General Chat

Although I was born at the end of the war and my earliest memories were as a small tot just after the war years, there are some things about everyday life that I recall which I know went on during the war. Simple little things like scrubbing the front doorstep whiter than white every day. My grandmother religiously used to do this like most other housewives. At the time, having a brilliant and clean white doorstep was considered a sign to the outside world that everything was as equally clean inside the house. How things have changed.

Where there was carpet, it was never wall to wall. It was more of a large square rug that covered most of the floor but about six inches of floorboard or linoleum was left showing around the edges. I do now know why but it was certainly considered the fashion at the time. Red Cardinal polish was frequently applied to the floor and the smell used to permeate the entire house. My Grannie was still using it in 1970 and when I used to visit her, I could smell the polish as I entered the front door from the fresh air. The smell always used to trigger a sort of aromatic memory of my childhood.

There was no toothpaste then. It was either a sort of powder or it came in a hard round block in a shallow tin. The tin was domed at the top and the hard block of tooth cleanser also had a small moulded hollow on top. This was to allow one to rub a wet toothbrush around in circles on the block gathering a little tooth cleanser on the brush as one did so. The edges of the tin quickly became rusty but that did not stop us using it.

Washing up liquid did not exist at the time and it was normally soapflakes dissolved in very hot water that was used for all cleaning purposes, both crockery and clothes. A little bag of "blue" was added to the whites. My grandparents said that if you ate fish, the smell of the fish remained on the cutlery and would not wash off. After every fish meal, they used to take the knives and forks into the garden and sink them into the earth for a day. They said that this neutralised the smell.

My grandparents had a television although I do not think this was used until the early 1950's The televison was contained in a long wooden radiogram type piece of furniture, the lid of which used to prop up at a 45 degree angle. On the underside of the lid was a mirror and the televsion used to point upwards at the lid and the mirror from within the cabinet and viewers used to sit at watch the tiny TV screen reflected in the mirror. Half the street came into the house to watch the coronation on this one incredibally tiny screen. My favourite programme as a young child was a puppet called Hank the cowboy who had an arch enemy named Mexican Pete. Not many people seem to remember Hank but he has always stuck in my mind. A few years ago, I went to an Antiques Roadshow program in Somerset. While I was waiting in a queue for my "precious" antiques to be appraised, I noticed Michael Aspel a short distance away interviewing someone who had a model of Hank on a table. I instantly know who it was when I saw him, Hank that is not Michael Aspel. It was a cut away model with Hank sitting on a horse but with the bottom of Hank and the horse missing. If I recall correctly, I could see wires coming from underneath that were probably pulled to operate the model. Unrfortunately I was away on holiday when that particular edition of the Antiques Roadshow was screened so I never got to hear the story behind this particular model.

Michael

The other thing i recalled after I posted my last message was the front parlour with lace curatins halfway up the window and which also contained the best furniture etc. This was reserved for visitors and Christmas only. Everything inside the parlour was kept spotless even though it remained unused for most of the year. As small children the rules were very simple and very clear. If we so much as touched the doorhandle, the punishment was instant death.

When visitor did come, sandwiches and biscuits were always made availible. Although no one ever said so, visitors always used to discreetly lift the edge of the sandwich to see if it was buttered up to the edge. Depending on whether it was totally buttered or not was taken as a sign of the families affluence.

Michael

Regarding tooth paste. There was a wartime jingle

Little Miss, pretty Miss
Clean your teeth with Dentifrice
Here's a sixpence bright and new
A tin of Gibbs 'twill buy for you


Snowie

Two makes of cigarette I remember were Wills whiffs and woodbines (or coffin nails). they use to be sold in 5's in a little green open topped paper packet. Dad used to send me to the corner shop for 5 wills or woods. Jean

N

Youll wonder where the yellow went
When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!!!!

I cant believe that none of us has mentioned that old standby the Utility mark. Two black halfmoons side by side on everything from underwear to furniture. It was a guarantee to shoppers that the goods were made to a good standard and value for money. The opposite were luxury goods which were few and far between. I have furniture in my bed room with this mark(or the WD mark). I had a sheet that my M.i.l gave me until 1980, so they were definitely good value. Jean

Listening to Journey into Space (in the dark!)
Dick Barton too.

Tooth powder or salt to clean teeth.

Will Snowie and Jock survive the Pyrhana fish in trying to cross the river

Listen in tomorrow night at Quarter to Seven to find out

Mac

I cant remember if I have said this already

I can remember cutting bits of cardboard to fit inside my shoes when I had holes in the bottom, it stopped the gravel sticking in the bottom of my feet

If I saw a boy at school wearing underpants, I always thought they were rich

Mac

I have used SOOT from the chimney to clean my teeth,and a spinster great aunt once said when she was visiting us."go and get a small piece of coal from the bunker and wash it"I didn't realise what it was for until she put it in her mouth and sucked it,supposedly for indigestion.That could be right,as my dad used to buy charcoal tablets at the chemist for that purpose.
Maybe you still get them possibly in a Health shop!

that should bring some stories I am pleased this thread is still going Maz

What about Glen Miller and his band playing In The Mood while an air raid was supposed to be going on and they kept ducking for cover and then started up again to continue playing. That always brings back war memories for me.
Margaret.

Glen miller reminds me of army mess balls etc Maz

I've retyped this so that it can be read more clearly. I'll delete the previous thread
Snowie

1. Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye
2. it’s a long way to Tipperary
3. Pack up your troubles
4. I’ve got sixpence
5. There’ll always be an England
6. Kiss me goodnight Sgt Major
7. Anchors away
8. Bye Bye blackbird
9. Won’t you come home Bill Bailey
10 When the Saints go marching in
11 Lambeth Walk
12 Run Rabbit run
13 Bless ‘em all
14 I don’t want to set the world on fire
15 You’ll never know
16 Yours
17 I’ll be with you in apple blossom time
18 Don’t sit under the apple tree
19 Boogie Woogy Bugle boy from company B
20 I haven’t said thanks for that lovely weekend
21 In room five hundred and four
22 I had the craziest dream
23 I’m looking over a four leave clover
24 Dilly Dilly Dally
25 Any old iron
26 Baby face
27 She’ll be coming round the mountain
28 Yes sir that’s my baby
29 Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition
30 Coming in on a wing and a prayer
31 Bei mir bist du schoen
32 Yes my Darling daughter
33 Beer barrel polka
34 Rum and coca Cola
35 When the lights go on again all over the world
36 The last time I saw Paris
37 The White cliffs of Dover
38 Lili Marlene
39 This is the army Mr Jones
40 Oh Johnny
41 All the nice girls love a sailor
44 We’re going to hang out our washing on the Siegfried line
45 Who do you think your kidding Mr Hitler
46 When they sound the last all clear
47 As time goes by
48 You’d be so nice to come home to
49 We’ll meet again
50 I’ll be seeing you

Hey thats great

There is only one I can think of that you missed

Pennsylvania 6-5000

Thanks mate

Mac

Remember the Radio Doctor and his very fruity voice, telling you how to keep healthy?
Grandma Buggins with her household hints and recipes.
British restaurants, canteens where it was possible to get a cheap meal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, govmt run!
Jack Warners two sisters, Gert and Daisy with their comedy act. Who was it that stood up in front of an audience and said' The day war broke out' and had everyone laughing? Jean

Jean
Rob Wilton

Lyons Corner Houses

Mac

Mac Fisheries
W H Cullen
Henekey's
50/- Tailors
Millets
Duponts
Pickfords
LNER
GWR
LMS
Southern Railways
GNR
LNWR


Who can remember the old sweets

Mac