[Gordon Booth]

Flock mattresses. What were flocks? Balls of wool or cotton or just soft pebbles?
When you turned them over all the flocks piled up at one side and you had to rake them flat with your fingers. But when they were loosened you could wriggle about on the mattress and dig a deep, cosy cocoon.
So many blankets and coats on in winter it was an effort to turn over.
The only warm houses were the ones burning down- the good old days?