Socks

I was brought up by parents who were youngsters during WW2, my father was a gunner in the home guard. This probably means nothing to most of the people who read this blog, but let me tell you how this has influenced my life.

My parents grew up in an age of poverty, Britain had nothing, food was rationed for decades and basics that we take for granted now were not available then. You wanted butter? You were allowed a few grams a week, make do.

Obviously people made what they could of what they had, thriftiness was key. Mothers knitted clothes to keep their children warm, I know that worked, but it itched like a witches tit! But did we complain? No. 

Each meal I sat down for was cooked from scratch. I challenge any mother to admit they do the same now.

I had a ‘clwt’, I dunno what the translation is, but my nappy was an old cloth kept together by a safety pin. Washed and reused.

Nothing went unused or fixed.

Today?

As poor as I am, it’s cheaper for me to buy new clothes than to wash them. I have not worn the same pair of socks in a decade at least. 

Where have we gone wrong, a society were it is cheaper to throw away your clothes rather than wash them is not a sustainable society. Easiness is not the right way.