Obama – President at last

I hope I witness the promised change that was offered today. How do I feel about it? I am thrilled that a man of mixed race could rise to the highest office in the World! Even here in this country I can remember seeing a black man for the first time. It was in the fifties - an African Chief and his entourage. I was a shop assistant behind a Mark and Spencers counter when they came in to buy warm underwear for our cold climate. I remember how tall they were and the length of their beautifully formed hands and fingers.

In the sixties I had many friends of all colours and races. One day, walking in London with two Nigerians, a woman spat at me for being in their company. Later one of these friends paid me the compliment of saying that ‘I did not see colour’. I hope that was true and is still true.

I add my good wishes and luck to Barack Obama and trust that with his country and the whole world in his hands it will not be too heavy for him.

Last knocking of Victoriana

Watching the TV programme, Victorian Farm, I realised I came into this world just as the final dregs of Victoriana and before were leaving. Many of the things the people use on the farm and in their cottage I can remember using. On the farm they used a contraption that cut up Mangle Worzels for the cattle. You had to turn a big wheel by hand and I remember doing just that with a Land Girl. Flat Irons, blue in the wash, boiling in coppers were done every week. I didn’t ever cook on a range but we had one and I had to black lead it every week. Oil lamps of course were in regular use and candles. By the time I was 18 all had gone except the oil lamp in my father’s caravan.