Those were the days, of idyllic fun and few worries

I grew up on a farm at a time when life was simple. Though I doubt I can adjust to rural life again after so many years in the city, I am increasingly aware that growing up in the countryside has been a real blessing.

Thanks to my early life, I rarely feel inconvenienced by any shortage of material goods. I am not a slave to material comforts, and hence have more time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

I grew up in times of constant shortages. Shampoos and refrigerators were a rarity; air-conditioners were unheard of. The nearest shop, a co-op, was located miles away, and the goods cost a pile. Not that this posed any problem for me - I never had any pocket money.