Today I am mainly in 1945

Mending a 1940s airman's jacket where the zip has gone. Not easy.

Baking shortbread biscuits and about to attempt a 1945 recipe for carrot cake - no eggs no sugar. Should be interesting.

Later I'll be making Homity Pie, a Land Girl's recipe from WW2. 

My mum wanted to be a Land Girl, but she was too young. She went into the shirt factory making Tootal shirts in Derry, like all the other women in her family. Unknown to her at the time, this was the beginning of her career in fashion.

But I digress. 

This year marks the 75th Anniversay of VE Day on the 8th of May. 
To commemorate the last of those who remember the war on the homefront, in the air, on the battlefield and on the seas, the Royal Navy and The Wavy Navy as it was called, the Merchant shipping on which Britain relied, and which was pounded into the ocean by German shipping.

My father was a Chief Petty Officer on the Ark Royal, he was a teenager during the war, so after the war the national service he chose was the Navy. He wanted to travel, unaware that he did and always would, suffer from debilitating seasickness. Didn't stop him though, once he was punished for this by having to scrub a deck with a toothbrush. I imagine, (though he never said,) he made more mess than he cleared up.

My husband's father was traumatised by the war. He was a POW, his regiment was the Black Watch, he worked in salt mines and was starved. He was on the Long Walk. He like many others who survived would not talk about his experiences.

My ex-husband's father was out in the Middle East with Monty and Rommel. His job there was to clear up air crashes in the desert. He met Lawrence (of Arabia) and Monty while he was there, having a job with purpose gave him a different experience. He actually enjoyed the adventure.

My uncle Ted was rescued from Dunkirk.

A handshake away from history. 

So re-enacting the Home Front, the Battle of Britain display team, being the Army or the Navy or a Spiv. Without the danger. Without the constant threat. Is fun, but all of us who do it remember that our parents, grandparents,lived through it. That's why we are here, that's why we do it, as a tribute to them we can make it fun, for them.

My husband sporting a proper short back and sides haircut for a 1940s do!

 At the nightclub with the Spivs and their ladies, authentic hairstyles by DoWop Dos!