The Arthur girls began the day with a warm wash and a cold shower, winter or summer. When she was old enough it was Nancy's job to go out to the gate in the morning and check where the steam tram was as she could see the smoke. She would then warn her father that it was time to leave to catch the tram at the top of Clifton Rd. to take him to the ferry. Before he left for work in the city he had already chopped firewood and worked in the vegetable garden. As the family had cows they made their own butter and had their own supply of milk. However others in the street had their milk delivered by horse and cart very early in the morning. Sometimes the horse would fall asleep instead of keeping up with the milkman and there would be much shouting and clattering of hooves.
Bread was delivered to the pantry window and coal to the coalhole just beyond the kitchen as they cooked on a coal fired stove. There was a copper in the wash-house to heat the water for the laundry and the water supply was from tanks.
The nearest shop was Duddings general store at Hauraki Corner which is still there today- it has had a number of identities and is currently the Lone Star restaurant and bar. It sold an assortment of household goods including potties, known to the girls as mimies, presumably short for jemima. Mum recalled Frank being terribly embarrassed when his little sister drew attention to these- "Ooh Frank, look at all the mimies!"