From the document by Christine Bate titled Activities 1939.doc

Activities 1939-45  

Food

Our activities were limited and changed from 1939 to 1945, although within that time span there were three different periods. The first was the “phony war” when there was not much enemy activity at home but big changes were made to equip us for wartime conditions. This included evacuations, air-raid precautions, food and clothing rationing and setting up of civilian duties to compensate for the absence of all the people in “the forces”. 

Food

This was a very important topic that also has to include other items that were rationed or scarce. 

We received very welcome food from the United States. Certainly Spam was much appreciated, especially when fried in batter to make one can go further. It was available on the “points’ area of rations and made a delicious meal for the family, even if the only eggs available for the batter were dried eggs. What a strange smell the eggs had, both in powder form and when re-constituted. 

Peanut butter was another issue. We began to receive it fairly late in the war and were very grateful. Mother used some points to obtain a jar and then we wondered what to do with it.  We heard that the Americans ate it on bread but wondered how they coped with the sticky mass in their mouths. No-one had mentioned that they also put jam in the sandwich. Our jar stayed in the cupboard for a long time. 

 Auntie Mary sent us food  and clothing parcels

Girl Guides in the Parish Hall. Mary Turner Captain.

Dances at Brinsworth School with the Selma band. Horsey horsey don’t you stop.

Straight home from school. Few buses to town for pleasure activities. Packed cinemas. 

Shopping during the war. Queueing and then asking “What are we queueing for?”