All Around the Shire FILLDYKE EITHER BLACK OR WHITE”

This old Derbyshire saying was never more true than during my childhood where we would often have rain, sleet or snow during the month of February. If we were lucky, it would be snow and we could go sledging, snowmanmaking or snowball fighting against the kids from the next street. If we were really lucky, we might get a day off school, but that was rare. Usually, children trudged to school in balaclavas, home-made scarves and mittens on string threaded through the sleeves. The collar would be turned up on your gabardine mac or duffel coat. In the winter of 1963, we got a bit too much snow and people were out with the shovels trying to dig out pathways. Due to the ground being frozen my grandfather was not able to be buried until Easter, having passed away in early February.

At school, the third-of-a-pint milk-bottles were stacked up in crates in an alcove next to the yard and would often freeze and their contents rise proudly above the silver foil cap.

At home, the old toasting fork would be brought out and some of mum’s home-made bread would be toasted in front of the open fire and eaten with a bit of beef dripping and salt. It might have been crumpets, pikelets or muffins.

My granny used to stand with her back to the coal fire, raise her skirts and warm her backside until her legs were decorated with red rings from the heat.

I have no memory of being cold in my childhood although I must have been at times. I choose to remember the cosy, quirky and happy Februarys from the past.