Peggy's jottings

Peggy’s jottings

I recall cycling home from work during which time the siren went off. – lucky me, within yards of a public shelter. I shot along to the shelter having left my cycle in the street, quite safe in those days. I was about to go down the shelter steps, when I spotted a large spider. I was too frightened to go any further and spent my time until the all-clear went, standing just inside with my eyes on the spider in case it moved.

I am still frightened of them!

The timber yard about a mile from my home was ablaze and my parents decided that we should up sticks and go to my grandmother’s house about two miles in the opposite direction. Off we went, ducking down on the pavement a few times, and when we were in sight of our destination, my father said “ we’ve forgotten the xxxx dog” and he turned back for him. Eventually he joined us. The next morning we returned home and found our roof and window damage due to the bombing of a couple of houses at the back of us, one of which we had lived in earlier. Sadly, both families were killed.

Our neighbour had reason to visit another neighbour one evening and while she was there the siren sounded. Being a sensible lady, she stayed there in the shelter until the all-clear went. She headed for the shelter when she got home only to see two soldiers stand up and speak to her. She screamed her head off – she thought they were German paratroopers because she couldn’t understand a word they said. They were Scottish Highlanders, with very strong accents!
Unknown to her, the two soldiers she had agreed to billet had arrived and were in the shelter with her husband.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.