16 December 1958. My thrifty Grandmother

16 December 1958

My dear Len and Margaret

At last here I am in the front room, it is now after 8 o’clock. Roselle and I have been chatting at the tea table for such a long time, after that I peeled my potatoes for tomorrow  and then I helped  Roselle to peel  some apples to make an apple pie for tomorrow’s dinner, anyway I will try to put down a few lines in this letter.

I went to town this AM. When I got to town I went right away to Margaret’s for a cup of coffee, then she came with me to do my shopping. We only went to the RU Stores, it took us quite a long time there, I had my club books to finish. I had done half of them last week. With my club book I have been building up my food store, it’s coming up nicely. I have salmon, crabmeat, sardines, pilchards, corn beef, Unox, tongue, Snax, peaches, apricots, pineapple, and mandarin oranges. I think this is all the kinds I have and quite a number of each tin. I have also 3 tins of biscuits, 2 huge jars of haricot beans and 2 huge jars of split peas. So we are replenishing very well are we not?

I had £8.8/- in my club books, of course it has taken me all the year to gather this money, but I have enjoyed spending it, I mean in the proper way of course. I have taken good care not to use this money foolishly. I also save all the shillings that come around my way during the year, but there are times I don’t get any for some weeks. Anyway this year I had quite £7. I also put away some sixpences, I can’t afford to put them all. I had a little over £6. %Then if I can spare some other loose money, I put in another box, I put in this box all the year but never look in until Christmas. I had £28 when I looked in a fortnight ago. Well, all these shillings, sixpences and the ‘blind’ box all go towards Xmas gifts, so you see when comes Christmas I am independent to buy just as I like without asking Pa for money. He should reckon himself very lucky about this don’t you thnk so? I hope he knows the value of my good management. I feel very proud of my food store and often go and look at it[1].

Doreen is still confined to her home. She has really been having a bad time. She fainted on Sunday morning, she is very weak, she does not remain in bed, she sits in her armchair most of the day. She manages to see about the meals, but she has to sit down, she can’t stand for long. Her throat is much better, it has been very painful. Her eye is beginning to improve, the doctor told her on Monday he thought this infection was through having touched filthy money notes and probably touched her eye. He also told her that this infection had gone through her system. The M & B tablets he had given her made her terribly depressed, she had to give them up, she is now taking some penicillin tablets. She also has some ointment to put on her lip which has some of this infection, also some drops to put in her eye.

We went to see her yesterday afternoon, some of the family go every day. Yesterday we found her eye was not so gruesome, it seemed to be improving. Roselle went to see her on leaving work today. She found an improvement in her. If she continues she may be better for Christmas. We do hope she will be fit by then, though I don’t think she will be very strong. She wants building up after this. The doctor is going on Thursday, he doesn’t want her to do anything,  just relax. Doreen is disappointed at not being able to do her Christmas shopping. The girls are doing what they can for her. We do hope that each day will see an improvement.

We went to see Auntie Marie this afternoon. There is no change in her, she can’t stand up alone. She has 2 nurses to come to get her up halfway the morning and also to put her back in bed. They were helping her to try to walk a few steps. These two nurses who were holding her let her fall down. She did not hurt herself except that one of her knees got bruised. I doubt she will ever be better than what she is now. I think she has great hopes of getting well again.

It’s now time to make Dad and my cup of coffee before going to bed, will try to finish this tomorrow.

This is now Wednesday evening. Roselle has a busy eve before her. She is going to pack the parcels. This is rather a big task.

Centenier Thomas passed away a couple of days ago, the funeral takes place tomorrow AM. He resigned from Centenier a while back owing to ill health. Centenier Knight seems to be in trouble for the second time. I think this fellow should resign from being Centenier, he would be better looking after his business. I know I would never vote for him. Father does not want to hear anything against. Father had no use for him when he stood for Centenier, he used to say he should stay in his business but once he got in the police Father changed his mind, and doesn’t want to hear the wrong side of him, although he knows very well this fellow acts wrongly when dealing with fellows in drink or otherwise. He loses his temper. I don’t really think he is a fit man for the job.

I think I told you Margaret was helping at Krichefski for Christmas, she started last Saturday afternoon. They have asked her to go from this Friday until Christmas eve, the whole day. She could not very well refuse, on the other hand it being Christmas week, she would have liked to go around town to do her last minute Christmas odds and ends. She can’t do anything about it.

This is all I can find to say except that we hope you are all well

Lots of love from we 3

Lovingly Mother xxx

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[1] She had to feed her family during the Occupation with ever dwindling stocks and eventually almost starving until the SS Vega, Red Cross ship started to bring supplies in in December 1944. Auntie Roselle said she managed the rations brilliantly and after that, although it was still tough until Liberation in May 1945, Granny had full charge of the Red Cross parcels and no one starved.