The Toaster

It's been tucked away in a cupboard ever since, three years ago, we did what, at the time, we thought was the unthinkable - we bought a very smart, red, modern toaster which timed the cooking process. Prior to that, we'd always very happily used this relatively ancient piece of technology, a Swan Brand drop-side toaster.

The only features that are automatic are the two drop sides which flip back to the vertical to hold the bread against the heating element. Two springs provide this high-tech automation - hence the finger holding one side open. It's a vintage piece, as is the flex and the brown electric plug, and, like all such things in this household, it brings back memories.

In August 1973 we were staying in a small flat in Weston-Super-Mare which belonged to Mrs MW's Aunt Margaret and, while there, we bought the toaster. This couldn't have been to take to Jamaica - Jamaica's system ran on 110 volts - so we can only think we bought it because the flat lacked a toaster and because Margaret refused to take any money for our week's stay.

We weren't in Weston for a holiday - though it was that too - but because we needed somewhere to live while we waited to board ship in Amsterdam to travel to Jamaica on a two-year teaching contract. We can only think that, by the time we returned to England two years later, Margaret had sold the flat, so she gave us back the toaster.

As well as the toaster, the stay in Weston was memorable because we were visited by our good friends Hilary and Tony Hizzard who, later, were the only friends out of the many we invited who came out to visit us in Kingston.

So this isn't really a toaster any more, though it does still work. It's a souvenir of wonderfully happy times over fifty years ago.