gb0551ms-33-112

Transcription

[Page] 112
[continued from page 111]

small quantities for children and there is an
an almost complete absence of apples. For:
:tunately, I had a fairly good crop on my
small orchard of 33 trees and still have
several doz. [dozen] “King of Pipins” and a quantity
of “Blenheim’s Orange”, the latter from Melrose,
which supply me with a morning apple for
some weeks. We have an excellent
kitchen garden and have been well supplied
with all sorts of vegetables. For smokers
there is a great scarcity of tobacco especially
in the shape of cigarettes. Occasionally
one sees a queue at a tobacconists, and
much more frequently at a sweet shop!
Owing to the Occupation in France and
removal of all French wines to Germany,
largely to be made into alchohol, red wine
is almost unprocurable, Sherry, the most
popular pre war liquor, is almost ceasing
to exist. Supplies everywhere are running
very low and, when to be purchased, costs any:
:thing. Even whisky is very scarce and
costs £1 a bottle or thereby. Members of the
New Club are rationed to one small whisky
for lunch & one for dinner. Catering
for meals in the Club is a very great difficulty.

Haggis, white puddings, and sausages make fre:
:quent appearance. Another great difficulty
for the householders is the conscription of women,
which has taken from domestic service by far the
greater proportion of servants. Many people
have none and, where there is no amateur Cook
in the establishment, must needs go to restaur:
:ants in town, which, in consequence, are crowded.
Few if any, houses have more than two servants and
most, only one. I am particularly fortunate
for my faithful Catherine is still with me and,
to take the place of a delightful house parlour:
:maid from Bettyhill in Sutherland, who had been
with us a few months, procured an elderly
sister of her own, who had just retired from long
years of service as a housemaid. The feeding-
-problem has been complicated by the entry of
Japan into the war for not only does it call
for greater demand on our Merchant navy
for Military transport, but it will directly interfere
with trade from Australia and the Dutch East Indies.
Certain compensating advantages have arisen
from the entry of America into the war and the
consequent greater protection to our convoys of food.
The war affects nearly everything we use and re;
:strictions are applied in nearly every case. – rubber,
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