A HUBBY and wife whose memories stretch back to the 1930s have given me a team answer to last week's yedscratter concerning the origins of the old Lancashire term, 'Bally Ann Day.'

This was the description given by hard-up mothers on the eve of pay day when the family budget had run out and any meals had to be scratched together from bits and pieces.

D and M Millard of St John Street, Newton-le-Willows, were quick on the ball with a response.

They write: "Nellie Carbis, in her very interesting book about life in Newton from the mid-1920s ('Nellie Carbis Looks Back') talks of her mother calling it Belly Han' Day."

However, she was never sure whether the Han' bit stood for hang (as in hang on until tomorrow) or hand - i.e. putting your hand on your belly to ease hunger pains.

And the Newton couple sign off with: "We both remember bubble-and-squeak, consisting of cold cabbage and potatoes, mixed together and fried in bacon dip."

ME too! And, despite those unpromising ingredients, I can assure you it was quite delicious.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.