Anyone got a shilling?

Most definitely! Couldn't pass a phone box without pressing the buttons in the hope that some coins might fall out. You could do a lot with tuppence then.

I used to do that as well    the phone boxes  even had directories on a little shelf oddly they never got ripped or stolen.

How times have changed. Our local pay phone is now a defibrillator.

You don’t want to pick that up and put it to your ear JJB.

I had a coin meter for the electricity in my bedsit after I first graduated - that was the mid-80s! I think by then they took 50p pieces.

My grandma presumably had a meter in her terraced house, but mostly what I remember is her treadle sewing machine. And sitting on my grandad's lap, watching the horse racing

Also odd little details, like the thick protective cloth on the parlour table that was sort of leathery on one side and fleecy on the other - I think it went under the cotton table cloth to protect against hot items. And the front room that was hardly ever used except as an entrance hall, but I used to wander around it sometimes, gazing at the knick-knacks in the glass-fronted cabinets. I must have been five or so at the time...

We had a best room...only allowed in Christmas morning, otherwise out of bounds to us. Neighbours always allowed in though.

I had a coin meter for the electricity in my bedsit after I first graduated - that was the mid-80s! I think by then they took 50p pieces.

My grandma presumably had a meter in her terraced house, but mostly what I remember is her treadle sewing machine. And sitting on my grandad's lap, watching the horse racing

Also odd little details, like the thick protective cloth on the parlour table that was sort of leathery on one side and fleecy on the other - I think it went under the cotton table cloth to protect against hot items. And the front room that was hardly ever used except as an entrance hall, but I used to wander around it sometimes, gazing at the knick-knacks in the glass-fronted cabinets. I must have been five or so at the time...

An oilcloth Eyren, you can still get them, they are very practical.

An oilcloth Eyren, you can still get them, they are very practical.

Thanks for the tip! Though I think our battered Ikea dining table is past the point of benefitting from an oilcloth

A floral oilcloth and some paint on the legs it’ll look like new.

Do you remember Lino/linoleum on the floor with a rug in the middle as fitted carpets didn't exist them! The bigger the rug, the wealthier you were.
I think Lino used to be called Oilcloth too.

Also odd little details, like the thick protective cloth on the parlour table that was sort of leathery on one side and fleecy on the other - I think it went under the cotton table cloth to protect against hot items. 

We've still got a protection pad on our table, its lasted at least 40 yrs