WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3

A Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 and Russian Pilots

 The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3  
- Russia        By Salem

Todays aircraft is the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 which was used by the Russians in WWII.
It was one of the only fighters that Russia had during the first months of the Russian Invasion.

Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3

They were very fast but had little else in their favour.  They were later used only for reconnaissance.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Flypast at "War Birds Over Wanaka" New Zealand

Salem is studying about the aircraft used in World War II and we thought it would make a great addition to this blog as we are making this a big study about all aspects of life during this time.
Salem, being a typical boy, just loves studying all the aircraft and other military weapons and vehicles from this period of history.
First up is the Tiger Moth.....

The Tiger Moth - Britain
By Salem

The Tiger Moth

The Tiger Moth was one of the most famous trainer planes ever.  Built mainly of wood and covered almost entirely in tough fabric, it first flew in 1931.
In the years before WWII it was used by flying schools around Britain.
The Tiger Moth's secret was it's low cost and reliability and in WWII it had found itself being used for anti-aircraft training.
After the war, the RAF declared them obsolete and they mostly ended up on the civilian market.

Sensible Slimming

I came across this slimming diet "Sensible Slimming in Practice", which was devised by the New Zealand Department of Health and was published in the New Zealand Home Journal 10 September 1948.
This was aimed at housewives and I really don't see that there would be many, if any over-weight women with wartime rationing.  High energy foods such as sugar and butter were rationed so you wouldn't over eat these foods.  There weren't all the labour saving kitchen appliances that we have now so cooking was physically more demanding so you would burn more calories just preparing your families meals.
But in 1948 New Zealand's Department of Health did start promoting healthier eating and food hygiene.

New Zealand's International Relations in WWII

Salem and I visited our National Museum, Te Papa, on the weekend.  We love going there to see our favourite exhibits.  The exhibits of New Zealand's 20th Century History are great.
They have an exhibit about New Zealand's role in WWII and how it affected New Zealanders  and our relationships with Britian and with the United States.
The following is information from Te Papa.

In 1900, New Zealand’s strongest ties were with Britain. The colony supported the ‘mother country’ through two world wars.

The United States became an ally when it offered protection from Japan in World War II. The 1951 Anzus defence treaty sealed this new relationship.

But the Vietnam War and New Zealand’s 1980s anti-nuclear stance strained ties with ‘Uncle Sam’ (the US). New Zealand increasingly turned its armed forces towards international peacekeeping and regional security.
World War II marked a new friendship with the US. New Zealand stood faithfully at Britain’s side throughout the war – but the Americans were the ones to defend the Pacific after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Find out about these war years and their effect on New Zealanders’ lives, including on the home front.

‘THE UNITED STATES SERVICEMAN IS A FINE CHAP, A GENUINE FRIEND, AND ABOVE ALL AN INTENSELY LOYAL SOLDIER.’

EDITORIAL, THE EVENING POST, SEPTEMBER 1942

World War II was sparked when Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Two days later, Britain declared war on Germany, followed promptly by its faithful dominion New Zealand. Life here was about to change dramatically.

Emergency regulations & conscription 

New Zealand’s Emergency Regulations Act 1939 was passed shortly after the declaration of war. The act gave the government wide powers. In May 1940, an amendment placed people and property in the hands of the government, enabling the introduction of conscription (compulsory military service). From March 1941, New Zealanders had to dim lights in buildings, streets, and vehicles. The severest restrictions were in coastal towns, which were considered most vulnerable to enemy attack. People used heavy curtains, paper, wood, or paint to black out their windows.

Peter fraser

Peter Fraser

Peter Fraser (1884–1950) was New Zealand’s Prime Minister for most of World War II. He skilfully used radio broadcasts and newspapers to build support for the war effort. The government also promoted the war through posters aimed at different sectors of the community.

Fraser was the leader to introduce conscription (compulsory military service), which, ironically, he’d been imprisoned for opposing during World War I.

Japan enters the war – US enters New Zealand

In December 1941, Japan attacked American forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawai‘i. The war was suddenly on New Zealand’s doorstep, but the country’s soldiers were fighting in North Africa.

Britain had its hands full in Europe, so US troops were sent to New Zealand to operate in the South Pacific. Their arrival brought jazz and pizzazz to wartime New Zealand. The country had a new ‘buddy in arms’.

Contributing on the home front

Practically all New Zealanders contributed to the war effort, including those not in the armed forces. Older men were active in the Home Guard. Many people volunteered for organisations supporting the war, including the Women’s Land Service. Others were made to work in essential industries (‘manpowering’). Still others maintained households and families, knitted and baked for soldiers overseas, and lent savings.

Between 1942 and 1944, half New Zealand’s national income went to fund the war.


To find out more check out http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/SliceofHeaven/Exhibition/InternationalRelations/Pages/WorldWarII.aspx

Book Review - Goodnight Mr Tom

This book review is written by Salem.  He really enjoyed reading this book.

Goodnight Mister Tom  by Michelle Magorian

This book is about William (Willie), a London evacuee in WWII.  He was sent to a small country village called Little Weirwold.  He was billeted to stay with Mr Tom Oakley whose wife had died and he had become a loner.  Willie's mother was abusive towards him and covered him in bruises from beating him as punishment.  Mr Tom was very kind to Willie.  They become friends.  Willie learns about country life, he really loves it.  Then his mother wants him back and Willie doesn't want to leave Mr Tom, and Mr Tom doesn't want Willie to leave.


Willie's mother whips and whips him when he returns to London.  She neglects him and locks him away under the stairs.  Then she leaves him there under the stairs with no food for a week while she goes away.
Mr Tom is concerned that he has not had any letters from Willie so he catches a train to London and finds out where Willie lives.  When he gets there the house is locked.  Mr Tom and the police break into the house and find Willie locked away under the stairs.  He is in a terrible state and they take him to the hospital.


Mr Tom kidnaps Willie from the hospital because they were going to put him in a children's hospital and takes him back home to Little Weirwold.  Everyone is pleased and excited to see him again.  Mr Tom and Willie are the best of friends.


I won't tell you the ending.  I really liked this book, it's a great story and I recommend this book a lot.  I think people 10 years old to adult would like this book.

Earthquakes, Soup, Dumplings and Yorkshire Pudding

7.0 earthquake felt in Wellington

Wellington residents were rattled after a 7-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the lower North Island.

GeoNet reported the earthquake hit at 10.36pm on Tuesday. It was centred 230km deep and was 170km northwest of Wellington.

It was a long. rolling quake felt throughout the lower North Island and upper South Island.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Wow, what an earthquake that was tonight.  It was really long and the whole house just kept moving.  

The cats took off leaving the sofa for dust, and I went and stood in the archway between the dinning room and lounge, with one hand keeping my large cabinet steady as it had a lot of my crockery in.  No damage thank goodness.  Salem slept through it all, so did the chickens who if disturbed make a huge racket.  You should hear them when a hedgehog sneaks into bed with them!!!

Hopefully there will be no more earthquakes tonight.

Taranaki Street, Wellington, New Zealand 1950s

It has been so cold lately and we have all come down with colds, luckily the boys have recovered but I was the last to get one and I seem to get it the worst.  I've got tissues stuffed up my nose so I can do this post.

I have been through a whole box of tissues today, I could do the 1940s thing and use hankies but I think I would have used every single one we have, and we have a lot, but I just couldn't face heaps of soaking wet, drippy hankies to wash especially as the weather is supposed to turn nasty tomorrow.

So it has been the perfect time to make a large pot of yummy vegetable soup.  It is so easy to make and will feed us for days.  Even grumpy teenager enjoys making it.  Just loads of vegetables, soup cereals, extra pearl barley, sometimes split peas,  mixed dried herbs, worchestershire sauce and a bit of salt and water to fill the pot.  Bring to the boil and then simmer for a few hours.  What could be easier?  A big favourite of ours is to have dumplings with our soup.

Dumplings
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp butter or margarine melted
1 tsp dried mixed herbs or parsley
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup half water, half milk

In a bowl put all dry ingredients.
Add both the milk/water and the butter to the dry ingredients.
Use a knife to mix everything together using a cutting action at first.
Mix to a soft scone-like dough.  Add more water if too dry.
Shape into small balls (larger than a marble, smaller than a golf ball).
Pop into your simmering soup, put the lid on and let cook for at least 20 minutes.
Make sure that there is enough room in the pot for your dumplings to rise.  You might have to take a little of the soup out.

Serve in your bowl of soup, enjoy.

We are still enjoying our roasts (minus meat) and also yummy yorkshire puddings to go with them.
A nice easy recipe is.............  and it only uses one egg!!!!

Yorkshire Pudding
75g flour
1/2 cup half milk, half water
1 egg
1/8 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
3 Tbsp dripping, cooking fat or oil

Whisk all the ingredients together, except for the fat, to make a batter.
Preheat a roasting pan (or muffin tins) with the fat in a 220 degrees C oven.
When the pan and oil is hot, take out of oven and quickly put the batter in, then straight back into the oven.
Cook for 25 - 30 minutes or 12- 15 minutes if you are using muffin tins.
Cut into squares when cooked and serve hot.

Yum, Yum, I think it's roast for dinner tomorrow night if I'm feeling a bit better!!!!!!!

Nitey Nite Everyone

Nellie B

Jubilee, Power cuts, Roasts, Washing and Pressies

We have been celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in our own little way on the opposite side of the world.  Salem has made so very patriotic bunting and we have bee watching bits and pieces on the TV mainly on the UKTV channel.  Last night we watched a lovely program by Prince Charles and his memories and home movies of his mother, the Queen.  Salem can't wait until Prince Charles and Camilla come to New Zealand in November as part of the Jubilee celebrations.

On Saturday night the weather was attrocious, it was bucketing down with rain and the power went off!!!!
It was off for hours, just as I was getting settled to watch "Bomb Girls" on telly.  I watched it on Thursday night but missed some of it due to doing mum stuff.  Thursday night is usually "Land Girls" night but the third series had finished the week before so now they are showing "Bomb Girls".  Grumpy teenager and I watch it together, he really enjoys "Land Girls" and now he likes "Bomb Girl's".  I think he was quite surprised when one of the girls got 'scalped' when having her hair caught on the hook in the factory.  Boys like gruesome bits!!!  So....Saturday night was spent with me trying to find the lighter in the dark then finding the torch and lighting as many candles as possible.  Then going outside in the pouring rain to talk to the electricity guy to see what is happening as there was only one other house across the road who had lost their power.  Everyone else was fine.  Eventually there was light again but nothing good on telly so off to bed.

So on Sunday afternoon there was another repeat of "Bomb Girls" and Salem and I were getting into the first 15 minutes of the program and guess what?????  ......the power goes off again.  Same problem as Saturday night and it took a couple of hours for the power to go on and I was dying for a cup of tea.

So we listened to my "We'll Meet Again" CD on my laptop while the battery lasted.  Salem's favorite song was 'Run Rabbit' by Flanagan and Allen.  At least it was daytime so we had light so Salem was sorting out his stamp collection and I crocheted myself a pair of fingerless gloves.

Luckily the power came on in time for me to cook dinner and have our winter favorite .... Roast Veges!!!!!
Roast veges are the best thing about winter.  If it's a root vegetable or in the squash family it gets roasted.
As vegetarians we don't have the meat to worry about, just some cooking fat and heaps of potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and parsnips.  I couldn't be bothered cooking anything green to go with it though.  We just had to cope with drowning everything in gravy.  YUM YUM YUM. For my tum!!!!

It was just a quick gravy made with gravy powder with worchestershire sauce, lots of pepper and a bit of soya sauce added as I had run out of vegemite.  We have plenty left over for tonight.

It poured down with rain again last night but today is a lovely sunny but very windy winters day, great for downing a load of washing.  I don't have a dryer so I make the most of every fine day.  I think clothes smell so much nicer when dried naturally.  I also wash our clothes with just plain sunlight soap, washing soda and a little bit of borax, how my nana used to.  I used to stay with my grandparents when they were alive and on wash day we would fire up the copper and I would stir the clothes when I was big enough.  Then we would use the mangle to get most of the water out of the clothes.  Then I would help my nana hang out the clothes with wooden pegs.  Nothing is more satisfying.  I even make my own 'blue' for the whites.

All I have to worry about now is not dropping any clean clothes on the ground into chicken poo.  As my darling girls like to hang around in the sun under the clothes line.

Now on to the pressies, I was a very lucky girl and won one of Land Girl 1980's May giveaways.  So winging it's way from the UK was a package containing a lovely button brooch and matching button earrings.
So a big thank you to Charly at www.landgirl1980.blogspot.com .
And then on Saturday I was walking past "Emma" clothing design workroom and shop in Upper Cuba Street after having a well deserved cuppa at "Arthur's", and spied some Besame lipsticks.  Whoo hoo!!!!!
I just had to go in and have a look and then had to buy one.  An extravagant treat but I'll just say it's an early birthday treat to myself.  It cost me NZ$44 but so worth it.  I choose the 'Red Hot Red', just my colour.
I do like the square cut of the lipstick and find that I don't need to use a lip liner.  I know other people do find the shape difficult but I find it easier to use.  It feels great on my lips and is matt which I prefer.
Check out the other lippy colours at www.besamecosmetics.com .

Whew, it's a long post today.  I need a cuppa and a lie down now.
Take care

Nellie B

Some useful websites

Just a quick post today for those who are wanting information on getting started on their own journey into wartime life.
There are quite a lot of useful websites out there to get information about  rationing and life during WWII.
Also plenty of very cool recipes to try.

Check out:

 www.ukhomefront.co.uk

http://www.southshorenow.ca/timetoremember/recipes/index.php

http://1940sexperiment.wordpress.com/100-wartime-recipes

http://woottonbridgeiow.org.uk/recipes/wartime.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/world_war2/daily_life/

http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/20-97-world-war-2-Food-facts.html

These will get you started.  The sites aimed at children are pretty interesting.

Food Points

Along with your rationed foods, you had 16 points per person per month to buy other foodstuffs and goods.
We have been using these points to buy our tinned goods and other staples.  I've looked at many different websites and there are varying amounts of points allocated for the same items so I am using this following list for our purchases.

Even though Salem and myself don't eat meat, Grumpy Teenager does.  We will eat fish though.

Meat products  16

Tinned stewed steak  20
Tinned fish  16
Tinned veges  4
Tinned peas and beans  3
Tinned fruit  4
Tinned soup  4

Nuts  12
Dried fruit  16
Oatmeal  4
Cereal  8
Dried peas  4
Dried beans  4
Rice  2
Pasta  4

Sago, tapioca and semolina  2
Custard powder  8
Jelly and blancmange  8
Table cream  8
Condensed milk (1 pint)  2
30ml Olive oil  1
30ml Salad oil or cream  1

1 tablet of soap  1

We are very lucky that we have chickens so we don't have to ration our eggs,  we have had to cut down a bit as it is winter over here and the chickens aren't laying as much and they have taken to laying in hidey holes around our back yard.  Naughty girls!!!!!

What I'm reading at the moment

I am reading "Doing Our Bit" edited by Jim Sullivan.
New Zealand Women tell their stories of World War Two.
I'm reading this when I go to bed.  It has women telling of their experiences during WWII, of being in the WRNZNS - Women's Royal New Zealand Navy Service , WAAC - Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, WAAF - Women's Auxiliary Air Force, VAD - Voluntary Aid Detachment , WWSA - Women's War Service Auxiliary, WVS - Women's Voluntary Service, etc.....

It has a lot of great stories and photos.  I'm enjoying this book.  It is a lot like "Spreading their Wings" by Bee Dawson  which is about the New Zealand WAAFs in WWII.  But this book includes the other services and even housewives experiences, not just the WAAFs.

On Friday I scored two more books for $1 each at the library book sale. What a bargain.
 All WWII themed.  They are:
"Ten Days to D-Day"  Countdown to the liberation of Europe, by David Stafford and
"Wolfram" The boy who went to war, by Giles Milton.
Lots of good reading for over winter.