The cost of living... what can we do?

I remember being cold as a kid, cycling to school in shorts and gradually getting the feeling back in my legs during assembly as they thawed out. It was just something we all did without complaint. Sometimes I would dress for school under the bed covers or come downstairs to change in front of the Aga. That was always lit and kept the kitchen warm, the only room in the house that was always warm. Mum would open the oven doors and I would stand right next to them. Sometimes I would share the warm space with a new born lamb wrapped in newspaper that had either been orphaned or rejected, we would take turns to give them milk from a bottle until they were strong enough to go back outside.

I couldn't live like that now having been softened up by Central heating. I still need to get outside to feel better even in that horrible cold snap last month. Old age and falling apart doesn't help and I feel the cold these days. Us humans were designed for a much shorter life span than we expect now. We were definitely tougher and hardier in the past, people got old at 60.

 

Although I don't miss the cold I do miss the open fire, the smell of the coal and the taste of bread toasted on the toasting fork and the chestnuts cooked in the ash in the grate.

I remember my grandparents sitting either side of the open fire, in their armchairs, and drinking tea (no milk, but with lemon) from glass tumblers that were placed back in front of the fire between taking sips.

 

Great DAs

 

you need the right technique to get it perfect.

 

And Brylcreme!