[The author's stepfather worked for the Charing Cross and City Electricity Supply Company 'which suppied electricity to all the theatres, shops, etc., in the West End', p. 27]

My friend May and I had some wonderful times; we went to theatres, for which we often had “complimentary” tickets, especially for the Adelphi or Vaudeville Theatres in the Strand, as these were owned by Dad’s Company, [we went to the cinema, to dances and to the coast every Easter]. […] We always went to the office together each morning, as May was a shorthand typist in an import and export business. We always had to be home by ten o’clock, unless we were going somewhere special with a crowd, and sometimes, if we were short of cash mid-week, we just went to Hyde Park and listened to the band. […] Sometimes, May would say, “We won’t be able to go out next Saturday, as Mother is having one of her family parties”, which meant all the relatives being invited, and I was needed to accompany all the singing, (the usual three verses and six choruses). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played “Where my caravan has rested”, “Because”, and “Comrades”. Sometime during the day, someone would have to go down to the Flat below to tell them we would be having a party, as otherwise there would be a complaint that the gas mantle was broken, due to all the movement overhead.