north elmham village .org.uk

March now, Spring is in the air and we were reminded the other day about spring cleaning, which is now a thing of the past.  With vacuum cleaners, steam irons and the like who needs to spring clean?

But some of us can remember seeing lines of curtains, blankets, mats and rugs all outside having been washed and beaten.  Flag floors were scrubbed and doorsteps whitened, furniture was heavily beeswaxed and windows rubbed with scrunched up newspaper soaked with vinegar and water.  The chimney sweep came with long brushes and we children were sent outside to wait for the black bristly brush to shoot out the top.  The soot was usually dumped on the garden and if you got it on your hands it was a bit oily and tricky to get off with carbolic soap.

Was life harder, were we happier then, what do you think?

Our thanks for donations this month go to Mr & Mrs Chittock, and Anon from Billingford and Anon from Station Road.

Sincere apologies go to Mr & Mrs Carnell and Mr & Mrs Watson for your kind donations which we failed to acknowledge before.