First I was born in SE London in Woolwich in 1939 when my Dad was in the Royal Artillery there and my Mother being a Londoner they become champions of Ballroom Dancing.

The war years were very hard with the war going on and I remember some of it, for even to this day I have to cover my ears when I hear the sirens at our local firehouses go off here in America where I now live in New York State.

I remember the Gas Masks which were around for a long time and the running back to the shelters when the sirens went off. I remember how everyone was so close to one another back then and shared.

The worst part of course was coming out and then finding the terrible mess and not having a home to go back to.

I was eventually shipped to my grandparents' house in Bunwell, Norfolk and must say was very lucky compared to other children and the Orphans trains. We had a nice life in Norfolk in the beautiful countryside growing up, and settled there although very poor.

We sold honey at Granddad's house and helped in the shed to put the honey in the jam jars as that was all we had to put it in back then, and also got to turn the handle on the extractor.

We did not have telephones and electricity, so no TV, computers etc back then. I was able to read and write before I even went to school as my Aunt was in bed with a broken back and she was a Nurse with the American Red Cross.

She had come to America as a GI bride and eventually found her here after coming here in 1965. I came here and had problems and was not able to go back to England till 1970, and then again 20 years later.

What a reunion that was with my Dad and brother meeting me at the Airport after 20 years. Everyone in the airport cheered us and clapped their hands as my Dad had told everyone that his daughter was coming home after 20 years.

Of course I did not know my brother as he was now all grown up. I did not want to come back to America but here I am again here and have often thought of going on the Oprah show with my story, but now it's too late as Dad has gone to Heaven.

We did not have running water either and had an outhouse down the yard; a long way where my brother was told to take me before bed, although we did have chamber pots under the bed at night.

During the day we used Jam Jars to go find tadpoles in local ponds although told not to fall into them or get too close because of being pulled into them. Collecting the wildflowers was wonderful and pressing them into a book.

Hardly any cars back then, so we use to sit for hours on the gate across the road to wait for something to come along so we could collect the numbers of the vehicles and write them down in a book.

I use to walk three miles to school and 3 miles back each day in all kinds of weather and thought it fun to splash in the puddles. Today, here in America, the school bus stops at nearly every house.

In the Town hall, as I became older, they use to show Movies shown in black and white with Laurel & Hardy, and how we use to love them. Back then we, the ladies, were not allowed to use make-up, and also wore ankle socks till we left school.

I remember leaving school at 15 years old and wondering what was going to happen to me, and felt very insecure about leaving school behind. Now at my age wish I could go back to those days and start all over again, and I would not change a thing even though we did not own much.

As we became older & my Dad remarried we moved to a council house and still rode down to see Grandma & Granddad on our bikes and everywhere else as well.

At Christmas we took our pillow cases on our backs down to show what father Christmas had brought us. We were so happy back then to get an Orange or Apple.

When my baby brother was born I wheeled him everywhere in his pram and Yes to grandma's house, where granddad would give me a sixpence and put it in the corner of my handkerchief.

At 17 we moved to Norwich and then that become another experience in my life going to the American club and of course the Samson & Hercules Dance Hall. So many memories and good times and wish I could find all the friends I had back then but life still is going on with the new generation.

At the age of 26 I came to America and started another life. My book gets fuller and fuller each day and this letter could go on forever as my life was so full back in the days of my childhood in England.

Just remembered going fruit picking to make money in Norfolk. My poor legs back then use to get all scorched from the coal fires which we cuddled up too and did Arts & Crafts like knitting.

Broke my arm Ice Skating on a pond and use to put the knitting needles down the top of it when I got an itch as it was plaster of Paris back then and set straight out and use to lay it over the handle bars of my bike.

So many people here are so eager to hear about my life growing up in England during the war and after. Been told so often to write a book. Of course there is the sadness too but I hope to continue for a while and encourage all the younger people to keep journals so that they too can look back at them to remember all the things which made their lives.

I have enjoyed sharing all of this with you and hope to come visit again soon but it will never be the same as it was back then. Life was hard but we made the most out of life.

Patricia E Randall-Wetteroth, New York State, USA, 2002