In my very early years, come to that all though my time at home until I started work, I didn't get much pocket money. What pocket I did get I had to earn by doing chores for my mother.
I believe at first it was only about 3 old pence, going up to 6 old pence and reaching the priestly sum of 1 whole shilling by the time I was ten. Of course in those days prices were a lot lower than they are today and you could get quite a lot for your money if you were careful.
There was a sweet shop just up the High Street from Aunty Mary's house and you could buy chews at 1 farthing each. So you could get 8 sweets for just 2 old pennies.
When I started to get 6 pence I thought I was rich indeed, because for this 6 pence I was able to purchase the girls comic I used to get, I believe it was called Girls Own, as well as treat myself to a selection of sweets. I would still get the farthing chews but I could now afford to get a couple of ounces of grown up sweets for 3 pence.
Across the road from Aunty Mary's house was a lady by the name of Mrs Freeman and she ran a café, which also sold sweets and ice creams. The day sweets came off ration was the highlight of my life. It meant you could buy whatever you wanted without having to have coupons. I believe I made myself sick by eating too many chocolates.
Mrs Freeman's daughter married an American soldier, and because we were good friends we were invited to their wedding. It was not long after this that Mrs Freeman sold up and followed her daughter to America.
In 1955 when I was 12, I was given a brand new Triumph make bicycle in red. Up until now I had always used the old bone shaker ladies bike. I loved that bicycle and kept it clean and shining until I outgrew it and it was passed on to somebody else.
Aunty Mary was a great reader and I think I got my love of reading from her. There was always a selection of books to be read at her house, and when I had progressed from children's books, the first adult books I read were whodunits by Agatha Christie and printed in paperback by Penguin.
I got my love of history from a teacher I had at school when I was around 12 to 13 years old. This teacher had such a love of the subject that his enthusiasm came across leaving you wanting more.
I have read anything I can get my hands on to do with history from early English history to modern times, the Russian history of the Tsars, Roman history to do with all aspects of roman life and even Egyptian history, in fact, I love all aspects of history but I suppose I like to read about the social aspect and how it affected different people.
I also used to love Christmas time because I spent many hours painstakingly making everybody his or her Christmas present. For the ladies I used to sit and embroider their initial in the corner of each set of hankies I was giving them, the same with the gentlemen.
I also used to make up sachets of lavender for gifts to ladies to hang on the clothes hanger to keep the clothes smelling nice, or to go into dresser draws.
For those people who I didn't make presents for it was always exciting going Christmas shopping with my little bit of pocket money.
The shops didn't start so early as they do now; it was usually after bonfire night before the shop windows would be dressed out in readiness for Christmas.
There seemed to be a special feeling then when you went Christmas shopping, all the shop assistance would take the time to ensure you were satisfied with your purchases, and would spend time helping you make the right choice. We had a couple of chemist shops, one called Morse's who was an independent owned shop, and the other was Boots, the big national company.
There was always a lovely smell associated with these chemist shops when they stocked the different gift packages of soaps, talc's and perfumes. I loved going shopping in these stores, and choosing my gifts, because as well as taking the time to serve me, these purchases were always gift-wrapped.
