Female Focus
Page 29
FF - Your Magazine It’s a funny old world
Peggy, a resident of Ciudad Patrica for more than 25 years, recently celebrated her 99th birthday. We asked Peggy to look back and share a few memories of the past. Here’s what she had to say…
When we look back over our lives, haven’t things changed! I was married in 1939 when the cost of things was measured in pounds, shillings and pence and £5 was a small fortune. My husband was earning £3.10s a week – roughly equivalent to 4.20€ in modern parlance. This included an allowance for using his car which was a necessity in his job – he had earlier bought a Ford 8 for £75 (90€). I was a fully qualified hairdresser and I earned a weekly wage of £1.5s. (1.80€). Our newly built house of 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 toilets and 2 living rooms cost £825 (990€). Our mortgage was £1 (1.20€) a week so paying that out of my wages left me with 5s. (0.30€) to spend recklessly! Here’s some examples of the cost of our household expenses that I can remember: 1 gallon (4.5ltrs) of petrol cost 11 ½d (0.07€); 1pint of milk (0.6ltr) cost 2d (0.01€); a loaf of bread was 4d (0.02€) and eggs were 2½d each! You paid 9d (0.04€) for
a good cinema ticket so you could have a night out for a few bob! (a bob was 1shilling = 0.06€). I was allowed to drive the car once a week if I put a gallon of petrol in the tank! I remember it didn’t take the garage assistant long to get to know me as I fumbled every week in my pockets and bags to find 11½d. The garage consisted of just one manual Shell petrol pump with a small shed at the back for repairs. Visiting him every week was a good laugh as he always teased me with “shall we make it just ½ gallon this week?” or, “why are you keeping two homes going?”. I’ve just recently purchased a hearing aid which has cost me 4 times the price of our 3 bedroom house! It doesn’t seem possible the world has got into such a horrendous financial situation – yet I know I am lucky to be still able to buy a glass of wine at no more than my weekly wage in 1939! I just feel extremely fortunate to be living where every help is available and to be surrounded by so many good friends. May you all live as long as I have and enjoy many healthy, happy years as you spend your senior years in lovely Ciudad Patricia.
Keep the faith, love, Peggy See more information about Ciudad Patricia on pages 30 and 31.
Grant a Wish Fitness Festival
We invite you to come and join us for our fantastic day of fun and fitness in Jávea Old Town, Sunday 7th May.
The first of its kind, this event will give you the opportunity to try lots of different styles of exercise and fitness sessions with 4 of the most experienced and qualified instructors across the Costa Blanca.
Join in taster sessions of Zumba, Zumba Strong, Circuits, Yoga, Meditation, HIIT Training and more.
Purchase your 10€ wristband in advance from one of the instructors listed on the poster or from the Grant A Wish Boutique, Plaza de la Constitucion, Javea Old Town. All proceeds raised will go to G.A.W. charity's local causes.
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