Life Bouy

From Great North Road

Life Bouy

How I wish the soap had been Life Bouy, I recall it was laundry soap. The laundry soap came in bars about a foot long, it was a dirty cream colour with blue patches running through it. I believe I was washed out with a small scrap piece of the soap, I would have remembered the milder taste of Life Bouy.

On laundry days the soap bar would be shaved with a knife and the shavings applied to the wash. Washing boards were in vougue as there were no washing machines in Kasama during the 1950's. Another method was slamming the wash on a flat rock surface.

Ironing was also a challenge and built up ones biceps. There were basicaly two types of irons, a small cast iron shaped much like the present day irons weighing about two pounds, this would sit on top of the cast iron stove and when heated would be used.

The second type of iron was heavier and larger standing about six inches high, the top could be opened and hot coals or embers placed inside the iron.

Contributed by Kenneth Miller.

October 2001