The Olden Days

Times were hard in Grandma's day No electrical appliances had she A ringer washing machine for washing the clothes And a whistling gas kettle for making the tea No electric lighting Just a lamp filled with gas That's what I remember When I was a lass Kneeling down, scrubbing steps And not just her own With a bucket of hot water And a block of donkey stone I remember on a Tuesday Grandma used to make In a willow pattern bowl A pineapple upside-down cake Sunday was trifle day With custard, cream and jelly Then at twenty to four we'd settle down To watch ‘The Golden Shot' on the telly Grandma used to take washing in For all the neighbours in the street Then when it was clean and dry I’d fold it in piles so neat We were very poor And didn’t have much to boast But we were happier then than people are now The ones who deserve the least have the most