I CAN remember at the age of 13 or so living in a house with no insulation whatsoever! It had a pan-tile roof with no liner underneath to boot, writes Ralph Freeman.
In the winter it was not unknown to have ice all over the bedroom windows and I've had a glass of water freeze on my bedside table during cold nights in severe winters. The only sources of heat in that house were downstairs in the dining room and lounge.
My grandma lived to be 92 in that house and I'm still here today! The housing, diet and clothing of my youth means, according to today's doctors, it's a miracle I'm alive and over 60?
Much warmer
My narrowboat is so much warmer than the houses of my childhood. Besides, winter clothing, thermal undergarments, duvets, etc are in a different league as regards warmth. I therefore take these 'not fit' articles with a pinch of salt. A narrowboat makes a cosy winter home if properly organised, heating wise.
After all I, and many other boaters, 'survived' the winter of 2010/2011. I was frozen in in Aston Marina for around three months with approx nine inches of thick ice surrounding my boat (I now understand how Shackleton felt !) and air temperatures were in the region of -12C or less for weeks on end!
But we survived and were never as cold as I was as a lad during the winter of '62/'63.