Re: Our Mums

That must have been scary, Willow. The main reason we had electricity back then was simply because we had a TV and Radio shop so, without lecky, it would have been pretty pointless.

My young brother and I would visit our gran every Sunday afternoon for tea where we'd sit at a pristine table and have sandwiches, cakes and cups of tea on China-ware, but she'd no electricity.

It was "fun" for us as kids to watch the lighting of the gas mantles at dusk as we'd never seen that anywhere else, but it was quite beautiful chatting in that half light. No telly, no radio, just conversation.

I guess that's a bit of an alien concept to most young children these days, but it was gentle time back then and gran's living room was very Victorian. People felt safe back then.

Re: Our Mums

I don't think it was scary as we were brought up with it.

I was scared of thunder though, and if I heard a loud bang I would freak out until assured it was the mines on the beaches that were being blown up!

Re: Our Mums

Ah well, that's another tale altogether.

Re: Our Mums

My Grand mother as a teenager worked in Woolwich Arsenal making shells. Somehow or other she managed to bring one home with her. For many years it had pride of place standing in the hearth beside the kitchen range. As a kid I used to play with this shell. Only after she died and we had to clear her flat did I and my parents learn that the shell was a 6" naval shell and it was still 'live'. Had it gone off it would have taken out the whole terrace where Gran lived.