Cubbyhole bookshelf

There is a tall bookcase on the landing full of reference books, hardback books, art books, photograph albums and what you will, but the middle shelf is for miscellaneous books and objects that come and go.  The tin tambourine was a birthday present when I was little, the wooden horse a present from some Norwegian friends, and the carved dog's head is of a dog my parents had called Leo.  My grandfather loved this dog and he too was called Leo by some so the carving was given to him.

An elderly neighbour called in this afternoon with some ripe home-grown tomatoes (how I love the smell of them) and we sat talking about the past.  She was saying how when she was young, she had to walk three miles to work and back again, a domestic servant in a farmhouse in Kent.  She eventually married the waggoner who worked on the same farm with the horses and they lived in a tiny cottage with a well outside for water, no loo, nor privy, but a bucket at the end of the garden; no electricity or stove until eventually they had a primus stove.  The well turned brackish and the council wouldn't lay on any water but gave them two water tanks to collect the rain water off the roof which they had to boil before use and later electricity was laid on.   With these minimum facilities she brought up four sons (  boiling the nappies in a preserving pan on the primus stove).  Life was hard but she was perfectly happy not knowing anything better.  How life has changed!!  P is the sweetest person, very small with sparkling blue eyes and a great spirit.