Do you remember

My mum did just the same to me ddoris with a similar result! I also remember having a perm at the hairdresser's, it was called a "hot" perm and the curlers were connected up to some sort of machine....does anyone else remember anything like this or have I community completely imagined it??

Community.... where did that come from?

When I was about 14 I used to use something called Bandbox, said it lightened the hair naturally. I reckon it was like spraying lemon juice on your hair and going out in the sun, I had lovely highlights.

I always had a Melrose tablet in the cupboard because it was so good when they children had chapped lips in the winter. Friars Balsam was recommended for sore nipples when breast feeding. I remember the agony of kaolin poultices for boils or carbuncles. My Dad had a carbuncle on his stomach and he used to hop round the room in pain when Mum put a new kaolin poultice on. Mum's hair never took a shop perm so right until she was 92 I had to perm her hair with Pinup. We tried Twink, Prom etc but they never "took" either. She worked for Beechams so she used to buy Eno's fruit salts in the staff shop. I used to make a fizzy drink with that and some orange squash. You can still buy Eno's fruit salts. I remember all the other products mentioned. I still love codliver oil and malt and could eat it by the spoonful but sadly I am more than fat enough.

Who remembers penicillin lozenges which were prescribed in the early 50s for sore throats. I had so many of them, until they finally removed my tonsils when I was 9, that I ended up with a severe allergy to any form of penicillin and had a couple of life threatening episodes.

I think your Dad graduated from the same school of home medicine as mine Hollycat! My dad used to take burning red embers from the coal field, put them in a metal jug and boiling water over them. When it had cooled, he strained it and we had to drink it. I can't remember what it was supposed to cure now but I remember the look and smell of "cinder tea".

I saw that being done at the hairdressers, granniequeenie, when I was sitting waiting for my mother while she had a shampoo and set. I found it a bit scarey and never wanted to have it done - which I didn't. Just the thought makes me feel claustrophobic.

I used to think my father was terrible because he gave me pink gin when I had earache but obviously it was no worse than patent medicine. Hate the stuff now.

Jalima i have some vitapointe, but i can not remember where i bought it from. You only use such a small amount it lasts for ages which is why i can't remember. It smells lovely and helps tame the whispy dry bits of hair that refuse to behave!!!

Daisyboots were the lozenges you mentioned called Tyrosets(i think the spelling is correct) as i can remember having those for sore throats, they were in a little orange coloured plastic tube and they would help numb your throat when it was very painful.

I asked my chemist for Tyrozets, they had never heard of them but got some in and have stocked them ever since.
Moroccan oil is a good substitute for vitapointe - use very sparingly on the ends.

Did anyone used to tape the top 40 on a Sunday evening?
You had to be quick with your finger to cut off any talking!

Every week Miss!

I think the programme after was called "sing something simple".

It was! I can remember a feeling of dread when Sing Something Simple came to an end because that meant bed time and school in the morning!

Exactly the same for me, Chewbacca.
Toenails cut so short we'd be limping, hair washed, clean nighty, and off to bed!

My mother who otherwise brought me up in a blissful state of benign neglect had some odd notions about heath. I was given the cabbage water to drink for 'the vitimins'. She also got me to swallow a teaspoon of malt a day which used to make me feel sick it was so horrible. I liked the Haliborange, however, and the Lucozade we were all given when ill. Our bathroom cupboard had Andrews Liver Salts too.

Oh yes, the dreaded cabbage water! Good for spots, apparently.

Eurgh! I'd forgotten about the cabbage water! Yuk!

I think I can remember getting 'Vick' rubbed into my chest every night
That seems too much, surely?

Travelsofar.
No the ones I was referring to were actual penicillin lozenges in a very pale yellowycream colour that were on prescription. They seemed quite big. I always have Tyrozets in the house because they are very good fir sorr throats but they are marvellous when you have an annoying cough. If you suck one when you are about to go to sleep you can get off to sleep with no coughing. Likewise with a trip to the cinema or theatre. I must stock up next time I come to England.

MissAdventure We had Vick rubbed on our chest and also stuck up our noses when they were 'blocked'. Not recommended these days I believe!

I remember my Auntie giving me a home perm (I was about 14). I can't remember if it was Twink or Toni but it didn't take! The next day she gave me another 'extra curly' I ended up with sort of wavy frizz! My hair has always had a will of its own!!