. . . and he used to call something the dead horse, they used to call it. And
that was work that they had had done--, to do for the week, and if they hadn't
got it done on that day, that was called the dead horse. But they had to make
that up before the end of the week to get their wages. Can you understand what
I mean?
12:35
Q: Yeah
12:36: Say you were given so many collars to do in that day and you hadn't done
them, that was called the dead horse, but it had to be done else you wouldn't
have got paid for them. You were getting paid for that you see. The work that
you took out--, like piece work, you were going to get paid for that.
12:54
Q: So each day, whatever was left was called the dead horse and by Friday that
had to be done before you went home?
13:00
A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you sort of had a slack day, you'd have to make up
for it the next day.
13:08
Q: You would do a dead horse?
13:09
A: Yes, you would have to make up for it the next day. And you know the smogs
and fogs that we used to have, well where my mum worked it was down Canal Street
and it was on the corner and this smog was very bad and this rubber when it
dried it used to congeal, it was like--, it was just like a--, I don't know,
like glue that had gone rubbery, you know. And they used to put--, my mum and
her friends at work--, she came home this night and it was very very foggy,
and she had this pot like a stick with this rubber thing and they set light
to it so they could see going home through the streets.