The Travelling Shop
The Travelling Shop was a regular sight throughout the countryside. Everything you needed was in that lorry – from a bag of flour; meal for the hens; nuts for the calves and even a spool of thread. There was no need to go to the supermarket. All the weekly groceries were bought outside the door.
It was an exciting time for us children, as we always got a loaf and jam and sweets were usually t
hrown in too.
Like our neighbours, we were self-sufficient, growing our own potatoes and vegetables and had our own milk. We killed a pig and made our own black puddings and we had plenty of fresh eggs. Indeed, thee basket of eggs were used to pay for the groceries and sometimes there was some change left over.
We reared all own fowl – chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys for Christmas. We had all the seasonal fruits – rhubarb, apples, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants.These made all our desserts. We had plenty of milk to make the custard and everybody baked their own soda bread.