When I grew up the standard measures for baking were pounds and ounces. A pound is, I think, about 500g, and there are 16 ounces in a pound. My weighing scales still have weights for 2lb, 1lb, 8oz, 4oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz and 1/4oz, and that is the system I still use. Many of our cookery books are still published with these weights, even if they also publish the metric ones.
My children were all taught the metric system at school. My elder daughter is happy to use either, but the younger one uses this as an excuse not to do any baking - 'I don't understand your old books'. Some cookery books do only show metric weights - notably those of Nigel Slater (whom I love) and Nigella Lawson (a bit lukewarm about her...)
It's worth noting, too, that the UK pint measure is not the same as the US one. Ours has 20 fl oz and I think yours only has 16.
As for putting paper on the carpet to stop the sun fading it - well, I've never seen that done, but I do know someone who even today has her entire staircarpet covered in plastic to stop anyone spoiling it. Hard floors - wood or lino - are much more popular here now, but I must say I do like a nice cosy carpet in the sitting room (even if my cats have shredded mine).
My grandmother was also very protective about any item of new furniture - I suppose it came from having so little and having to scrimp and save to buy anything. As was the custom in the early part of the last century, my mother and her siblings were never allowed in the sitting room. There were 5 of them and 2 parents living in a very small council house, but despite this the 'front room' had to be kept for 'special' and was only used on high days and holidays, or if someone that they deemed 'above' them - eg the doctor - came to see them. (The children were expected to be out in the street.) This view of the sitting room continued right through my childhood, but only at my grandmother's house - in our own house we used the sitting room every day (it was the only place in the entire freezing house that there was a fire...)
I too loved the bit about the cow and her jacket. Eccentricity at its harmless best. I do not, however, favour the recent fashion for putting your dog - usually a 'toy' breed - in a pink or blue sweater and generally dressing it up like a child.
As for adultery, I really don't think I knew what it meant till I left home. I do remember my Family Law lecturer banging on about 'Adultery being a symptom not a cause' of matrimonial failure. She was very happily married - I am not sure that her description was a fair one for everyone, but that's for another discussion.
Rosemary
