Paignton a ghost town?

 

Despite fears of Paignton becoming a ghost town, you wouldn’t have thought so of late.

Recently  the town has been bustling and hustling and galore.

 

My wife and I have been visiting the several Charity shops in the town on the look out for a couple of decent armchairs for a price we can afford.

 

Most shops were busy  - I guess with folk of like mind, in an effort to make ends meet; looking out for a decent bargain, and there are plenty to be found.

 

Having found two armchairs which took our liking - we placed bums on seats to test the comfort zone.- we decided they were for us - but all in vain; “sorry they have just, two minutes ago, been sold!”

 

That’s life but I am sure we will find something else pretty soon.

 

But another thing that struck me, with all the news of doom and gloom around these days, there seemed to be an air of cheerfulness and there was I thinking are things really that bad?!

 

Something I remember well; my mum making wonderfully nourishing stews from simmering marrow bones which could always be picked up cheap from the butchers and there they were again, for sale at a local butcher at 60p each.

 

We hear of how many are suffering under the poverty line but one cannot compare it with the days before national health and assistance were introduced in 1948.

 

At least now days anyone considered to be below the poverty line will get benefit credits to keep them in reasonable stead.

 

I salute my parents who were really poor and many like them during the war days who brought four boys up with rarely an empty tummy because they just had to manage on what they could get.

 

For us, apart from those delicious stews, we survived on fresh suet puddings, bread and dripping, winkles and sprats and the like, all of which were cheap yet nourishing

 

We bathed only once a week and lived in clothes until they almost fell off our backs, but we were happy, the spirit was there and we survived.

 

I am always humbled when hearing the moans and groans from those who have to sacrifice some of their creature comforts - in seeing just how many survive in third world countries - and isn’t it amazing - they still have laughter and joy in their lives despite all.

 

There has to be a learning curve there if only we could see it.