The weather is getting a bit warmer at last, but nothing near as warm as it should be for almost mid-May., I'm not wearing much less than I was a couple of months ago.
Maybe I'm really just feeling the downside of getting old, as I never seem to be really warm., and am not looking forward to next winter, especially since I heard on the news this morning that energy costs are reckoned to rise by 15% next year. !!! I, and many more like me just managed to get by this winter.
Which got me to reminiscing, Way back when I was a child in the 40's we had no central heating, I don't think anyone did. There was a coal fire in the living room and we were lucky enough to have a back to back boiler, which meant as long as there was a fire on , we had heating in the kitchen. I absolutely love a coal fire, apart form the heat, the flames leaping and dancing, changing shape and colour fascinated me, looking deep into the red hot heart, you could see all sorts of creatures which wouldn't look out of place in a Harry Potter film.
I loved when there was a hiss when [as my dad told me] the coal had fractured and released some gas, which sometimes flared with an intense blue flame, The lovely flare up when the coals collapsed, giving off that little bit extra heat. I could never get close enough and was forever being told off and being warned I would end up with tartan legs. I haven't, honestly.
There was something magical in sitting with just a low light and a lovely fire.
The bedrooms were totally unheated, and I really can remember frost on the inside of the windows, and huge icicles hanging from the eaves, but I think that may have been the extremely cold winter of 1947.
Winters in those days meant going to bed with a hot water bottle [or two], chilblains, and lovely coal fires, do I wish we could go back to those days? I don't know, maybe we have become soft and spoiled, but, we are having to pay for it, through the nose.
Thank you for visiting and please come back, Arlene, Tango and Ruby
If you come on here looking for some mind-blowing conversation or profound words of wisdom, well you've come to the wrong place and will be disappointed. I'm just an ordinary bod who likes to share my day with anyone who cares to listen. Tales of my dogs, my garden, my family and happenings in my life that I feel might just be amusing....If you're happy with that, draw up a chair, light up a ciggie if you wish or have a cup of tea and make yourself at home.
Ruby and Tango
Me 'n' Ruby and of course Tango
A very good post Arlene! I go back to the good old days in my memory a lot. I do think it is the fact that my life is on a downward spiral and I don't have the energy like I used to. It is painful to grow old but the alternative is not what I want. xx
ReplyDeleteOh Beth, I do hope things aren't as bad as you fear them to be. I know you don't keep in the best of health, but every day there are solutions found for all sorts of ailments, just you keep thinking positive thoughts, all your friends in blogland are rooting for you, Take care, Warm hugs {{{x}}}
DeleteGreat post Arlene funny I was just thinking of the old days. The fire burning in one room and hot water bottles. The price rise is just plain awful, when will it stop. We must have been a lot tougher in those days. Sunny today with a chilly breeze , enjoy your walk's and garden.
ReplyDeleteHugs Sheila and Wile-e xx
I don't think we were so much tougher Sheila, just that we didn't have anything to compare it with. My reckoning is that things changed after the war in the fifties and we could see happier and easier times ahead, and they were, for a while, now it's all gone pear shaped, ad we don't like it, as we have something to compare it with and don't want to go back to it. It just seems so unfair, It's all the fault of the government having sold everything that belonged to the public off, now it's almost beyond our reach, just to pout money in the shareholders pocketws and the bosses wallets. grrrr.
DeleteAt least the weather has treated us a bit kinder lately. sorry for the rant, sending hugs from we 3 {{{x}}}
never had a coal fire, but have had my share of woodstove fires, and fireplaces. i prefer the woodstoves, or an insert into a fireplace. i dont remember having a cold house until i had my heat shut off for lack of funds, when i was in my early 20s. that was cold. i dont know about going back, but i can see going solar, and being more self reliant again.
ReplyDeletek☼
Hi Kirsten, I don't think there is much to choose from between the coal or wood fire, both are such comforting means of heating, The wood fire does smell nice. You are fortunate to never had experienced a cold house on a permanent basis., the way things are going in UK it's going to be the norm in the winter, oh dear, what a dreadful thought. The cost of having solar panels installed is prohibitive and it would take many years before you'd see a return on your investment. in UK at any rate, thanks to all for responding and enjoying my post. keep warm.
DeleteLovely post Arlene :) I'm still on catch up over here, been a difficult week not least with my landlord's cute little kitten that followed me everywhere being hit by a car. However...today, we had spring :) And we shall have spring until the end of the month! I think we will have winter again in June but I will enjoy our single week of spring while it's here! Very short season this spring!Back soon but must pad away for now...the wolfie belly is a rumbling!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad Wolfie, poor little puss, I hope it didn't suffer.
ReplyDeleteRepeat after me...'WE WILL NOT HAVE WINTER IN JUNE!!'
"WE WILL NOT HAVE WINTER IN JUNE!!" We did have summer today...I expect we will have winter again tomorrow :) My bike has a puncture, my pump won't work even though I know if it did I could get the tyre up long enough to get it to a friend who will replace my inner tube for free, and I can't get the wheel off...so off to the bike shop and pay a lot of pennies...what happened to the days when I could repair a puncture at the side of the road? lol ;)
ReplyDeleteWe had winter at the weekend too...went to join the throngs by the River Thames for the Queens Diamond Jubilee boat ride :) Fantastic atmosphere, great day and left the boring party poopers at home!! But did it rain?!!Just as well we were all in good humour and carried right on with a royal knees up regardless and the live music on the South Bank did too. Was on my feet for well over 7 hrs mostly in the rain under a brolly lol and packed like sardines travelling cattle class both ways on the trains, so exhausting wintry day but awesome too! Now what was that you were saying...oh yes!
"WE WILL NOT HAVE WINTER IN JUNE!! WE WILL NOT HAVE WINTER IN JUNE!! WE WILL NOT HAVE...." LOL :) Spring must be just around the corner to warm the cockles of your heart!