WW11 Kitchen

This is my interpretation of a typical British kitchen during the wartime years.
	This is how I envisage a kitchen in Britain to have looked during wartime. It is also rather similar to the kitchen in our house during the late 50s, although we did not have the comfort of a fireplace.
	The rather messy cook/laundress (at the same time? I don't think so...) can always take a break and have a cup of tea and a few minutes with her knitting in front of the fire.
	A glimpse into the sparse storecupboard during wartime shortages. It is hard to believe now how little people had to survive on. No wonder they were healthier!
	The standard kitchen cabinet and gas cooker. We had something very similar in my childhood home, although I recall the etching on the glass doors was a crinoline lady (or maybe it was a swan....)
	A comfortable corner to sit for a while and knit and listen to the wireless in front of the fire. I'm sure the war years were't quite this out of focus though.
	The Ascot boiler provided hot water (although in our house we had a back boiler behind the coal fire). The washing machine has a hose to hook onto the sink to drain it.
	This is a model of the Hoover single tub with mangle which we had at home. Not strictly accurate to the time as I believe the first one was not produced until 1948. A slight time-slip there...
	A wire-fronted vegetable cupboard with drop-down doors. The teapot stands ready on a tray under the canister shelf.
	The mop and Hoover stand ready behind the pantry door for a spot of cleaning. We had a very similar Hoover at home which my Mum didn't replace until the early 70s.
	These were very useful pieces of furniture, having upper and lower cupboard, cutlery drawers and a drop down front which was surfaced in enamel for easy cleaning.
	A pretty fluffy rug softens the lino tiles in front of the fire.
	Cake mix ready to go into the oven. Not sure where the ingredients came from though - must have been saved up. The kitchen table is also enamel topped to make it cool for pastry making and easy to keep clean.
	The cosy corner, with all one needs for a peaceful rest.
	The air raid warden's helmet is obviously ready for when duty calls after dark. A box brownie camera would have been a luxury. As would a decent amount of coal to put on the fire! Of course, one's gas mask box was always kept handy to carry whenever one went out.
	And the same scene in the evening. Ready to settle down with the knitting and listen to a good programme on the wireless.