The book is a personal memoir of life in a Britain that no longer exists . In 1950 Britannia ruled the waves . Today we are in the EU. In 1960 lunch at a London restaurant cost 10 shillings ( 50p today ) Beer was 5p a pint . Born in 1943 , the author tells us about the rationing of food , clothing , fuel until 1952. How kids enjoyed themselves without TV or any consumer electronics : comics ! ) How he enjoyed excellence at Grammar school , and went on to become a drunken reprobate !