 03:24:09 PM

Maddog · Go Outside

Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.

That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.

True, I didn't even realise we were poor.

Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.

There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.

I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.

Digger · Admin

Those of us who remember the austerity of the 70's won't be that bothered, or at least we won't whine about it. The problem with anybody born after 1980s is that they've known nothing but relative prosperity. If anyone is living in real poverty in the here and now, they'll experience little change. In fact, they'll be better off than we were because at least the benefits system is better and there are food banks. There was fuck all when I was 20 odd living as a single mother. I had no fridge, no TV, no mod cons at all. And I had to wash 25 terry nappies by hand and walk everywhere. No wonder I was a size 8.

-- Edited by Digger on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 10:23:26 PM

Digger · Admin

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.
True, I didn't even realise we were poor.
Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.
There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.
I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.

We had gas fires in both downstairs living rooms and that was it. My mum would put a paraffin heater in the bathroom when it got really bitter. I remember ice and frost on the inside of the windows every morning in winter. And you'd see your breath in the bedrooms. Fuck me, it was really cold. We never went hungry because we'd fill up with bread and butter, or toast. But we never got sweets or biscuits or crisps unless it was the weekend. We were all skinny and we were never ill.

When the power cuts came, we'd have to go to bed and read by candlelight, or just go to bed and sleep. I seem to recall that the lights went off around 9 or 10 and didn't come on til the next morning. We never had fridges or freezers so that didn't really affect us.

Digger · Admin

Magica wrote:
Exactly, we had good meals. None of the take aways as a meal but fish and chips on occasion as a treat.I

No phones, computers etc. Life was much simpler but better imo. We never went without.

-- Edited by Magica on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 03:24:09 PM

I remember you could go to the local phone box and tap the phone and get free calls.

Digger · Admin

Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
No we went thorough in the 70s, coming home to a dark house when a teen, lighted candles, didn't bother us at all.. I loved it. So if it happens again, it won't bother me.
It does bother me Mags.
I know of a lot of people who are really struggling now, I have even heard some people have turned their fridges off they are so afraid of using the electric.
Obviously I remember the 70's too....and the blackouts.
I dont remember people being so poor they had to choose between keeping warm or eating.

I think that was because people mostly kept warm by using warm clothing, I know we did. We were so poor at one point, that my mum, when she was pregnant with my brother, her husband had to go steal some brussels sprouts from a field nearby. She needed the nutrition that badly. There was no help in those days. It was really bad.

-- Edited by Digger on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 10:38:53 PM

Magica · Go Outside

Digger wrote:
Magica wrote:
Exactly, we had good meals. None of the take aways as a meal but fish and chips on occasion as a treat.I

No phones, computers etc. Life was much simpler but better imo. We never went without.

-- Edited by Magica on Saturday 22nd of October 2022 03:24:09 PM
I remember you could go to the local phone box and tap the phone and get free calls.

And sometimes money would come.out

Date: Oct 23 12:26 AM, 2022

Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

AHHHH twas, we ad us brwead un't dwripping foar us tea

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

AHHHH twas, we ad us brwead un't dwripping foar us tea

Bread and dripping butties, the dripping had all the congealed meat juices in it...they were lovely. :

Bread and jam.

Sugar butties.

Beans on toast was a favourite.

You can mock, but that was the reality....and kids were slim, fit and healthy.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.
True, I didn't even realise we were poor.
Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.
There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.
I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.
We had gas fires in both downstairs living rooms and that was it. My mum would put a paraffin heater in the bathroom when it got really bitter. I remember ice and frost on the inside of the windows every morning in winter. And you'd see your breath in the bedrooms. Fuck me, it was really cold. We never went hungry because we'd fill up with bread and butter, or toast. But we never got sweets or biscuits or crisps unless it was the weekend. We were all skinny and we were never ill.
When the power cuts came, we'd have to go to bed and read by candlelight, or just go to bed and sleep. I seem to recall that the lights went off around 9 or 10 and didn't come on til the next morning. We never had fridges or freezers so that didn't really affect us.

You had a bathroom? We had a tin bath kept in the cellar.

Maddog · Go Outside

Syl wrote:
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.
True, I didn't even realise we were poor.
Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.
There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.
I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.
We had gas fires in both downstairs living rooms and that was it. My mum would put a paraffin heater in the bathroom when it got really bitter. I remember ice and frost on the inside of the windows every morning in winter. And you'd see your breath in the bedrooms. Fuck me, it was really cold. We never went hungry because we'd fill up with bread and butter, or toast. But we never got sweets or biscuits or crisps unless it was the weekend. We were all skinny and we were never ill.
When the power cuts came, we'd have to go to bed and read by candlelight, or just go to bed and sleep. I seem to recall that the lights went off around 9 or 10 and didn't come on til the next morning. We never had fridges or freezers so that didn't really affect us.
You had a bathroom? We had a tin bath kept in the cellar.

Was this the 1960's or the 1860's?

Date: Oct 23 11:33 AM, 2022

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.
True, I didn't even realise we were poor.
Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.
There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.
I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.
We had gas fires in both downstairs living rooms and that was it. My mum would put a paraffin heater in the bathroom when it got really bitter. I remember ice and frost on the inside of the windows every morning in winter. And you'd see your breath in the bedrooms. Fuck me, it was really cold. We never went hungry because we'd fill up with bread and butter, or toast. But we never got sweets or biscuits or crisps unless it was the weekend. We were all skinny and we were never ill.
When the power cuts came, we'd have to go to bed and read by candlelight, or just go to bed and sleep. I seem to recall that the lights went off around 9 or 10 and didn't come on til the next morning. We never had fridges or freezers so that didn't really affect us.
You had a bathroom? We had a tin bath kept in the cellar.
Was this the 1960's or the 1860's?

It neither is nor was normal in Britain. What you’ve got to remember is that these two come from very lower class urban stock. They come from a big poor industrial city where back to back terraced housing was the norm. Think Coronation Street.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
True Syl, life was different then.

It was, we had a lot less of the things that seem to be so important nowadays, and life was definitely harder, but we were used to it, so it didn't have such an impact.
Poor as we were, and I certainly was, I don't remember being hungry or cold.
Mind you, it was coal fires and home cooked food back then, not central heating in every room and expensive processed food.
That's the innocence of childhood.

We aren't really aware of the stress our parents are going through, during hard times. They protect you from "life".

It's much different when you're an adult. You can empathize more with others who are suffering.
True, I didn't even realise we were poor.
Regarding the cold, we had fireplaces in each bedroom when I was growing up, they were never lit though, and I do remember icicles forming on the windows inside, we would break them off.
There was always a fire in the kitchen where we lived, and on special occasions one in the parlour as well.
I dont ever remember being hungry, but we ate very simple food.
We had gas fires in both downstairs living rooms and that was it. My mum would put a paraffin heater in the bathroom when it got really bitter. I remember ice and frost on the inside of the windows every morning in winter. And you'd see your breath in the bedrooms. Fuck me, it was really cold. We never went hungry because we'd fill up with bread and butter, or toast. But we never got sweets or biscuits or crisps unless it was the weekend. We were all skinny and we were never ill.
When the power cuts came, we'd have to go to bed and read by candlelight, or just go to bed and sleep. I seem to recall that the lights went off around 9 or 10 and didn't come on til the next morning. We never had fridges or freezers so that didn't really affect us.
You had a bathroom? We had a tin bath kept in the cellar.
Was this the 1960's or the 1860's?

Cheeky.

It was the 1960's early 70's.

We (my mum and me) were then rehoused as it was a slum clearance area.

Thankfully, from then on, it was good going....we could have a bath in a proper bathroom.