On 07/03/2020 14:21, michael adams wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
michael adams mjadams25@ukonline wrote:
Under the right circumstances and if things really go belly up, toilet
paper could well be set to become the world's dominant currency. That
and hand cream. Rolls of bog paper could be selling on eBay for 100's of
pounds,

Remember the great bog roll crisis of the late 60s or early 70s?

Mate of mine had a small firm specialising in importing/exporting
antiques. At the time certain English furniture was in fashion in Italy.
Had a large van full to deliver there, to a dealer. Always on the lookout
for a return load, he filled it with bog rolls. Made a fortune.

Do you remember Ruby Wax ?

She was that (very annoying to some people ) American comedian/enne
(she still writes mental health books), who was on the TV a lot
in the 90's. She did a documentary "Wax goes to Russia" or someething.
This was after Macdonalds but before Gorby's fall - where she arrived
at Moscow airport customs with a suitcase full of toilet rolls.


Certainly in (at least some of) the former 'bits' which made up the
USSR, things like toilet rolls were often in short supply- I know
someone who used to travel to various former bits.

Likewise, having met people from the former East Germany and Poland who
experienced communist rule, shortages of things we take not only for
granted but probably consider essentials (even if they aren't) were the
norm. People would learn that a stock of, perhaps, mens shirts was due
and would queue up for ages. On getting to the point of sale, all the
shirts would be one size and colour was an example I was told.

Perhaps this explains why there weren't people trying to 'climb' over
the Berlin Wall West to East.