I was born in Clapham S.W. 4. London in 1939.
Throughout my childhood I
lived at 43 Cathles Road, Balham, and went to school
at Oldridge Road at the
bottom of Balham Hill.
I was evacuated for part of the bombing to Staines to
a family that I can't
remember the name of (and there's nobody around now
to ask). Spent lots of
time at home though. Well remember the Anderson
shelter at the bottom of
the back garden. Our house was actually damaged at the
rear and was
repaired by the government after the war. I also
remember the shelter in the
street right outside our front door. But, I mostly
remember my Mother saying
'if that bombs got my name on it it'll find me where
ever I am' and refusing
to budge into the shelter most of the time. Also spent
time down Clapham
South tube station sleeping on the platform - luckily,
not when it was
flooded out and many people died.
I suppose, like everybody else I keep meaning to write
down my earlier
memories such as; electricity being connected after
using gas mantles for
lighting (and the man who came along the street every
evening and lit the
street lamps), corned beef, powdered eggs, clothing
coupons etc., etc. One
of these days when I retire.....
Presently live in Perth, Western Australia where I
have been for 25 years
(beautiful place, best standard of living in the
world) and my main interests
now are jazz, playing petanque and being an Owner
builder - nearly finished
a recycled brick pole home. Should there be anybody
out there who remembers
a tall, skinny, scruffy girl (the one parents didn't
want their children to
play with!) would love to hear from you.
I visit UK most years having two brothers still living
in South London.
Definitely be back spring of the 3rd millennium.
Good luck to all
Ann Pomeroy (now aged 60) and looking goooood!
================================================================
Well remember the saga of the mice when I was quite
little.
Mum, unfortunately, agreed to me having a (couple of
sweet little mice
We (my brothers and I) used to train these little pets
to walk trapeze along
the clothes drying string in the kitchen. They became
quite proficient as
it was a 6' fall to the floor if they didn't! Well;
eventually, as happens 2
mice quickly became 22 and mother put her foot down
quite hard 'get rid of
those THINGS' I'll leave it to your imagination as to
where 20 of them went
(one sits on it periodically). We didn't have the
heart to do the same with
the original pair and so let them go in the house.
They then proceeded to
inhabit behind the plaster and lathe walls - entry was
easy due to bomb
damage and gaping holes. Where they lived happily for
as long as I can
remember!
Regards ANN
=================================================================
I remember the large spoon of malt and the third of a
pint of milk. As
was mentioned, I don't know how we would have lived
without school dinners
which were excellent. My home diet consisted of bread
and milk (watered
down) for breakfast, and dinners at home were 90%
Foster Clark powdered
tomato cube made into soup which had a heap of mashed
potatoes in the middle
(nobody ever believes me when I tell them this). Tea
was bread and plum jam
(no butter), I can't face plum jam to this day!
Cordials, sweets etc., were
unknown. I remember the powdered eggs and the tins of
bully beef. Most of
all I remember the corner store where we shopped (they
would actually open
the shop out of ours when we knocked on the side door)
The store Owner
would one by one move the ladder along getting every
item and placing it on
the counter. Butter was patted from a large lump and
yum, the cream on the
top of the bottled milk - whatever happened to
that?
I vividly remember our house being connected to
electricity, the gas wall
mantles being removed, and the end of the man who used
to come along the
street lighting the lamps at dusk and damping them off
at dawn. Does anyone
remember the men (usually quite elderly) who used to
live in little tents
with oil lamps and guard the bombed sights? They were
always good for a tin mug of
hot tea to us kids.
I just love all this remembering, it's amazing how
somebody says something and the memories come flooding
in!
Keep them coming.
Annie
=================================================================