Rationing in the United Kingdom The paper shortage often made it more difficult than usual for authors to get work published. In 1944, George Orwell wrote: Whether rationed or not, many consumer goods became difficult to obtain because of the shortage of components. Examples included razor blades, baby bottles, alarm clocks, frying pans and pots. Balloons and sugar for cakes for birthday parties were partially or completely unavailable. Many fathers saved bits of wood to build toys for Christmas presents, and Christmas trees were almost impossible to obtain due to timber rationing. On 8 May 1945, the Second World War ended in Europe, but rationing
26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (diamond) in the Russian Diamond Fund (Moscow Kremlin). 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (diamond) The 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ("26th Congress of the CPSU", ) is a 342.57 carat fancy lemon yellow raw diamond, the largest gem diamond ever found in Russia or the territory of the former USSR, and one of the largest in the world as of 2016. It was mined at the Mir kimberlitic pipe (Yakutia, Far Eastern Federal District) on December 23rd,1980 and named after the 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union,