Sunny. Very sunny. And cold. Very cold. Standing outside basking it reminds me of when I was a kid and, in the winter, we’d all huddle round the fire, warm in front and cold in back. Even with a flannel blanket and austerity layers of clothing, it was cold in back. And chilblained toes were endemic.
I wonder if anybody other than me remembers the ‘liberty bodice’? And shudders with such deep revulsion? And associates the beastly things with vinegar, onion and brown paper poultice and the horrid smell of menthol?
“Good old days.” My posterior.
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I’ve finally figured out that the only “good” about the “good old days” is that they are past tense. Moving forward is the only way to go, IMO. Forward and upward, and old-ward.
Ah, dear John, did you ever have to suffer having a mustard plaster? Now THAT truly was torture. Burned like crazy and for all I know didn’t help a bit. Even so, I’m really fond of Chinese mustard taken internally, in small amounts with an appropriate food.
just me, trying to reesatblish myself and become non-anonymous!
I barely remember any home made chest menthol.
I can recall a cold remedey consisting of Vicks VapoRub applied to my chest and then covered with a piece of cloth that would be safety-pinned to my pajamas. (Plus some additional Vicks applied to my nose.)
Excuse my poor typing… although I am home, my brain is still driving along the interstate highway coming back from meeting Lou & Benny (and Gordo, et. al.) at Kate & Jim’s.
…
p.s.
Hey John, so when can we persuade you and Graham to visit on this side of the ocean?
One day. Not yet.
Early this afternoon I sat out on the deck for a few moments with the sun shining on my face and through my coat. It was absolutely wonderful! But – my back was cold…
Ah, the liberty bodice, who could forget that lovely piece of clothing
And Jim, I had the same Vicks remedy applied to me many a time.
Vicks!Do you know that even at the age of 53,I can’t bear the smell of it? Every winter we got that and Rose Hip Syrup.Actually I didn’t mind the that,very expensive stuff now.As for the good old days……Polio and scarlet fever and whooping cough(which I got) not to mention the bad winters with no central heating.My mother died aged 31 from pneumonia in 1965 because of the poor condition of the home we were renting.Actually it was the last in a long line of poor quality housing,it being the aftermath of the war and London being flattened.No,not the good old days at all.And then for a while me aged 8 and twin brothers 6 ,sister 5,brothers aged 3,2 and 2 months were put into childrens homes.These were not good places to be in the 60′s,trust me on that.No things are much better today.The good old days is a phrase I never use.I’ll get off my soap box now!
That is what I love about Mary Lee, getting into the Chinese mustard! Seems to simulataneously tear your head apart yet also providing a sense of euphoria atop your egg roll….
Ben Gay here…along with Polio, chicken pox, two kinds of measles, and mumps. I will have to go look up the Liberty bodice. The other’s I know about.
Keep both sides warm.