SlimLizzy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,681
- Location
- Normandy, previously Worcestershire
- Type of diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- football, both the game and the culture.
FBG 6.1
A smashing trip down memory lane and so called domestic bliss - if only! When we moved to London in 1966, it was the laundrette - very fashionable, very boring - take a book and loads of sixpences.My mother-in-law used to use one of those old boilers, in the wash house. Brick built and a fire underneath with a copper inner (source of the informal word "copper" for a washing boiler). The clothes were washed using a "dolly" - a wooden device with a long handle and 6 "legs" sticking out of a flat disk. This was plunged up and down and twirled around a bit to agitate the clothes in the hot water. Obviously cotton whites went in first, then the fire cooled a bit and the water cooled enough for woollens. Once they were done it was bath time for the kids. Not really sure how clean they were after all that washing was done, but it was economical (other than the effort put in by the mother). Then everything was put through the wringer (other than the kids) ready for rinsing in big bowls of fresh water. It was a pretty heavy task. I actually have the bottom part of a dolly in the kitchen which we used to use as a milking stool when we had goats. Neil keeps it under the sink unit for use when he needs to get in to the pipework under there.
My mother - in the south and a bit more modern had a gas "copper" but the process was pretty similar (she actually used it to heat water separately for our baths in an oval zinc bath in front of the fire - very decadent. She also had what we called a mangle - a big pair of rollers on a metal stand and a great long handle which we helped to turn when we were big enough - bowls caught most of the wrung out water - usually an oval zinc bath, but the floor always ended up wet. When she was a child, one of the tasks she had was to grate up household soap for use as a washing "powder" for her mother to do the washing in a wash house outside the "mansion houses" they lived in in London. The Albert Mansions in Lambeth had a very fine sounding name but they were anything but. Eventually she got a smaller wringer (Acme) which clamped to the side of the sink. And when I was a teenager, she bought a twin tub which didn't work anywhere near as well, but was easier on the muscles.
Our first washing machine was a big fibre glass (I think) tub with a wringer attached. Eventually I added a small spin dryer, then a Hoover twin tub. Then I bought an automatic washing machine but I wasn't happy with it. In wet weather, drying was done on loads of pulleys in every suitable space around the house and on clothes horses. The air was full of moisture all the time but I thought I would never buy a tumble dryer. Now I depend on it. Over the years, the spaces where we could dry washing inside the house have reduced, being needed for other things (space for showers, big fridges, freezers). I can't get out to what used to be a drying green, nor can I carry baskets of even dry washing, never mind wet. It's a bit of a bind when using the shower, to have to move aside clothes on hangers, which don't go through the tumble dryer and I'm sure Neil gets a bit fed up with it. Bad for the environment, I know, but that tumble dryer is in use for several hours each week.
Edit to add: when we were without a washing machine, we used to use the bath and we'd take it in turns to walk up and down in the bath, like treading grapes. Only problem was wringing out by hand but we did all have very clean feet and legs!
Like everything else, the technology we live with has changed so much in my life time. In some ways, it's for the better, but in other ways not.
I suppose I should add that BGs have been very high (not quite astronomical but getting there) these last few days. That, I guess, is the danger of experimental baking. It has to be tried before being offered. The ideas this last while have not been very good - very tasty but not fit for serving to guests - especially the last one if I wanted them to keep fillings or even false teeth in place! Ah well - onwards and upwards. One last experiment today and then I'll try to get back to normal. Counterweight class on Monday and I have put weight back on that I had lost.
Yes, as children, our baths were had in front of the fire in the iron range (coke burning, Grandpa worked at the gas works and bought coke cheaply for us) - the only fireplace in our little house. We always had scorched pyjamas because our mum would put them into the oven while we were in the bath so we could get straight into warm pj's (we were spoiled) and then would pretty well always forget to take them out before they started to burn.A brilliant post @Annb down memory lane.
I remember most of those washing devices/machines.
I stopped using a tumble drier decades ago when I realised the cost.
Now, from the spindrier, the washing gets hung on hangers on hooks on the doorframe, and I have a dehumidifier, directly underneath it, which doubles as a clothes drier. It also has warm air coming out of it, and blows my washing dry within a couple of hours.
I hated the tin bath and having to get in someone else's dirty water.....it was in front of the fire, the black leaded kitchen range, and coals used to spit out of it sometimes and the cat's fur would smoulder away until a human noticed.
Hugs for the higher BG
What a brilliant idea to practice this at night night time when the roads are empty @gennepher.This shifting to manual is brilliant for going down the steep hill in 20 mph. I am now driving on my gears and do not need to use the brake once. So job well done, and I feel confident to do this when other cars are around now. I didn't have the courage to try something new in the daytime with other cars around speeding down the hill, all of them just using brakes, aall the way down. Presumably that is why some of ?them skid and end up in hedges or garden walls on the way down.
I had two milk intolerant children. And later my stepson aka son3 was also found to have mild milk Intolerance. So entirely understand how difficult that was in the past. Was fortunate to have a very understanding milkman who let me exchange my useless milk tokens for eggs and potatoes.Thank you. Biscuits and wine were consumed. @gennepher
Gave you a funny but can see me taking this up if we do get our narrow boat- motorhome -small house combo sorted. Once we decide to sell this house of course. Not this year and hopefully not next either. Maybe 2025 will be the right time for a new adventure.Fbg 6.7
I am making an apron this morning from an old dress. I do have a habit of wiping my hands down the sides of my jeans (instead of using a towel, I mean to use the towel but rarely do), and so the jeans get smelly & dirty, and I have to change them when I go out! And then hand washing loads heavy jeans (my washing machine packed in, 15 years old, and I made the decision not to replace it, although I could afford to). The washing machine never rinsed properly even though I had it on extra rinse. And I had itchy skin because of that. I did buy a spin drier (you do need some electrical stuff!!!).
I have a few old dresses I never wear now, so see how this apron works out today. It'll be hand sewn (I do have an old vintage hand Singer, well over a hundred years old, and the bobbin is a shuttle which you have to wind the thread on by hand, but it is in an inaccessible part of the garage at the moment...).
Wildlife nighttime camera
The cats claim back the swing this night. Not a fox nor a badger came in the garden! Most unusual!
First was Merlin (ginger cat).
Then Jade (black&white cat) wanders through.
Finally black cat Amy takes the swing seat until dawn.
This is the first time in a whole year of the wildlife cameras recording, that foxes and badgers did not come in the garden.
Midnight stayed indoors asleep on my bed that night!
60secs
Creative is an acrylic painting done in the garage while I am looking at the sewing machine wondering the easiest way to access it...
Time for another cuppa...
My canopy of cut branches with leaves above the bird feeders appears to be working against that sparrowhawk who I have seen flying over surveying my garden. One of the branches fell down on to the ground, on to where all the bits and pieces the sparrows scatter from the fatballs. And I have just realised this morning, that is protecting the ground feeding birds somewhat - the robin, dunnock, etc. Because the robin seems awfully exposed being a lone feeder, and so an easier target for kestrel and sparrowhawk, and so that branch of twigs and leaves is staying on the ground!
Have your best day!
View attachment 63282
Edit: By the way I don't do the hand washing with my hands as such. I researched how to make a washing machine in a bucket with a drain plunger and a broom handle. Found loads on YouTube. Very good cardiovascular exercise!!!!
We had a pulley, which had three wooden slats to hang dry clothes above the open fire on the ceiling! So important on those cold days especially in the big freeze!Yes, as children, our baths were had in front of the fire in the iron range (coke burning, Grandpa worked at the gas works and bought coke cheaply for us) - the only fireplace in our little house. We always had scorched pyjamas because our mum would put them into the oven while we were in the bath so we could get straight into warm pj's (we were spoiled) and then would pretty well always forget to take them out before they started to burn.
That is horrible when that happens @JohnEGreen. I do hope that your fgb wasn't 55.8.Fbg was 55.8 this morning.
Last night we were treated to a fire work display by some locals this started at about 11.40 and went on to midnight it started of all the local dogs barking so not much rest last night after that.
After we married in March 1962 Helen was born when we were at Daventry in September 63 which was necessary having got cotton fabric washable nappies... then we immediately got a twin tub with a manual lever that engaged another drive wheel on a belt, it was primitive but it worked well.A smashing trip down memory lane and so called domestic bliss - if only! When we moved to London in 1966, it was the laundrette - very fashionable, very boring - take a book and loads of sixpences.
You really need to discuss need for lunch breaks with admin.5.5 this morning. Looks like my readings are back to normal for me. Mostly in the 5s and just occasionally in the 6s.
I am only eating food that I really love so I am happy - especially as I can eat rather large amounts of absolutely delicious natural peanut butter.
Busy day today. No break for lunch but luckily the day will fly past quite quickly.
Thanks @Krystyna23040What a brilliant idea to practice this at night night time when the roads are empty @gennepher.
I'm not one to tell you to advise the reasoning because we all have different meal times!You really need to discuss need for lunch breaks with admin.
Oh how well I remember the kitchen in our flat in Glasgow with its massive 4 rod pulley. It was about 12 feet long and was constantly full of nappies - so 48 feet of nappies drying - constantly. Our first washing machine was so very helpful then - that was the fibre glass one with a big agitator and a wringer.After we married in March 1962 Helen was born when we were at Daventry in September 63 which was necessary having got cotton fabric washable nappies... then we immediately got a twin tub with a manual lever that engaged another drive wheel on a belt, it was primitive but it worked well.
From then on we have never been without a washer drier of various kinds..
D
When I first became self employed I thought that being my own boss I would be able to organise a really good work life balance.You really need to discuss need for lunch breaks with admin.
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