I was born in 1943 and every person had a ration book registered with Grocer, Butcher etc and Mum’s books were still registered with the shops in Hunslet where we used to live. Every week, Mum and I went back there to shop and bought everything home on the tram. I didn't like the smell in the butchers or the animals hanging on the hooks, but I loved the smells in a Co-op.

The grocer used a hand operated machine to slice bacon and a large knife to cut butter and lard from the big blocks on the counter, all wrapped in paper, and a scoop to measure sugar from a large blue bag also on the counter. Over the other side of the shop, tea was measured into bags and coffee came in a bottle called Camp. The best shop was a sweet shop where Mr Brooke used to sit me on his counter to see all the sweets in glass bottles. Mum always bought Toffees with the slogan “Too Good for You, Spot” written on the wrapper of each toffee. Mr Brooke always gave me a lollipop to eat going home on the tram.