After yesterday, with its snow flurry and snow storm, this week is set to be significantly colder than a week ago. The day started with a miserable grey light, partly because of the weather and partly because we put the clocks forward at the weekend. So far, at 5.30, the day has remained grey and cold, though it has not yet rained. That is a good example of damning with faint praise.
“How was your day?”
“It didn’t rain.”
See what I mean?
The only other notable feature of the day is that it is now six days before we go shopping again. This counts as a significant milestone in a wasteland of tedium.
Today’s food intake, for people reading this in 100 years time, started with a breakfast of 2 Weetabix, milk and two slices of brown toast with strawberry jam. It was actually TESCO own brand, and the bread, being a bit dry, made very dry toast, which disintegrated as I ate it. That’s a bit of detail for future readers.
For lunch we had gala pie with the last of the coleslaw and some spinach leaves and tiny tomatoes. I’d better explain a gala pie for my future readers, as it’s likely to have been declared illegal by 2120. They are not very good for you. They are pork pies with eggs in the middle. With my customary hindsight, I really should have photographed it before eating.
To save you time, the health-related link includes the words “it’s a heart attack in a packet”.
We had a cup of tea in the afternoon with a few biscuits.
There are currently four monster potatoes baking in the oven. I bought “Wonky Veg” on Sunday and it seems to mean “Extra Large” in the case of these potatoes. It will be two for tonight and two for tomorrow, and probably some leftover bits for later.
I’m thinking of Kensington Rarebit for tomorrow. I found the website The 1940’s Experiment yesterday when I was looking for Woolton Pie recipes. I’m thinking that it may be a useful source of recipes for lockdown.
This, of course, is an example of First World Problems – the food I have on hand would appear like a banquet to most people during the war. Here’s an interesting article on rationing in two World Wars – plus a view of what happens when the government prepares properly.
I am blatantly going to nick Tootlepedal’s comment: ‘As a tiny tot from the days of rationing, I remember them fondly. Nothing could beat the excitement of going down to the sweetie shop with your coupon in your hot and sticky hand and choosing the week’s single bag of treats. Those were the days, People nowadays have no idea, I never saw a new pair of trousers for years and……oh dear, I think I must have had a bang on my head. When present politicians summon up the spirit of the war, I say, “Remember conscription and rationing” and see how well that goes down with the voters.’
Some rationing was continued into the 50s. We played shops with the obsolete ones.
My mum and dad had a wedding cake made with donations of rationed sugar from the neighbours in the early 50s.
In comparison, I have been spoilt.
That was an interesting article. Thanks for the link:
“The government’s scientists, though experts in their field, were not necessarily always able to appreciate the need to make their ideas acceptable for the general population. Not that they were entirely insensitive to the views of the public. Magnus Pyke, a government food specialist, later recalled a proposal that the government should encourage people to eat their pets. The plan was never pursued as the effect on the nation’s morale would, it was decided, far outweigh the nutritional benefits from eating one’s cat or dog. And despite Churchill’s veto, the basal diet influenced a lot of scientific thinking and so the nation benefited from a diet that was nutritionally ahead of its time.”
Magnus Pyke and his cousin were both interesting people – Magnus suggested that the surplus blood from WW2 blood banks could be used to make black pudding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Pyke
My new post is out there, Quercus, for whenever you get to it. It will be up for 3 months, no need to rush. 🙂
🙂 Looking forward to it.
As a tiny tot from the days of rationing, I remember them fondly. Nothing could beat the excitement of going down to the sweetie shop with your coupon in your hot and sticky hand and choosing the week’s single bag of treats. Those were the days, People nowadays have no idea, I never saw a new pair of trousers for years and……oh dear, I think I must have had a bang on my head. When present politicians summon up the spirit of the war, I say, “Remember conscription and rationing” and see how well that goes down with the voters.
It’s good to remember how well off we are. I have cheese and organic oats and I have bananas and a pair of new trousers I haven’t even worn. Riches indeed!
Veritably.
Food does seem to have taken on an extra significance in recent days, doesn’t it!
Definitely!
That site looks good, and for whatever reason it doesn’t offer me a place to follow or subscribe. My computer gets iffy like that sometimes.
Yes, mine can be temperamental at times.
Nothing like a world war to put things in perspective!
Yes, this is the biggest thing that’s happened to me, but it’s nothing compared to what previous generations have had to endure.
Now is our time to be tested. Sigh.
At the moment I do feel like I’m failing the test, too. Difficult times…
Quercus, compared to many others, you and Julia are passing with flying colors. But, yes, difficult times.
🙂