I’d like to thank everyone for your comments yesterday when I was feeling “down in the dumps” with a rotten cold. I REALLY did appreciate them and honestly perked me up a LOT. You really are so lovely xxxx

Leslee Barnes left a supportive and interesting comment on my post yesterday too, and I wanted to share this with you as well as the video she recommended, which I’ve embedded above.

Leslee shared some videos that she thought might interest me for my ongoing research, and I know you’ll enjoy these too. I’m a huge believer in the way we eat and the type of food we eat (instead of predominantly a whole foods diet) being at the root of the struggles we have with obesity. I know myself that my lack of control with ultra-processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle has been fundamental to my obesity, and despite knowing that, I still struggle with my “addiction”.

A reset and a return to rationing.

During the next three months of writing my “Ration Book Recipes WW2 Cook Book” (please join my waitlist here and I will let you know when you can pre-order nearer the time) – I am also putting back time into my day to return to rationing and walking. Both will be critical and a form of self-care to get me back on track and move me away from those “ultra-processed demons” that plague my life.

Rationing started on January the 8th, 1940 and as that is my birthday (the 8th) so I am looking forward to returning to this lifestyle of less is more, simple is suitable and fresh air is freeing on January the 9th.

My new daily routine will be…

• 4 core hours a day on baking and photographing and writing about recipes for the book.
• 2 hours on self care which will include walking outside, time for creativity such as art and reading, planning and preparing meals and savouring their taste.
• 2 hours on blogging, YouTube, community, emails, planning and marketing.

Those 4 core hours of productivity will be early morning, the part of the day where I feel alert and alive!

As the first month of writing the book progresses, I may adjust my hours. While I have tested the water with creating a digital recipe book in the past, creating a 150-200 page book for print is quite a different challenge. Luckily I have enough design and layout skills to hopefully see me through but we’ll see!

Thank you once again for supporting me, I really appreciate it so much!

C xxxx

After a couple of wonderful days over Christmas, I’m not feeling well at all to be honest. I have been physically and emotionally exhausted towards the last few months of 2025 and I picked up a rotten cold over Christmas and the last 3 days I’m struggling with sore throat, congestion, coughing, cotton wool head and wretched exhaustion!!! Sage tea and throat sweets are helping today and lots of rest!

That didn’t stop me from driving to the recycling centre this morning with a car full and watching a documentary on an elderly woman who loved painting houses in Fulham (that seemed to open the flood gates and had me sobbing for ages).

And then the coughing started again so I’m in bed drinking lots of tea and writing notes to myself to stop myself feeling terrified about the next 3 months ahead…

I hope none of you have a rotten cold or flu! C xxx

I’ve quit my job at 60, and for the next 3 months (at the very least), there will be no money coming in to pay the bills or the rent while I follow my dream of writing and self-publishing my first cookbook (join waitlist here).

This has concentrated my mind to say the least, and while I write my book and work out how to bring some pennies in, I also have to pull my metaphorical belt in so tightly, it will be pretty hard to breathe for several months to come.

I’ve already started how I mean to go on. A perfect example of this was yesterday in my local “Aldi’s” where “Swedes” were selling for just 5p each! (normally 65p). If I’d had room in my freezer, I would have bought 20 of them, but as I didn’t, I just bought two. I steamed one of them to make 5 portions of mash and chopped up one of them, and put it in the freezer, ready to add to stews and pies!

During the Second World War, the humble swede quietly earned its place on the British table. With imports cut off and rationing shaping every meal, this sturdy root vegetable became a dependable friend on the home front, easy to grow, easy to store, and endlessly adaptable. The Ministry of Food encouraged families to make the most of swedes, and they soon found their way into everyday cooking, mashed with a little seasoning, bulked out in stews and soups, baked into pies, or grated into surprisingly inventive dishes.

While it may not have been everyone’s favourite, the swede filled bellies, stretched rations, and helped households get by with what they had. Today, it stands as a reminder of wartime thrift, resilience, and the make-do spirit that defined British kitchens in the 1940s.

I honestly don’t know why “swedes” are given such bad press. Almost as versatile as the potato and as easy to store, I just think they have simply fallen out of fashion.

But that’s what this blog is all about, remembering those faithful foods that got our families through challenging times and kept them fed and well.

Those two swedes I prepared yesterday have provided me with 10 portions for just 10p. Very economical and in my opinion, simply delicious!

Much love, C xxxx

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your continued support and encouragement throughout 2025 and I sincerely hope you get to spend Christmas with people who really mean something to you and there will be smiles and happiness during the festive season.

And if you are all alone through choice, I hope you find peacefulness, and for those who are spending it alone not from choice and feel lonely, please know that if you need to hear the words “Merry Christmas” or “Seasons Greetings” on Christmas Day drop me a message to 1940sExperiment@gmail.com

So this is me now signing off for a busy few family days, Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to all and may 2026 bring you happiness, comfort and good health.

Much love, C xxxxx

Dear all, I’m trying to post a little video update every day on YouTube to get back into the habit of creating content again. I’m looking forward to the New Year when I will have a bit more time to blog and recreate more recipes but for now, joining in the Christmas spirit with Vlogmas.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and that your Christmas preparations are underway.

Am so looking forward to some downtime with my family.

C xxx

If you haven’t heard me whittering on about it already (see previous blog post), you’ll know now! I’m quitting my job to write my first book and self-publish it end of March 2026. Join the waitlist here: https://the1940sexperiment.com/ration-book-recipes-new-book/

I’ll once again be living and breathing rationing come January 1st, partly out of necessity (to spend as little as possible during the first 3 months of 2026) but also because I miss living through history, and it seems a fitting thing to do while writing the book.

I’ve put some thoughts in a short YouTube video above to kick off Vlogmas. I am TRYING to find time to do a little update every day, mostly as shorts, and looking to create some quick ration book recipes that I am finding in old books and newspaper clippings too.

Must fly, work starts in precisely 4 minutes, have a wonderful day and thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

C xxxxx