A night to remember

It was the middle of winter and the snow covered all of the mountains surrounding our wee cottage in the Highlands, the sound of the steam train passing the cottage let us know it was 7 o’clock at night, I was happily playing with my train set and my big sister was busy doing her homework. Dad had just stoked the fire so I could feel the heat as I was playing on the floor just in front of the fire; it made me feel very warm and cosy on such a winter’s night.

Our house had no electricity in those days so we used a Tilley lamp, which was really paraffin, and it was carried from room to room, we could only afford two and Mum was using the other one to do her washing in the kitchen.

The lamp cast many shadows, which at times was quite frightening; I could see Mum scrubbing away on the old washing board being careful not to scrape her fingers on it. “There were no washing machines like we have nowadays.“

Dad was now busy getting the tin bath ready for my evening scrub that’s when I got a whiff of the carbolic soap, just at that the kettle began to whistle on the range so I knew it was time to put my train set away and strip off. I did not mind getting ready for my bath as I knew Mum would be getting the griddle on shortly and making her wonderful pancakes.

1

The clock on the fireplace chimed eight o’clock just as mum brought in the ovaltine and hot pancakes, Dad sat down on his big armchair with his evening paper and mum gladly sat herself down after doing the washing and baking and began to read the peoples friend while

my sister and I read our dandy and beano.

It was nice to feel so cosy whilst eating the hot pancakes spread with good butter as outside it was blowing a blizzard.

I just loved this time of night. A real family night with us feeling so happy and contented with life, safe and warm in oor wee but and Ben.

Peter Sloway January 2007