Toilets and hand washing facilities are just not an option underground. Chemical toilets were available but in such a disgusting condition that no one would use them.
They were looked after by a man who styled himself as An Environmental Garbologist - we just called him Shitty Fred. Poor old Fred, he got taken short one day, he ripped his boiler -suit down and squatted, desperate to do the business. Finally, relieved, he pulled up his boiler suit, then, the dreadful truth dawned. In his haste he had messed inside the top of his suit.
When one of us needed to go the toilet you found yourself a quiet place, got yourself a bag of Dolomite Limestone dust, and got out your precious toilet roll. After the business was done you opened the limestone and covered the lot.
We only went when it was absolutely vital, preferring to go like normal people before going underground. Urinating was a different matter entirely; you merely whipped it out, had your wee, shook it dry and whipped it back. Some would turn away but others would do it anywhere, even whilst talking on the phone.
As tobacco was expressly forbidden, substitutes were used. Snuff was used and would certainly clear your head with a pinch, although I was never hooked as some of others were. Chewing tobacco was also widely used, chew and spit out the juice. They always got the youngsters to try it and then laugh as they turned green. I tried it and I turned green that once was enough.
Geordies called it bait, we called it snap, normal people, on the surface, called it a packed lunch. Not being able to wash your hands properly before eating your snap was somewhat a problem. This was got around by holding your sandwich with a piece of paper, eating oranges was an art form all of its own. Snap time was at 10.00am on days, 5.00pm on afternoons and 02.40am on nights, it lasted for 20 minutes.
Being an electrician meant getting it when you could, as we often had work to do when the machinery stopped. It was just a case of making a seat by rearing up something up as a backrest and something as a seat. Once sat down, sandwich in hand, the crack would fly thick and fast.
We worked in a dirty, dark, dangerous place and how we survived is still a mystery to me to this day. But survive we did, the lucky ones! |
