Today, September 6, was a Wednesday in 1939. This was the first week of World War II and lots of local lads were away from home for the very first time, leaving behind anxious mums, dads and sweethearts.

I know I reminisce about this every year, but it takes a bit of forgetting about, in fact I don't expect it ever will. Seems like yesterday.

I didn't mention the girls did I. Well I doubt if there were a great many who were called up right at the start, although I honestly don't know, but it wasn't long before they were here in uniform themselves, bless 'em, and the housewife's 'uniform' was just as important as the military ones.

When I used to visit ack-ack sites in the early years of the war I was very proud of the way the girls manned the equipment, often out there in the bitter cold, and wet, and out of action, and to see a company of girls, sparkling smart in their uniforms, whatever it was, marching with a precision that often put the men to shame. I saw them once again, but on TV this time, taking their place with the men, on their way to Macedonia. Brave lasses!

I remember well, meeting up with the Russians near the Baltic coast, and seeing for the first time, the sub-machine-gun-toting girl soldiers, macho types mostly, and how 50 years and more later our own girls take on this role, but still seem to maintain their femininity.

To the present, and telephones, and to pinch a comment from my Autumn Tints Cycling Newsletter: "Before mobile phones, why were there no long queues at public call boxes?" Which poses an interesting question. The way of life must have been much different, people had to rely on their own judgement about things much more. I was in a confectionery shop recently and the girl wanting vanilla slices was faced with the dilemma of "What shall I do?" when the assistant told her that they were sold out. So then and there she had to ring mum for instructions. You might well say that this was either the right thing to do, or that it was over the top. BMP (before mobile phones), the girl would have had to make a decision on behalf her mum, now the onus of her responsibility was shifted, and I wonder if it's a good thing.

As for which phone company to use - now that is a problem. I seem to get bombarded with offers of cheap rates, but the system seems so complex that making up ones mind is very difficult. My eldest son in Lincolnshire tells me that he changed over to Powergen, and finds his accounts quite a lot lower. This may be so, but then there are so many factors to consider, and I've been a bit scared about moving away from BT, thinking that they are the original and home-brewed firm and must be best. This quarter's bill came as a shock though. I'd been on a scheme called 'BT together', and they said that their new one, called 'BT Talk Together' was much better and gave free calls each weekend. It was a few quids more per quarter, but well worth it so they said. So I went in with both feet. Well, I did get some free phone calls, but my bill was the biggest I've ever had, and I'm beginning to think of learning how to send smoke signals. Trying to analyse the account, which is a task in itself, I see that the service charges and VAT are more than the calls I made. So what next I wonder.

On top of all this, BT proudly announce that they now introduce their new-style bill. Yes indeed "Clearer, simpler and easier to understand" goes the claim. Clearer to read, I'll go along with that, but as for the rest, I'm working on it. "Less paper is required", using both sides of the paper. I had nine sides, which meant five sheets, more than before, and as the sheets are bigger I don't go along with the claim of using less paper. Does anyone understand their telephone bill I wonder? Apart from doing without one I wonder what the alternatives are.

Shipboard communications used to be by voice tube. First you blew down the end place to activate the whistle at the other end, and chatted, alternating the mouth piece with the ear and mouth in turn. A cost-free installation. Wonder how far you can get with a half-inch hose pipe? Remember the two empty tins joined together with a piece of string when we were children? Should have worked - in theory, but mine never did. Must have been using the wrong kind of string!

Also from Autumn Tints News: "Did you know that no piece of paper can be folded more than seven times?" Seem to remember trying this years ago, and it's right enough. You might get that far with a sheet of newspaper, but ordinary A4 and you're lucky to get to five times. Try it.

Think on it. "Never look behind you. Something may be gaining on you." (Satchel Paige 1906-1982).

Updated: 10:26 Thursday, September 06, 2001