Figure 1.--Here I am in my play house during 1943. This play house was an old wine cask which the wine farms used to cure their wine. There were many vinyards in the region. It was made of oak. Inside there was a little table and two benches and in the back was a window. On top, one can see the creation of a small rock-garden. Next to the play-house we had a sand-pit where we created a lot of our imaginary roads, etc.

I had a lovely childhood, despite the difficult times. Most of our games were out-doors. In the evenings we did a lot of crafts, read a book or played cards. I had a great play house which my father built (figure 1). This play house was an old wine cask which the wine farms used to cure their wine. There were many vinyards in the region. It was made of oak. Inside there was a little table and two benches and in the back was a window. On top, one can see the creation of a small rock-garden. Next to the play-house we had a sand-pit where we created a lot of our imaginary roads, etc. I really do not recall any specific games we played. Naturally there was no TV and the radio was mostly used to listen to the news, which of course during the War was very dramatic. We could pick up both Swiss radio stations and the NAZI German broadcasts. Once in a while a talk-show or comedy was broadcast as well as music. My sisters natrually had their dolls and we boys had some craft-games, kind of redecessors of "Lego" etc. Most of our day time was spent outdoors, where our imagination was the only limit we had. We played Indians or built castles ot tree-houses etc. and in winter there was always a big igloo under construction or we built our own small ice-rink or went sledding on the nearby road etc.

Outdoor Games

I had a lovely childhood, despite the difficult times. I really do not recall any specific games we played. Sports were not as important as they are today. Most of our games were out-doors. Our bedrooms were very basic without all the computers, electronic equipment, and communication devices that modern children have. Most of our day time was spent outdoors, where our imagination was the only limit we had. We played Red Indians. Funny that appaled more to us than William Tell. I'm not sure why. We also built castles ot tree-houses etc. We diverted the irrigation channels to create lakes and rivers. The local farmers were not to happy about that. In winter wehen the snow arrived, the diversions were endless. There was always a big igloo under construction or we built our own small ice-rink or went sledding on the nearby road etc.

Playhouse

This play house was an old wine cask which the wine farms used to cure their wine. There were many vinyards in the region. It was made of oak. Inside there was a little table and two benches and in the back was a window. On top, one can see the creation of a small rock-garden. Next to the play-house we had a sand-pit where we created a lot of our imaginary roads, etc.

Evening

In the evenings we did a lot of crafts, read a book or played cards. I had a great play house which my father built (figure 1). My sisters natrually had their dolls and we boys had some craft-games, kind of redecessors of "Lego" etc.

Radio

Naturally there was no TV and the radio was mostly used to listen to the news, which of course during the War was very dramatic. We could pick up both Swiss radio stations and the NAZI German broadcasts. Once in a while a talk-show or comedy was broadcast as well as music.

Sources

Voute, Tom. E-mail message, May 19, 2006.

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Created: 9:40 PM 5/16/2006
Last updated: 7:06 PM 5/20/2006