Loads to add;
Used to go to the local garage (approx 1/2 mile) to buy my parents' fags. This was before my sister was born, so I was under 8, and my brother came too, 16 months younger than me.
My dad (mum died 4 years ago, so have never had this verified) has recently confessed that in the cricket season, my mum used to go to the pub to meet him for last orders. Nothing wrong in that, except there was no-one in the house with us kids! Again, this was before my sister was born.
But don't think that things changed when she was born. My mum couldn't face the thought of taking all 3 of is to the supermarket, so would leave me (aged 10) in charge (of 8yr old and 2yr old). My sister did a poo in her pants once, and we didn't know what to do (ie didn't want to clean it up, but thought we'd be in trouble if we left it), so we actually phoned the supermarket and got them to page my mum. God knows what thoughts were going through her head when she heard her name being called. Certainly not "mummy, Kirsty's done a poo...."
I also realise now why I was so carsick as a child - 2 adults smoking like chimneys in the front, but no windows could be opened, as it was "too noisy"
I'm sure the following also happened, although my mum later denied it. Aged about 6, I used to get the bus into town, get off at the library, go in and get some books, and get the bus home again.
Finally, when I was about 3, and my brother was still a baby, my mum took us to the library. She had a big old pram, and of course, no ramps in those days, so she left bro outside while taking me in. When she came out, an old lady started berating her for leaving her child outside. "Plenty more where that came from" says my mum. She often told me that she was so proud of the fact that she managed to think of a witty reply in time, rather than 5 minutes too late, which was normally what happened.
Despite how all this sounds, I don't look back at my childhood and feel I was neglected, it really was the norm in those days.