When Shopping Was Fun.

Looking after a family in the 1930's and 40's was a never ending cycle of hard graft for housewives. There was one job, however, that was much more enjoyable then than it is now: shopping!

 No driving out of town to a super-market, pushing a loaded trolley around, heaving groceries in and out of the car boot; maybe with bored and fractious children in tow. Shopping was a more friendly and social business for all concerned and for a child, as I was then, a lot more fun.

 Various kinds of produce was brought to the door regularly by horse and cart. Mr Todd delivered milk daily from Hay-a-Park farm. He had a small churn with jugs hanging from the rim and this was replenished from large churns which stood in the back of the horse-drawn cart. Very similar to this one below.

 Mum waited at the back door with a large, blue flowered jug and Mr Todd measured out the required amount of milk, half a gill, a gill or a pint or two. The milk was rich with a thick layer of cream on top. There was often a fight over who's turn it was to have the cream until mum settled it by stirring it in.

 The blue jug was special, here is a copy of one on Pinterest, a Marlin Ringtons circa 1930; it was a free gift from Ringtons, bought with coupons saved from each purchase of their tea. Rington's also delivered to the door. They had a fleet of vans, very posh. We treasured our free gifts over the years and enjoyed their tea into the bargain.

 We had an allotment at the back of Park Row, a couple of minutes from where we lived. Dad and the boys did the heavy digging but mum was the gardener.She grew seasonal vegetables and soft fruits throughout the year: what mum didn't grow she bought from Mr Collins who had a small market garden. He and one or other of his young sons, Leonard and Freddie, [ handsome boys, I have to say ], came around each week with their horse and cart piled high with fresh produce. While mum chose what she needed, I was allowed to stroke the horse's nose and feed him a juicy carrot.

  Mum and Mrs Collins were friends. They were on Christian name terms but we children always had to address adults respectfully as Mr and Mrs. 

 When Mrs Collins was expecting one of her babies she asked my mother if she would go round when she went into labour. The nurse would be attending in the final stages but Mrs Collins, who was of a nervous disposition, wanted mum to keep her company. My Mother was happy to oblige as she had always wanted to be a midwife also, as a mother of ten children herself, she had had a lot of experience.

 When the day arrived mum went round to the Collins' house to find Mrs Collins pacing the bedroom floor, getting in a bit of a state, five siblings huddled together looking apprehensive and Mr Collins filling a large copper with water to boil, ready for the big event.

 " Nay, Charlie," mum said. You don't need all that water.Your wife is having a baby; you are not scalding one of your pigs"

 [Perhaps I should explain that scalding was a process used to soften the bristles  after a pig had been dispatched, making it easier to remove said bristles.]

 Mum was a calming influence. She found things for the family to do, made her friend, May, a cup of tea and helped her through he early stages of birth. When the nurse arrived she was on hand, ready and willing to give assistance if necessary. 

 The baby duly arrived, was bathed and swaddled in his clothes and blankets and marvelled over by his dad, brothers and sisters. 

 Before she went home mum made sure that May had everything she needed and that there was a meal on the table for the family.

 The footnote to this story is that my mother finally got her wish to be a midwife when I gave birth to my fourth child. It was to be a home birth. I had been having niggling pains all day so when mum, who lived close by, popped in about 9-30pm, just to say goodnight, it was to find me in labour and Frank about to go for the nurse who lived on Whincup Avenue, ten minutes walk away.

 The nurse had just got home and was having a cup of tea and a sandwich. Thinking there was plenty of time she said that she would be round in about an hour.

 It soon became apparent that my baby was not going to hang around. I was trying to hold on until  the nurse arrived but mum said "Never mind holding on, this baby has made it's mind up We'd better get on with the job."

 I had been provided with everything necessary for a home birth: mum was scrubbed up and had everything organised in no time. I did as I had been told and got on with it. My baby arrived ten minutes before the nurse turned up. The cord was around her neck but mum knew how to deal with that too and all was well. It was a most satisfying and happy end to the day for all concerned but especially for my mother, who not only got to deliver a baby at last,she also had the joy of a new grand-daughter: named Barbara, after her, of-course.

       My mother in her early thirties, with my two eldest brothers; Jack, seated next to her and Cyril.

I seem to have taken a bit of a detour, but then, that too was always part of shopping. Bumping into friends and neighbours along the way and pausing for a chat. 

 Best hurry along now though. Lots more shopping to do. You can come along if you like, if you have nothing better to do.