Winter of Discontent 1978 - Channel 5

I watched this too-very interesting but like OP said I can’t remember it too well either! I was at home with a happy toddler but had second DD January 78. In those days women stayed home looking after their own children and I knew other Mums locally so wasn’t isolated. I had a tough pregnancy and birth with 2nd and DD2 was difficult-crying day and night ? she was probably traumatised by events too looking back so I think I was just getting on with day to day and managing! Heavy snow wasn’t unusual either but I didn’t have to go to work

Tv news showed rats among the uncollected rubbish on pavements and some parts of the country the dead couldn’t be
buried.

I watched. I think I must be suffering long term memory loss or was so busy bringing up a family that I can’t remember how It affected me at a personal level.

I can remember the historical events, but not the shortages, or bins not being emptied nor the very cold snowy weather.

I agree. I feel bombarded with bad news at the moment.

After watching this programme I started to look back on some of the history I have lived through from concerns about the atomic bomb and the Cold War, the 3 day week, the miners' strike to standpipes in the streets, I had a 1 year old baby during the 'winter of discontent'. There have been financial crashes, inflation, huge interest rates in the 1980s (wasn't that to do with oil?) when I had 3 children to support. There have been many crises and changes of government as well as constant reports of different wars but I just remember getting on with it and managing the best I could for my family. Now here we are again after a pandemic, cost of living crisis, threatened strikes and another war. Don't most of us relatively poor people just carry on surviving and grabbing what bits of happiness we can despite what is going on economically. Perhaps we were better off not knowing because nothing seems to change. We're just constantly being told about it now!

Callaghan probably didn’t say those exact words, as The Sun printed that, but the gist was the same - that he didn’t realise or refused to acknowledge, the seriousness of the situation the country was in at this time. It ultimately led to his parties ousting in the 1979 election.

‘73 I lived in an all electric house, it was cold and I had driving lessons with no street lights.

Yes, you’re right -the winter of 1978/79 was known as the winter of discontent, with Callaghan reported as saying “Crisis, what crisis” upon his return from his Caribbean holiday. Things were in turmoil with strikes, food shortages, etc. It paved the way for Margaret Thatcher winning the next general election in 1979.
However, 1973 was the year of the 3 day week and power cuts, etc.
The 1970’s wasn’t the best decade to live through in many respects.

It's concentrating on 1978, Wasn't the best decade! Companies demanding massive pay rise, Lorry strikes. everyone is freezing,No food, Jim Callaghan was in the Caribbean, Papparazzi spotted him sunning himself .

Maybe these things come in circle.

The three day week was in 1973, not 1978, with power cuts, certain food shortages, strikes, and general discontent. It was during the premiership of Edward Heath. A very difficult time.