Simplifying Life - Mark II

MrsBartolozzi

I agree with Seraphina, I think that you may be wearing your rose coloured specs today.:)
It's quite niave to see wartime as a simpler time. I'm glad that today I only need to go food shopping once a week, I can store all my meat, dairy etc in a fridge and freezer instead of going shopping every day (as we see the younger woman doing in the tv prog). And when I get to the shops I know that I will be able to get all my list, nothing will have to be bought on the black market, and if there's none left in Tesco then there's lots more choice elsewhere. I have a washing machine and dishwasher, while the latter is optional I doubt any of you reading would be happy to be without a washing M/c. The fuel issues too, while gas and elec ain't cheap at least we know that there won't be a shortage and we can use it as and when we need to.
Having to make up all sorts of weird substitutes for proper ingredients might be seen as a challenge to readers of OS, but it might be great when it's an option, but when it's all you have I'm not sure it would be fun.
I watched the program with a sense of: well, we made it through the wartime, but I'm glad I don't have to do all the things on the program.

aliadds

Lavender_Cottage wrote: »

Just wanted to say I feel dishearted with life today....watched Wartime kitchen and garden on Yesterday (Freeview) and life (despite the war) seemed so much simpler then...I hate consumerism and all the waste that happens today (I'm 38 by the way!)

I think as with so many things I would like to have a bit of both lifestyles.
I like the simplicity of life, and the pulling together of people to help fight the war, but I also appreciate the freedom of choice we have today, along with the luxuries like a washing machine and dishwasher etc.

thriftlady_2

aliadds wrote: »

I also appreciate the freedom of choice we have today, along with the luxuries like a washing machine and dishwasher etc.

And don't forget the computer, without which we wouldn't be able to have this discussion;)

I sympathise with the OP's point though.

aliadds

thriftlady wrote: »

And don't forget the computer, without which we wouldn't be able to have this discussion;)

I sympathise with the OP's point though.

Yes I totally agree. My 'can't live withouts' are my laptop and car!
How sad am I?:o

Essex-girl_2

My Nan, who sadly passed away 2 years ago aged 97, lived though the war and rationing and believe me did not look back on those days fondly. She got through them but thats it. She very much enjoyed her modern conveniences later in life.

THIRZAH

I like the idea of a more simple life but there are many things that I wouldn't want to do without-my computer, the washing machine, central heating and modern plumbing-I can't imagine that many people who have had to use an outside toilet in the past would want to go back to those days

Chipps

Yes, I agree. It all looks great, doesn't it - a simpler lifestyle, no debt etc., and no outside pressures to have things. And everyone else was in the same boat as well, which makes life easier.
But... can you imagine the horror of waiting for an air raid to end, with the fear of not surviving, or worrying about family and friends who were serving with the armed forces etc? It doesn't bear thinking about.
I like having a dishwasher, a washing machine, a tumble dryer and computer! Not only that, but if our allotment crops succumb to whitefly or some other not so delightful problem, we won't go hungry. I can nip to the shops or market and have plenty of choice.
I love to use the ingenious recipes of the ration years, they are economical and usually pretty good, but I don't HAVE to stick to just those ingredients day in, day out.
Do I look back & think how nice a simpler life would be? Well, yes. But I wonder if it felt like a simple life at the time. Just think of all the bureaucracy and government intervention with rationing etc.

sb44

THIRZAH wrote: »

I can't imagine that many people who have had to use an outside toilet in the past would want to go back to those days

Not forgetting the bucket or potty if you were posh in the bedroom to pee and stuff into during the night.

I remember carrying it downstairs at my grandmas in the early 60's.

Slipped one day and missed a couple of steps, thank god I held onto the b*gger!

Ches

I think the food must have been very bland as the seasonings we enjoy today weren't available then. Blackout must have been awful and outside loos and no central heating doesn't bear thinking about. I think housewives then must have worked from dawn to dusk as most houses had no vacumn cleaners/washing machines/fridges/freezers etc. And apart from worrying about whether you were going to be killed in the next air raid there was also the worry about getting pregnant as no reliable birth control. Aside from anything else I think one of the things I would miss the most is paper hankies and soft toilet rolls. :rotfl:

liley9

i also watch these programes and think i would like the close knit community again, no debt and such like but our washing machine broke down two weeks ago and i hand washed what i could while waiting for the new one to arrive and i wouldn't have to go without my modern tech on a regular basis.