Can you tell me what it was like in the 1970's recession?

setmefree2

Kez100 wrote: »

......... I was just born and am interested to know more.

Thought you might this artice of interest.

Cheer up, it's not so bad really


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23610385-details/Cheer+up%2C+it%27s+not+so+bad+really/article.do

Lifeisbutadream

setmefree2 wrote: »

Thought you might this artice of interest.

Cheer up, it's not so bad really


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23610385-details/Cheer+up%2C+it%27s+not+so+bad+really/article.do

Thank you setmefree - that did cheer me up!

fedupnow

I don't recall minding the power cuts, they just sort of happened.

I remember my Mum crying when the last of the miners marched back to work.

Talking about jump leads....... if my Dad wasn't around - I was the youngest so I was always sat in the car whilst the rest of the clan pushed it. I knew how to bump start a car at about 6 I think. I can still hear one person yelling "Now.... Now" and another yelling "Nooooo... not yet".

Food was plain and simple. Nice though.

mardatha

I'l always hate that woman for her spitefulness towards the miners.

bo_drinker

setmefree2 wrote: »

Thought you might this artice of interest.

Cheer up, it's not so bad really


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23610385-details/Cheer+up%2C+it%27s+not+so+bad+really/article.do

Iread this recently on here and I agree with a part of it, not all. Projects are being cancelled or shelved all over the country. From single house builds to major shopping centres.

harryhound

In the 70's, I shared a "modern" house in the corner of a field with three lads in our early 20's.
Like any panic shortage, the latest thing that our bombed out economy and toilet paper currency could not afford to buy from the rest of the world, simply was NOT AVAILABLE. Just like the craze for booze cruises in the 1990's, there were regular spivs who travelled across to the continent to get hold of things that were readily available over there and then sold them a silly prices to those who simply could not adapt to shortages.
Sugar was an important product product in our household - it was used for making beer in a dustbin and I well remember having to buy some that was meant to be white but was the colour of pale urine.
After making beer the sludge in the bottom of the dustbin can be used for baking bread. We lived very frugally - 4 quid each in the kitty each week, more than paid the utility bills and all the food except work day lunches (I got a 15p a day luncheon voucher:D)
That was enough to get a plate of something like Lancashire Hot Pot in the market cafe.
So when the lights went out there was a huge rush on candles; I invented the floating dough candle:
Get large pyrex mixing bowl. Make small buns of dough, proof and allow to rise after threading small length of string through the centre. Fill bowl with cooking oil and float wicks on top. Light enough wicks for illumination required.
The heat from the flame even half cooked the little buns.
Drink high strength beer and get somewhat lairy.

It was bad timing if the electric was off at home and at work and the blackouts gave you a good reason to go and see your friends or have them call on you.

Harry.

Couple of corrections: The three day week was caused by Ted Heath refusing the miners a pay rise at the hight of the oil shortage, with no coal reserves. he should have asked then if they were sure that thery had asked for enough and asked them as patriots to hold the annual gala on the lawns of chequers as a two fingered gesture to the Arabs and shake-your-money their monopoly organiser.
Margaret Thatcher, seeing cheap north sea oil flooding into the country, had learned from Ted's mistake and had prepared a "war" plan before picking a fight with Scargill and winning. The rest is history.

There are roughly 5 litres in an Imperial gallon - The USA gallon is a bit smaller and much cheaper. It does not carry 70% tax.

The lights went out several years before we had to hand the government of the country over to the International Monetary Fund, Iceland style.

fc123

bo_drinker wrote: »

Iread this recently on here and I agree with a part of it, not all. Projects are being cancelled or shelved all over the country. From single house builds to major shopping centres.

But they couldn't just keep building ad infinitum......do we, as of today, need more malls or small box type house?

The Bauger thing has yet to play out...so existing malls need to ensure they are nearly fully occupied with strong, profitable tenants. Some chains have already shed loss making leases (through administration) and renogotiated rent levels (downwards).

There alsp seems to a glut of unsold New Build around the country....seems sensible to get that sold off first.

You could look at it as not being a recession as such, more as a non-boom period..I don't know if that reads right....I am trying to say that the boom years weren't necerssarily normal times either.

lilac_lady

I remember my mother saving Kensitas cigarette coupons. My sister and I loved looking through the catalogue to see what we could have. There wasn't a page offering lung cancer and breathing difficulties though!

mardatha

My OH worked in the docks and was always on strike. I used to feed the kids & I soup and rice pud or sponge pud - and then give him the same but sneak in a pie as a main course .

geoffky

The good old days were not too good where they?