Bill & Ben
have been watching a re-run of The
1940’s House on the History Channel and have been struck by how
much history seems to run in circles rather than straight lines.
This sense has recently been heightened by our beloved
Heathcliff delving into the back of
the nation’s fridge and declaring a war on waste.
Perhaps you can see
where we’re coming from. Let’s start with re-cycling.
War time recycling
Look familiar? Well
yes, but there is a difference, which the following poster makes
plain.
Those two simple
words are the difference – Thank You!
Then there is that
question of food waste. In World War 2 people were exhorted not to
waste food, something Heathcliff would
have approved of. Maybe it’s time for the return of these
gentlemen.
Potato Pete & Doctor
Carrot
In war time the
government were ably assisted in their endeavours by Marguerite
Patten. Maybe that role is now fulfilled by the sainted Jamie?
Of course, as well
as not wasting food there’s not wasting water. In these days of
alleged global warming water may be in short supply, always
assuming you’re not flooded out that is. Perhaps time for a return of this idea?
The war time bath
Energy wastage was,
as now, a major concern in war time. Government committees spent
countless hours finding new ways for people on the home front to
save energy, however small. Taking the TV off standby and energy
saving light bulbs sound like they were invented in the 1940’s,
particularly as the bulbs don’t fit the sockets. Perhaps if the
energy saving light bulb had been invented back then, maybe it
would have been called the Belisha
bulb. We have not yet got as far as turning the street lights off
at night, but surely it will come? Perhaps it might solve several
problems at once. Turning the street lights off not only saves
energy, but might also stop teenage delinquency, drinking in public
places, car theft,…..
So, finally we get
to the blackout. Whilst we no longer have a need to prevent the
Luftwaffe bombing us, how long is it before we again hear that cry
“Put that light out, ” only this time
round it will be for the sin of having two light bulbs on in
different rooms at the same time. And who will administer this
scheme I hear you ask. Why the modern day Home Guard, the
Neighbourhood Watch, that’s who! Think it can’t happen? You
wouldn’t think there are people looking through your rubbish
either, but there might well be!
So, if this all
becomes too real, we will be left with a quandary. Who is going to
replace Vera Lynn? Perhaps the BBC should get together with Andrew
Lloyd Webber one more time?
The caches in the
Rushden series are:
Put That Light Out
A Kick Up The Arts
Spot the Difference