‘Tuppence off the meat ration – again,’ she said, wistfully. ‘I do wish they’d end it.’‘Plenty of greens, anyway,’ said Donald, nodding approvingly at the khaki-coloured mound of spring cabbage, which was all that Stratton’s allotment was capable of producing in such a relentlessly wet April as this one.‘Nature’s policemen, those,’ said Reg, helping himself. ‘Shouldn’t eat too much meat, anyway. Bungs you up.’In order to forestall any enquiry as to the state of everyone’s bowels – Reg, who’d recently taken to studying the ‘Home Doctor’ book and now fancied himself an expert, was quite capable of it and he could see the fear in Lilian’s eyes – Stratton turned to Doris and said, ‘You decided to go to the Festival, then, when it opens?’Before she could reply, Donald said, ‘The whole thing’s irresponsible, if you ask me. Eleven million pounds on a bloody carnival—’‘Don!’ Doris glared at him.‘Sorry, love, but that’s what it is.
