I WAS sitting at home thinking about the modern day appliances, e.g. microwave, washing machine, tumble dryer, etc. One could carry on for ages. I then thought back to my childhhood, when our ironing was done by a flat iron, heated up on the Cornish range, which baked us mouthwatering food, such as pasties dripping with gravy from the meat, heavy bake, heavy oggin, rice pudding (a different table to what we have now), and many more. How succulent were the Sunday roasts with our favourite "pasty crust" added.

Our clothes boiled in a big black cauldron, then rinsed, blown up on the line after being put through the huge cast iron mangle, taking two of us children to push the handle. No electricity, water or modern baths or loos. I wonder how many people would love to go back to those days for a week? I myself would love it.

The art of conversation was there every night as we sat around the Cornish range always rounding off with my father and grandfather telling us ghost stories before we trekked upstairs with our lit candle, with its flames making flickering shapes over the walls. Tell your children and grandchildren about these times, don't let them be forgotten. No money, but they were good times.

Mrs Jeanette Harris (nee Dudley) Grange Road, Helston