Rationing? What Rationing?

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of Margaret Bowdler and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

Rationing? What Rationing?

“Can you get me a dozen eggs please, George Cooper’s here?” My father appeared at the kitchen door not wanting to come any further in his muddy boots. George Cooper was a commercial traveller whose company specialised in agricultural products. His visits were very welcome. The eggs and sometimes bacon, were exchanged for interesting bits of paper called petrol coupons!

Relatives received interesting birthday presents. My father fumed over a letter that had arrived one morning. “What on earth has she done with it? She wants to know if I’ve got another ham to spare as the last one was so tasty and it’s all gone!” He was obviously very cross with his stepmother for not making the generous gift last longer.

We had plum trees in the garden so Mrs. Bradleys “extra 2lbs. of sugar for jam making” was fair exchange for two pots of jam and a few eggs.

As well as farming my father had a Milk Round. “I gave that nosy beggar something to think about this morning,” he announced with a grin on his return one day. “I know she has been watching me to see how much milk I’m taking next door to Mrs. Ratcliff. I tucked four pints of milk under my coat and marched up to their front door holding a half pint bottle in the air!” Mrs. Ratcliff had several children and my father thought that extra milk would make sure they were well nourished.

My brother and I knew nothing of powdered egg or dried milk. Our cows provided all the milk we wanted and I remember my mother churning butter. We kept pigs and poultry and grew lots of vegetables.

One Christmas I received a beautiful dolls chair and was told that Mr. Shellswell had made it.
Now I wonder if the Christmas chicken that he told my father tasted so good had anything to do with it?

This story was donated to the People’s War website by Margaret Bowdler, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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