It was 2.15am when I was woken with the shrill ringing of the landline reverberating through the house!.I could hear my son moving about in his room racing to answer before the noise abated. I was there at his side ,unable to work out if it was for me or him. He was asking all kinds of questions and shouting, at which I decided who it was , so quietly departed and got into some clothes. He came to tell me the girlfriend who was known in some circles as Blondie, was being held against her will in a motel room in the centre of town. After a heated discussion, we left the house in pursuit of the motel. This yound lady was a stripper and had another occupation as well, and I was aware where she was and what she was doing. Son drive to a strip club, in a well known part of town, told me to get out and get the key out of the meter box down the side of the building. Well there were some very colourful people about at that time of night, and I was aprenhensive , but no do it I was told. With the key in my hand off we went down the hill to the motel. What was the plan i asked. He would just go and grab her out of the room and bring her to the car and home. Ok, said I. If the plan all falls apart and you are not back in 1/2 hour I will sit on the horn to asttract attention. Off he strode anxious as to what he would find. He was back in 10minutes, by himself. He said he couldnt put the key in the door, because he knew what he would find behind the door. So back to the strip club, key in metre box, and home to my bed. Yes she rang at 11am asking to be picked up like nothing had happened. They had a long talk and he decided that that was the end of his relationship with the stripper they called Blondie.


HERE IS A RECIPE FOR ZEBRA PUDDING FROM CASSELL'S NEW DICTIONARY OF COOKERY (1904)

BUTTER A BASIN, SHAKE CRUMBS ALL OVER IT, THEN PUT A THICK LAYER IF FINE CRUMBS ON THE BOTTOM, THEN A LAYER OF ANY KIND OF JAM, THEN MORE CRUMBS, AND SO ON IN LAYERS TILL THE BASIN IS FULL. OVER ALL POUR A CUSTARD JUST SUFFICIENT TO SLIGHTLY MOISTEN THE WHOLE. COVER WITH BUTTERED PAPER, AND STEAM FOR 3/4 HOUR. DIFFERENT SORTS OF JAM OR MARMALADE MAY BE USED. NOT A PUDDING WE WOULD MAKE TODAY BUT VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY COOKED AND PUT INGREDIENTS TOGETHER.
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