| 5. Saturday Jobs, Shopping and Home Cures. |
[17L 14/05/84] I can just remember the Policeman Havell. I think he went to Bloxham from Cropredy. I have heard my Mother say one of his boys did an errand for her once. She asked him if he would have a piece of cake or a penny. He said “The cake,” and had it and ate it, then said “He would like the penny.” I don’t know whether he got it or not. [16L. 23/03/84] You are quite right about knife cleaning being hated. I had to do it on Saturday mornings. It was a board and you put your knife on it. How I hated it. It was quite an event if Mother and Father went to Banbury when we were children, we got most things in the village at the Co-op. Mrs Cave had a small shop half-way down Red Lion Street. Her son Archie used to come round with a pony and trap, on Saturdays I think. He died during the First World War. They said he got a chill when he went up for his medical and died of pneumonia.(Cave family in Book 5: The Wheelwright’s Apprentice A & L Pettifer) Mr Godson used to come round with bread and he did some butchering as well (Book 2, The Baker’s and the Carrier’s Daughter E Bassett and M Godson). Then a butcher Jarvis from Middleton Cheney came round too. Home Cures: [22L. 23/03/85] Yes Mother used Zambuk ointment. She had the recipe and used to make it. I have been looking to see if it is still about, the recipe I mean, but I can’t find it. My sister may have it. The only ingredient I can remember is oil of swallows. I knew of someone who went to Dr. Bartlett once, I can’t remember what for. He said What have you been putting on it? They said Zambuk. He said Ach, put that on your boots! [23L. 19/06/85] I was looking for something the other day and came across a very old piece of paper, when I looked at it, it was the recipe for Zambuk. What those amounts would be in todays values I have no idea. Three pennyworth of Vaseline, Two pennyworth of Spemaceti, Two pennyworth of Oil of Eucalyptus, Two pennyworth of Oil of Swallows. Put into a jar and dissolve by the fire. Allow to cool. [18L. 24/06/84] I have heard my Father talk about goose grease, also brimstone and treacle. I think they were the main remedies one time of day. The stock cure in those days. I am glad to say I never had any of them, they seemed to have gone out before my time.
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