How lucky i was to have been born in Liverpool

Many years ago when i was a small child so much was available to me that today makes me think how lucky i was.A small child living in Liverpool if it was dark someone put the light on for me to see. If i was thirsty i would have been given a drink. Now i am 63 years of age and i realize just how lucky i was then.

At the top of a hill just above Vale Boa is a water tower that is used by the village to water there crops and also by the Bombeiros or the fire brigade as they would be known in the UK. As Central Portugal like all of Portugal is covered in Forest Firefighting is done with the aid of plains and helicopters. The water tank at the top of the hill is made so that if needed the Helicopters could just come down and take the water the same way as they do with swimming pools. The water tank has only been there  for about 10 years. Before that water had to be collected by hand from the stream further up the valley.

 In the village there was no piped water or electric light, electric light  reached Vale Boa in 1979 piped water in 1987 and this time the entire population used candles and oil lamps later petroleum to light the houses. The water for there own consumption would be collected and kept jars and used the water from several wells to irrigate their spring crops. The heating was done by using firewood, the firewood was collected during  summer to as to be able to keep warn during the winter with wood for stoves and fireplaces.

Now i have been told how life was all those years ago i realize just how lucky i was. What could life for a small child have been like. As a small child i seem to have had everything and i am right in that i never had to do without.

So when you finish reading this and you go to make a coffee take a moment to thing what life was like then and also now for those who have to do with out not just here in Portugal but everywhere.