Dear LPG,

I was talking to a friend the other day and we started to reminisce about a few things.

I wondered if anyone else remembers...

As a child, when November came round, I remember my mum buying a sack of coal and putting it on the pram so that she could get it home. It represented our winter insurance against the cold. I also remember the coalman coming and emptying sacks of coal down the coal holes of neighbouring houses. Their vehicles were often drawn by horses that ‘pooed’ at will, leaving their calling cards. It was up to neighbours to clean up and they would willingly go out with their shovels and buckets to collect it for their gardens; especially good for the roses.

The horses haven’t changed, but there are a lot less of them to be seen on our roads today. The only ones we see are the police horses and anyone who remembers the value of what they leave behind them would be taking a nigh-on lethal risk if they tried to gather the manure. You can almost see the cars avoiding it so that their tires don’t get dirty.

Our Mums and Dads got up in the cold to get the fire going and we were all expected to wash in the cold.  Snow did not close schools or immobilise public transport.  I don’t think it did us any harm. Perhaps we had hardier bodies as a result and we appreciated things more.

Today we are all worried about how Brexit will affect us and the pound in our pockets. I remember when there was a lot less money, and even if you could afford it, your food intake was dictated by the ration book.

Now TV adverts invite us to use our mobile phones to top up the electricity supply and you can even adjust the heat in your home from your phone in preparation for when you arrive, whatever next!

GW, Lewisham