pam
|
 Oh Ann I like that!!
Thanks for making me laugh.
Our last cat found a chicken from somewhere and was chasing it round next doors garden. 
The cat we have now brings many things in I've had a frog leaping around in the kitchen as well as the usual birds, mice , voles etc. One day is was busy at the sink and heard a noise turning round I saw a dead frog with the cat sat eyeing it up as it lay on the kitchen floor. i picked the dead frog up wrapping it in kitchen roll and put it on the side work top near the door as I had something urgent to do. I returned a minute later to collect the frog and take it outside. Got the fright of my life as it was sat there looking at me !!! Blinking cats!! Pam
|
Annie
|
Hi Pam,
yes cats are a law unto themselves, we originally got that cat because the cottage was innundated with mice. They do tend to bring things home, a neighbour has a deaf albino and we watched it chase a fox down the road a few nights ago, not too sad about that as my dog is partial to rolling in foxes doings. I have been known to tie him to the gate and scrub him after that.
When I was young we had a pack of beagles that used to hunt near us, the often invaded the garden with all the people dressed up in their gear trotting along the road, actually I haven't seen a hare around here for ages, they used to be quite common, I have watched one with my Mum 'going mad' as they say during March
Annie
|
pam
|
Re the Hares -I was only thinking a couple of weeks ago we don't see them anymore they used to be a common site in the fields.
We to used to live in a very old cottage, it was originally a 'travellers rest' it had the mounting steps at the front of the cottage - the cottage next door was the 'inn' years ago.
We had spiders as big as the mice - well i thought so!! argghhhhhh Our cat of that time was named 'puss puss babes' (dont laugh) was scared of them The reason for the cats name was my partner and daughter couldn't agree on a name so whilst they were trying to agree on one I was calling to him 'here puss puss babes' and by the time a name was agreed on he wouldn't answer to anything else Pam
|
pam
|
Ok who dares to own up to this (if you are old enough)
As a young girl my job was cutting the news papers into squares for use in the toilet. Although we had inside toilets we also used the outside one as well. I can still hear my friend from next door shouting - 'Mum - Paper!' whilst in the toilet.
That is one part of yester-year I do not miss. Pam
|
pixie
|
No not here but I think my parents may have let us have the toilet roll and they had the newspaper.
The toilet roll was just as bad though because it was that really rough paper that we all used for tracing with.
I used to love pinching some to trace from books, I got into trouble for that a few times when it ran out.
|
pam
|
Yes I remember that - did the same as you as well re- tracing paper.
There were actually some properties inour village that still had the 'pan and ashes toilet I'm pleased we didn't. Pam
|
Annie
|
Pam our cat was known as Puss, guess that was Mum as I was only a toddler when they got her, to me she had always been around.
Yes I remember the newspaper cut into squares, Mum made a hole through the corner and hung it with a bit of string. Izal was the hard loo paper, it was still used in public conveniences long after most people had stopped using it at home. It was good for tracing, so was greaseproof.
We did have the old privy, most people did around the lanes in those days, in fact the council used to send out a type of tanker and collect the contents of the buckets, that ceased before we moved and Dad had to dig a pit at the bottom of the garden. They didnt have mains sewers in the village untill the early 60's, my daughter lives out of the village and where she lives they still have their own septic tank, a new modern one that 'digests' the contents and turns it into compost was fitted last year,
Annie
|
pam
|
I cannot recall any septic tanks in our village but the very oldy wordy pub in a village where I lived in the late 80's used to have one.
I also remember going to stay with my mum's sister in Malta in the early 70's and the toilets were sumping up the day before they came round to empty the tanks. Gosh what a stink that kicked up!!
As a child it was usual to see people sat on their doorsteps chatting to each other, on warm summer nights.
I the early 80's we would sit ouside our conservatory with a home made bottle of wine after the kids were inbed and pass a glass over to the neighbours We enjoyed those nights chatting to them ( until the bats came out flying around) I was scared of them! Sadly they are both dead now but I have a wicked tale to tell you at some point Pam
|
Annie
|
Hi Pam,
probably because we are all locals we still chat at night's along here, the road has a reputation for gossip (as somebody once commented, ''you cant piss crooked along there without somebody knowing'') but at least somebody always notices if any thing is amiss and we look out for our elderly neighbours. We get bats at dusk as well, they swoop very low. Sadly recently there doesn't appear to be so many hedgehogs about at night though. A few years ago they were very common along here. As a pup my dog pranced up to one, pricked his nose and has given them a crosseyed look ever since.
I know all about that smell, mind you when I was young right in the middle of the village a local farmer had a dung heap outside his barn about 20 foot high, we were used to it but I have heard all sorts of comments from visitors at the bus stop back then. Sadly no more land sold of and barn and house gentrified like most of our cute cottages which back then were very primitive. Most two up and down in small rows now knocked into one desirable property.
Annie
|
pam
|
lololol I know I shouldn't laugh at your dog being cross eyed Ann - but i just got this really funny image in my head - sorry!
My memories of the warm days when younger are of going walks as a family into the woods nearby. Mum would pack a picnic tea for us. We would spread out the blanket then take ourselves off to play. We would always go home with huge bunches of Blue Bells and give some to our elderly neighbours. Pam
|
Annie
|
I think the prickles made his eyes cross. I know if we meet one these days he looks embarrassed and tries to pretend it isnt there.
Yes we used to have picnics and pick bluebells, that's not allowed any more, conservation and all that, mind you Julie used to bring me a bunch if she had been in the woods with her group. Nothing smells like English bluebells. We used to make posies of primroses as well.
I was only thinking today looking in the fridge in the local Co-op how sandwiches have changed, we used to have boiled eggs, cheese and tomato, marmite, jam, things like that, nothing exotic, homemade cake or scones, maybe a biscuit at our picnics, like the parties we had, games like pass the parcel and musical chairs, food was usually sandwiches, maybe cakes from the bakers, a homemade iced birthday cake with candles and usually trifle made with tinned fruit , sponges, jelly and custard, in the summer probably salad from the garden with Heinz salad cream. Sundays we often had shrimps and winkles from the van for Sunday tea with bead and butter , pudding was often tinned fruit and evapourated milk. Not so many soft drinks either, we occasionally had Tizer and Lemonade but mostly water,
Annie
|
pam
|
The other outing we had on warm nights was a lovely long walk - dad used to play racing games with us along the way, -to the next lamp post kind of thing. We would always stop at one of two of the pubs in the village which had play areas and seating outside. Crisps and pop were bought and a schooner of sherry for mum and a glass of beer for dad - before we set off back home.
We too had the same food as you as did most people I suppose. The difference is on Sunday's we had the salad tea (with the heinz salad cream of course) Mum always buttered extra bread and we used to have a slice and dip it in our evap milk and tinned fruit.
On Thursday evenings the 'chippy' van used to come round and we had these for tea. Pam
|
Annie
|
Yes, one walk I remember was to the old gravel pits, there was all of us plus my aunt and uncle, the idea was to get some blackberries, probably for jam or pies, My aunt stood on a dead snake, first time I ever saw an adult scream and run!! I think that impressed me more than the snake. The gravel pits were an endless source of fun for the local boys, I suppose we were lucky not to have more accidents than actually happened.
The pub was just down the road from us, we usually had Britvic fruit juice, Dad had beer, I think Mum did too but half a pint rather than a pint, Smith's crisp's with the litttle bag of salt as well usually, because of hopping there was a huge number of benches and tables outside well fixed to the ground, we used to sit there. For some reason only a gents which was a wooden shack probably just with urinals. I suspect it stunk.During hopping the benches and tables would be full of wives and children.
A lady used to come down from London where she had a market stall and sell seafood all through hopping, we had the van come round every Sunday from the next village with groceries abd sea food. Then there was the icecream man from an Italian cafe in town, he came every evening and sold wafers and cornets of their own ice cream, none nowadays tastes like it. The chip van came Tuesdays and the chips were wrapped in newpaper in those days. Amazing all the things we did with newspaper thinking back including paper mache? (not sure of the spelling) at school to make models, recycling was a way of life.
Annie
|
pam
|
What wonderful memories we have Ann.
I remember the blue salt bag well in the crisps.
Do you remember Johnny Morris on TV? He was known as the hot chestnut man. I remember having the hot chestnuts myself as they came out of the outer edge of the fire in our lounge and as i got older I was allowed to do the toast using the toasting fork!
The wicked tale I spoke about was a prank I played on our elderly neighbour. He was a great old chap and we had lots of laughs with him.
He would sit in his greenhouse for ages with his transistor radio on a pint of beer and his newspaper. He loved gardening and had a prize row of green runner beans. ever morning i would see him go straight to these beans to check on them. One day after a long walk in the woods I came back with an old birds nest and put it in his green beans - right at the top. Next day I watched through the window as he wandered down to his prize beans he stood rooted for ages just looking up at the nest, scratching his head. Even showing his daughter when she came to visit. I confessed about tea time as I couldn't keep my face straight any longer. Lucky for me he found it amusing as well. Pam
|
Annie
|
What a lovely story, I enjoyed that, Yes I remember Johnie Morris, actually I am old enough to remember Muffin the Mule, Dixon of Dock Green as well, Jack Warner must have been the oldest copper in the world. Fanny Craddock also springs to mind and the original cast of Coronation Street. I used to love The Avengers especially with Diana Rigg.
They showed a clip from one of those recently and I realised it was very up to the minute at that time but looked very dated as a repeat. My middle daughter really loved Starsky and Hutch even if she did call them Spastic and Crutch, when she said that to my sister she told jme she has never been able to see them in the same light again.
Remember the original Dr Who, my two eldest were very into Daleks.Oddly my youngest says she was scared of Bagpuss for some reason though,
Annie
|
pam
|
Re - the story -- he was a grand old chap and life wasn't the same after he had passed away.
Ann I remember all of them and remember singing 'we want muffin - muffin the mule I can still remember the tune to that. I have a very old cookery book of fanny and johnny's.
Lets not forget the wooden tops!!
Do you remember torchy the battery boy as well - I can still remember the tune to that as well - gosh I'm sounding like my parents with the reminising
Yes I remember the start of Dr Who--- and from Coronation street - Annie Walker, Ena Sharples, Minnie wats her name and - was it martha as well, who all sat together in the rovers 'snug' Ken Barlow was young and handsome in those days. Oh and lets not forget 'uncle Albert' Bet lynch was another character - Len Furclough from the builders yard. I well remember Rita from the cabin coming into the street oh lets not forget our Mavis!!!
Did you watch cross roads?
and Z cars na na naaa na-na naa na naaa - you remember the tune?? Pam
|
Annie
|
Minnie Caldwell and I think Martha Longhurst, old Albert was Albert Tatlock. Ena Sharples was Violet Carson who played the piano on Childrens Hour on the radio as Auntie Vi'. Funny you should say talking like my parents, last time my cousin was round he said '' We are the older generation now'' when I said something similar.
They are all coming back, you think of one thing and it brings up something else you had buried in the back of your mind.
How Doctor Who has changed, originally it was a girls grandfather who had built a time machine in the first series. Nothing about Time Lords at all.
Ken Barlow had a brother back then as well, David Barlow remember. Elsie Tanner as well in her tight skirts and stilletto heels.
Remember the original Top of the Pops as well. Also Juke Box Jury and Ready Steady Go. we had to watch those as teenagers.
My late Mum approved of Fanny Craddocks recipes, she said they were common sense and used ingrediants we could all afford.
Annie
|
pam
|
es I remember David Barlow, and Elsie Tanner - she had some right old set too's with Ena Sharples and old Jack Walker and his son Billy both from the Rovers return.
I would love them to do repeats of the old ones - you know from the first and then continue - it would be such a laugh.
I remember my brothers having a battery powered dalek - they are in the shops again now. We went to Blackpool one year when my daughter was younger and took her into the Dr Who exhibition we stood just inside looking at a Dalek and - it moved!! My daughter turned tail and ran for it - did we laugh!
I always had to watch Ready Steady Go, T.O.P.S. Juke Box Jury 'I'll give it 5' do you remember the lady who used to say that?
I was a Beatles fan and had my hair like theirs. When I was around 16/17 my boy friend managed to get tickets to see the Beatles in Sheffield. Wow I screamed so much I couldn't speak properly the next day Pam
|
Annie
|
All the kids were into Daleks, your daughter isn't alone, my Lou was scared of them as well, she used to hide behind the sofa when they came on.
Julie's favourite was the original Star Treck and her all time super hero was Mr Spock, she loved him, can you remember how corny that was. The later ones just weren't the same.
They do occasionally show old clips from Coronation Street. You can see how the actors have aged. I guess the early black and white ones ones would look very old fashioned to modern eyes.
I can remember the girl who said I'll give it five but not her name, was it a Brummie accent she had.
Yes I remember Z Cars, Brian Blessed was very young in those days and much slimmer.
Annie
|
pam
|
The juke box jury was hosted by David Jocobs I think and the lady who said I'll give it 5 was ----- Monica Rose!!
Bugged me that did
The old coro's would look very dated but what a chuckle we would get out of it - don't you think.
I never was a star trek fan so don't know much about that.
Which programme had the 'Gabbelerdictin' in - anyone??
I remember the strange name because one of my friends used to talk non stop and we christened her with that name! Rotten lot as we were!! I'm wondering if it was torchy?
I know I keep asking this - but has anyone else memories to share with us???????? Pam
|
Annie
|
Sorry Pam, cant remember which program that was, perhaps somebody else on here does, you are right it was Monica Rose, and yes David Jacobs.
We did have some rotten nicknames back then on occasion, one of my poor cousins was known as Flaps because of his jug ears, poor lad.
I guess Corrie would be a laugh if they repeated it. Or perhaps it would just be a trip down memory lane for us oldies.
One rather strange program my kids were into was The Water Margin, a set of Chinese legends. I think it was on B.B.C. 2. That was a must watch for them.
It would be nice if somebody else shared with us,
Annie
|
pam
|
What about these then - archie andrews - appleyards- billy bunter- crackerjack- blue peter- invanhoe -four feather falls- lenny the lion- noddy- pugwash- raiway children- watch with mother ( was that andy pandy and the wooden tops stuff?) whirly birds- worzel gummidge popeys(peep peep) and lets not forget Mr pastry !! I LOVED TO WATCH HIM.
fOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS 1970's ??
magic roundabout- newsround- paddington- partridge family- play school- banana splits-hong kong phooey jackanory and lets not forget -- GRANGE HILL I used to watch that with my daughter.
Anyone remember watching these. Pam
|
Speeds
|
Pam and Annie this needs to be a book. I admire your emergy and then despair at my apathy.
Here goes
Life from a 60's babe
Yes I watched Magic Roundabout, Chrystal Tips and Allistair, Jackanory, Mary, Mungo and Midge
I did watch Grange Hill and Joh Craven's news round. TV was that kids slot - not 24/7 like it is now.
Mum and my nan used to watch Corrie - it was a religion. We did watch Z cars and some of the other stuff on - the news was a complete bore - how different - today I do not feel complete if I cannot watch the news.
We used to play skipping in the playground, two ball up the walls (there are no walls at Thomas school suitable for playing two ball  ).
I went to a school which to me at 4 til 11 years looked old and now today is very old but guess it was built around 1910.
Things I remember about school:
1. I remember all my teachers - not always their names but their mannerisms.
2. On the subject of teachers I learnt quickly that what they said was not always what they meant. They portrayed the type of caring that happens today - the if you are late then don't do it again, if you need the loo in a lesson - ask to go. Fortunately I was never late for school (my dad was a stickler for time) but I saw what happened to those who were - ridiculed I suppose you would call it today. I saw people ask to use the loo (I seemed to then have a bladder with an immense capacity so rarely needed to use the school loos) only to be denied and then to be so desparate that eventually they would be begging to go holding themselves in front of everyone - so humiliating or even worse still at break they would be literally wetting their pants on the LONG walk to the toilets and then being told off for running. Thank god for me Thomas' school is not like that.
3. While corporal punishment was "sorta" non existent at my schools we did get flying chalk, rulers and blackboard rubbers launched at us and occassionaly hit us
4. Desks were desks at least at senior school and I much prefer those - seems better somehow but don't ask me why. There wer no locks on desks and lockers really did nto exist until I wsa at my second senior school. No one nicked out of others desks or if they did mine obviously had nothing to nick.
After school we all used to walk home in a gang - probably I do not feel such cameraderie these days with THomas but then we live outside of catchment but also the whole school has 200 pupils - there were about 1400 in the infants and juniors when I was at school.
Must admit though - I loved school.
|
pam
|
Speeds thanks for sharing that trip down your personal memory lane. I can certainly identify with some of what you have said. Did you chewing gum stuck under your desks at school? I got it on my skirt more than once!!
I find your memories very interesting though as much of it is very similar to my 50's recolections.
Have you anymore to share - ps that includes all the other 'babes' on the site.  Pam
|
Speeds
|
Yes - chewing gum was there - as was the graffiti on the walls. I wsa graffiti bullied by some girls - not very nice.
|
Annie
|
Hey Speeds, you grew up as the same time as my two eldest girls, the youngest was an accident 14 years later so I am familiar with all the programs you watched.
Your school sounds very similar to the one I went to. They have improved in lots of ways since then, I actually remember one poor girl who wanted the loo but was scared to ask because the teacher was very strict and ended up wetting herself, we were all scared of that particular teacher but my opinion of him changed when I had an accident in games and he was really kind, made me think.
Yes Pam remember all those programs. Today I met somebody in the village who bought back another memory, home births, the norm when I was young. We were all born at home, I remember the night my brother was born, the village G.P. came with his huge black bag and the district nurse also. He was born in the night and we saw him next morning.
As sex was a complete mystery to us in those days for years my sister and I were convinced that babies came in the black bag, mind you some of our friends said theirs were found under a goosebery bush but general opinion was that doctors bought them. as we were of the beaten track the health visitor used to visit in her Queens Institute uniform with N.H.S orange juice and cod liver oil.
By the way doctors still charged when my sister and I were born, Dad said I cost one guinea, (born at my grandmothers as my parents house was bombed towards the end of the war) we had moved when my sister was born and her birth cost ten shillings, the same doctor delivered my brother free on the N.H.S. Real bit of social history there.
Annie
|
pam
|
I can't remember having problems with the Loo - but I remember hanging on 'to it' on the really cold wet /snowy days as the toilets were right at the top of the playground. I to played 2 balls and all the other favourites of that time, in the school yard with my friends.
I remember the assembly mornings and singing my little heart out with the rest of the school. Having to put up our hands at the end of the mornings work to answer questions on maths or spelling - first hand up to get it right could go. Also putting our chairs on our desks and saying the evening prayer. I don't think they do that now - do they?
My senior school was a girls only - but when i got to my 3rd year we mearged with the all boys school next to us. We lost alot of female teachers when that happened. 
What tele adverts do we remember?
You wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with errrr was it pepsodent or something?  Pam
|
Annie
|
Yes Pam, I remember the Pepsodent advert, I am racking my brain for some of the others, Oxo was one, fairly recently I saw a program where they showed some of them and they seem very unsophisticated by todays standards. Omo was another, whatever happened to that.
That brings up another thought, remember the test card, telly wasnt 24 hours in those days and originally there was only one channel B.B.C.
Assembly happened every morning and the evening prayer, plus we said grace before meals, '' For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful'' was the one they used in all the schools I went to. I went to a mixed school untill I was 15 when I transferred to the local girls tech. Games were different, boys did football and cricket, girls did netball and hockey, we did have one innovative p.e. teacher who tried us out with cricket, all the pads were the same size so depending on how tall you were they either came over your knees or ended below the knee in my case, led to some very strange running actions.
School dinners, frogspawn (semolina). Always fish and chips on Friday, gypsy tart, school mash, foul stuff although usually it was boiled potatos and cabbage which legend had it was full of slugs, custard with most puddings, mostly traditional dishes, no pasta or curry in those days.
Annie
|
pam
|
I remember the 'test card' ann. Some more adverts were murry mints - the too good to hurry mints! - Rice crispies - snap crackle and pop! -, Don't forget the 'fruit gums' mum - Pg tips with the monkey - Cadum for madum - soap  Esso sign - means happy motoring! and lets not forget the -----
Interlude!!!
School dinners - never had them - the smell put me off when it was cooking! I was fortunate to be able to walk home for dinner.
Speeds yes bullying went on back then as well - not pleasant if you were at the receiving end. Pam
|
Annie
|
Wrigleys spearmint was another and of course the now banned cigarette adds,'Your never alone with a Strand' was one. Lassie dogs bouncing with health from all the marrowbone jelly. I am sure others will come back.
There was some bullying in the school I went to but I think it happens every where, my middle daughter was a victim when she changed schools, I only learnt later, her friend told me after a couple of weeks of it she lost her temper and went for the girl in question who was apparently notorious, two other girls had to pull her of, no more problems ever after that.
Staff attitudes help as well, one young lad again notorious told my youngest she was 'as silly as her sister' (meaning Julie.) She really walloped him, when a teacher asked what had happened as she wasn't usually like that and she explained, that particular teacher told her if he ever said that again she could hit him twice as hard next time. Total shock from the lad and no more problems.
We did have the cane at my school and detentions but canings were quite rare, boys by the headmaster and girls across the hand by the female deputy head. Whether you approve or not we were all old enough to realise that it was our own actions that led to it and it was an accepted punishment at that time and not applied indiscriminately. Flung chalk and board rubbers happened and one teacher would slam the board ruler down hard on the desk. A hundred lines was another, usually I must not talk in class or similar. One R.E. teacher used to make us learn a chunk of the Bible of by heart,
Annie
|
pam
|
Yes all of that was the same for us in school could the younger members tell us what happens now in schools for punishment? I have seen male teachers 'pushing' the boys on their shoulders whilst telling them off as well. Sex - well it wasn't talked about openly to us and my mum certainly didn't tell me about 'the birds and the bees' I learned from the school yard. When my first period came I knew what it was but daren't tell my mum so I wandered downstaires in my nightie and she saw it for herself. The only thing she said as I walked out of the door from school was = keep away from the lads!! very informative that was??? I vowed that when my own daughter got older I would be very different with that and I was I spoke to her quite openly about these things and she grew up well prepared. I well remember my mum having my second brother but not the first. I was 11 by the time he came along - and yes he was born downstaires as my parents bed had been brought down and put in the lounge. I was playing in the field at the back of our house and had gone home for something. Grandad was sat in his usual chair smoking and dad was at home in the kitchen with him. I remember mum calling out his name and dad saying that's it it's nearly here - and off he went into the room to be with mum. How different today's births are. I don't know about having to pay for any of it though. Pam
|
Annie
|
I know my daughters school has an exclusion room for some of the worst offenders. When she was at school one teacher made miscreants write three page essays on seemingly impossible subjects, he kept a great big pile of them. He had an evil sense of humour.
Yes I got most of my sex education from the playground, we were shown a film about female biology and how babies were born but not how they were conceived, My Mum was very straight laced and really found it embarrasing talking about any thing like that, she always referred to any anatomy between the shoulder and knees as 'privates'. My sister and I have all girls and I can still remember the look of astonishment from my neice aged 2 when her baby male cousin visited and sat on a potty, she is a Mum of a little boy now.
Like you I tried to be honest about such matters but I think all parents were the same back then, it was a cultural thing as much as any thing. Sadly girls who did go astray were not treated that well either from what I can remember of one poor lass in the village who had a baby at 14. We were told to avoid her as if it was catching.
Annie
|
pam
|
My friend worked in a home for adults some of who had committed the crime of getting pregnant and had been banished there to live out their lives. These ladies used to visit my home for tea occassionally with my friend and told stories of when as teenagers they had stolen a pkt of ciggy's or some such deed and were cast out by their families. All pensioners by this time. what a waste of a life. This home has been closed down now and all people their were intigrated back into society where they belonged. I am currently reading a book by the dart's player 'Jocky Wilson's' brother who along with Jocky was in care in the 60's. What an horrendous life he had. Hopefully things are different these days - although I know abusers still get through 'the net' but how different things are looked at, and done these days.
We also had 'special' names for our private parts but not the crude ones of today. Pam
|
Annie
|
Homes were bad enough, several girls ended up in mental hospitals for life before the war for the same reason, some of those were eventually bought back in to the community.
Childrens homes were notorious as well, the stories I have heard from Irish girls about some of the homes run by nuns are horrific as well, thank God that we are a little bit more charitable these days, actually having said that there were illegitimate children in the village who grew up with us and had normal lives, I guess they had supportive families. There were of course perverts in the community back then just as now, thing was most people knew who they were and we were warned to avoid them even if we didnt know why. With far less cars about the people wern't so mobile which probably explains why we knew who they were.
My elderly aunt told me that when she was about 8 a man used to expose himself to her and her friends when they went to Sunday School but she said they just thought he was rude as they had no idea what it really meant and they used to use another route home to avoid him.this would have been about 1920.
Annie
|
pam
|
I read the book about the girl who was in the irish washrooms with the nuns. Dreadful tale it was and even now as a grown lady she is trying to get unmarked graves on the land where the building was sorted - unfortunately the 'nuns' aren't playing ball?
These days there is more help for the traumatized children but it doesn't stop it from happening to others and I don't suppose it ever will especially with the internet and the downloads which can be got from it.
Moving on to clothing what are your memories of what you wore as a child? This includes you younger ones (sound like a stuck record don't I - but you seem very shy of coming forward with your memories) I clearly remember having nylon dresses which mum used to make and my best ones generally had some sort of pattern on with a glittery sparkly stuff it seemed to be stuck on?? I've no idea what it was but remember as they got old I used to pick off the pattern! Anyone know what I mean.
As for my daughter I used to make her dresses and jump suits once having sat all day whilst she was with my mum and put one together for her. It was a grey pin stripped and looked very smart. As she stood in front of the mirror looking at herself she said - Mum i just look like Keith from the butchers shop now - don't I?? mmmmmmmmmmm Pam
|
Speeds
|
I can't keep up with the reading let alone to post
I loved school dinners. They wer cooked on site by "Cook" and she was a fierce woman who cooked the most delicious meals. Lucklily for me there was nothing that I did not like so I ate everything but unless you had a note you had to eat what was on your plate. We had a system of prefects at my junior school and they had to get dinners for everyone. We used to get dinners made smaller for kids on our table who we knew would not eat it all. However I cannot remember ever cheating gettting a meal without an item for which there was no note
Sex education came along in 4th year juniors (Year 6) but by then I had already started my periods. While I do not remember my mum teaching me per se I know that I was shown and talked to by my mum. STs on hoops - the days before stick on pads. I used to hate having my period and going to school as I hated having to use the loos but I always went and I always managed.
Being at an all girls school we did not know much about boys but I have a brother so the dangly thing was explained to me The funniest thing recently was my 3 year old niece coming in to the bathroom to see Thomas having a wee and the intent staring at his willy was priceless. She is one of 3 girls and my brother (her daddy) is away a lot with his job so I am pretty sure that she has not seen many
|
Annie
|
Speeds that sounds just like Becky with her little cousin, she bent down and peered and the expression on her face was priceles, sheer astonishment.
Julie was a nigtmare with the pads and loops, one night she got of the school coach with the most peculiar gait, a bit like Andy Pandy, when I checked she had managed to get a loop of elastic over her shoulder. she was tiny but even so God knows how.
We had to eat all our meals at school, the apple pie was studded with cloves which I couldnt stomach at that time and once I had to sit all afternoon with the pie in front of me, still didnt eat it though, I was only about 7 at the time.
My Mum made most of my clothes and most dresses were cotton prints. They were very good as her mother was a dressmaker and had taught both of her girls. Not sure what your dresses would have been made of Pam, Mum even made my brothers short trousers and our school gymslips. Originally on an old Singer treadle machine, later she inherited her mothers machine, a workshop model in a very nice cabinet with four drawers, it had all sorts of things for fancy effects, it had the original receipt in one drawer from when my grandmother bought it in 1904, also in the drawer were her account books, She made lots of policemen shirts. After the war clothing was rationed and vests were woolly with little sleeves in winter and cotton in summer. Long socks in winter and short ones in summer. I made my girls clothes as well and helped my youngest learn to make clothes when she was at school.
Annie
|
pam
|
Speeds I remember the sans with loops and the elastic thingy which we attached them to, I also remember old sheets being ripped up as well for the same use.
My daughter actually started her periods at the ripe old age of ten and had an embarressing time in school with one toilet allocated with a bin (there was another girl as well) this meant that all the girls were curious and used to peep over the top of the toilet to see what they were doing!!
I never had school dinners Speeds - just couldn't stand the smell when it was cooking let alone eat it although it may have been very tasty for all I know.
Ann i remember the treadle machine - I used mums often enough - she now has an old one which she has had for years and the handle is turned to sew with it. I however have moved on to the electric one although it doesn't get used much these days.
I will ask mum if she can remember what my 'best dresses were made of.
In my 20's I bought some lourex material and mum made my young brother a shirt - just like gary glitter who he was a big fan of- he's lost his crown though now hasn't he? I still have a photograph of my brother wearing his shirt holding a microphone pretending to be his idol. Pam
|
Speeds
|
I still have a treadle sewing machine!!!!!
It was my mums first machine and at the mo it is in my garage waiting ot be restored. 
|
Annie
|
Hang on to that machine Speeds, they are indestructable, I am sorry I changed mine for an electric model. I could really whizz along with my old second hand one.
I remember the lurex, very popular at that time, I was living in London then and used to buy remnants in the local market to make clothes with.
Back in the 60's I knitted a huge sloppy joe sweater as it was known and my younger brother appropiated that, an elderly local lady made me grin recently. About that time he was just begginning to take an interest in girls and her daughter was one of them. He and a mate called on her when her Mum was peeling onions for pickling, she had both boys helping her peel five pounds of pickled onions, Things you do for love, she did say he was a nice lad though.
All of my girls started periods young, far more common these days than previously., our local primary didnt have any facilities at that time either. Possibly these days they are more up to date.
Thinking best dresses, I remember a type of nylon with patterns in something like flock on it, maybe that was what your dresses were made from Pam.
Annie
[/img]
|
loudmouth
|
I'm a little younger,but what i remember vividly from school dinners was what we used to call "frogspawn"......tapioca...YUK!  Also.I remember being dressed in ra-ra skirts as a child, and courderoy dungarees.  My mum has a rather fetching photo of me in a woderful brown pair of those.....she's threatening to blow it up and show EVERYONE on my 30th!
|
pam
|
I remember my daughter having a yellow ra- ra skirt she looked lovely in it I have a photo somewhere with her in it.
I think 'flock' on the nylon material might be right - it rings a bell but going to mums later so will just ask her mind you she's in her 80's now and memory doesn't always oblige these days.
I also agree about the 'treadle' machines - they were built to last.
I well remember always making my own curtains and one pair had huge yellow and orange flowers on - think it must have been the in thing to have back then along with the wood panelling for the walls. - has that gone out of fashion now?? Pam
|
Annie
|
My girls had ra ra skirts and hot pants. remember them. When they came out my elderly neighbour commented, I have always had hot pants, I wear thermogene in my drawers Pam might remember that, pink cotton wool impregated with something hot, it had a distinctive smell as well.
We called tapioca frogspawn as well Loudmouth, I dont think I have seen that for years, semolina with a dollop of jam was another school regular.
Bet you looked good in the dungarees, I remember them as well, at least your Mum isn't threatening to blow up the naked baby photo that most fond Mums have.
Annie
|
pam
|
Well I forgot to ask me about the material so will try and remember tomorrow when i go down.
Do you know - love tapioca, semolina and rice pudding - providing I done need a knife and fork for it.
Loudmouth - the in thing around here is to stick these blown up photos on the lamp posts?? Watch out your mums about!!
Anyone else liked any of the tinned/jars baby food which we gave our babies? I would always buy a jar of egg custard and apricot deserts - for me - as well as daughter. The rest ? Ughhhhh for babies only olong with the rusks - yuk!! I also used terry towelling nappies as the disposables were only just coming out I did try them once as we were going on holiday so thought they would be better - only problem was daughter was very tiny and even the smallest were a liitle big - results wet trousers on hubby or skirts on me! Pam
|
loudmouth
|
my daughteris only 10,and I still used terry nappies half the time for her...more through lack of funds than anything else! my friends all thought i was mad! I have to say I didn't for the boys a few years later though,I'd given mine away and couldn't find any more in the shops!Only baby food I used to steal was the apple sauce or the rusks,I'm afraid to say that by the youngest,the whole house were fighting over his rusks!
|
Annie
|
I used terry nappies for all of mine, the two eldest because every body did and the youngest from choice.
I love rice pudding as well Pam especially the skin on the top, some of the baby food was nice but some of it was very odd, mainly the savoury ones. I remember if you bought six tins in Boots you got an extra one free. Nothing like a well chewed soggy rusk all the babies seemed to love them. Some of the first disposable nappies were in a roll and you cut them of from what I remember, I didnt use that many of them.
They stick embarrassing photo's on lamp posts around here as well for those special birthdays, one elderly neighbour found a pair of pigs doing what comes naturally outside her door on her 80th, think her daughters knew something about it, she whipped them round the back garden very quickly but did leave them on display round there.
Back the 21 was the magic birthday not 18,
Annie
|
pam
|
I had my baby burco on every day with the nappies bibbling away in there.
Rice pud and any milk pudding I loved but not the skin thats a yuk for me. They were always popped in the oven and made with milk and evap - yummy.!!
I remember my 21st party for dancing the night away but suffering the next day as I had been having treatment for varuccas (cant remember how to spell that) 8 in total 5 on one foot and 3 on the other it seems one was as big as an half a crown (ahhhhhh now then how many of you young ones know what that is?) Anyway I ended up having the chiropodist out who was dealing with them and it cost me a week off work as I couldn't walk. Still it was a good party and held at my parents as I was married and we were buying a small terraced house at the time - so not enough room.
Loudmouth I must admit it did seem cheaper to use the terry nappies but when I have thought about it since I wonder if it was a false economy as I must have spent loads in electricity to boil them. Pam
|
Annie
|
In our house they fight for the skin on the top Pam, my sisters 21st stands out in my mind, we had gone to a dance in the next village, hired a coach, all the lads bought her a drink, that time her favoured tipple was Cherry B. they were all lined up on the bar, silly girl she drank the lot. Sitting next to her on the way home all I could here was, '' I've done it this time, I have killed myself''!!!
Next morning she felt even worser and she was still alive, just. Never got drunk on that myself but I should imagine it would give you a really foul head.
I dont know really if it is cheaper using terries or not really, it is too long since I boiled any nappies and there wasn,t any choice when my two eldest were born, I used to soak them in Napisan first and then boil with Fairy soap flakes.
Yes my brother had varruccas (I cant spell it either) he had his cut out at the local hospital, they do still publish warnings at our local baths about them. Nasty things, painful type of wart.
Annie
|
pam
|
Fairy soap Flakes - I remember those - used them but didn't like them as they always left a lot of scum on the top of the water.
Chery B was my tipple as well from about 17yrs. ooooooops not old enough. I couldn't drink it now it's far too sweet. Also used to down gin and baby cham - together - ( thats not spelt right either) old is is such a pain when the old memory starts to fade!! Anyway baby cham was my tipple for years.
I can clearly remember going to a night club on thursaday nights once a month and rolling into bed at 3am and out at 5am for work!!
On my 40th birthday I had a pint pot filled with baby cham these days I hardley drink.
As for my varuccas they were burned out - ouch !! Pam
|
Annie
|
My sister once described Fairy Soap Flakes as creating a substance like snot. They were considered the best for washing nappies at the time as they came out softer than with detergent.
Babycham and Cherry B were favoured tipples for girls, I was unusual, I drank half pints of light ale or sometimes gin and lime. Like you I rarely drink these days, guess I got it out of my system young like most people back then.
One incident springs to mind, again a coach trip to a dance, my sister was dancing with a younger local lad and a drunken older boy kept butting in and saying excuse me, in the end she turned round and decked him, he was flat out on the floor and the crowd just parted like an old Western film, she and her partner walked out with great dignity and went into the pub over the road.
Annie
|
pam
|
Snot is actually a good discription for the Fairy Snow
Gin and Lime /orange was another of my tipples Annie, but never drank bear drank barley wine a few times though and that was really potent I wonder if it's still around? - Anyone??
I have a memory - makes me blush now to think about it.
We had hired a bus for a womens night out and all got well tanked up.
Back on our bus we noticed another bus which seemed to be all males.
One of the males decided to run around the car park naked (streaker I think he was). My friend and I got up and stood in the doorway of the bus shouting 'come on come round again - lets have another look'!!
What a hussy I was back then. Pam
|
Speeds
|
Oh you two do make me laugh so fondly.
I love and still love Cherry Brandy................especially if you add it to snowballs - yum (the alcoholic ones not wet soggy winter ones :lol)
My mum had a washing machine with a mangle. That was replaced when
|
Speeds
|
Oh you two do make me laugh so fondly.
I love and still love Cherry Brandy................especially if you add it to snowballs - yum (the alcoholic ones not wet soggy winter ones :lol)
My mum had a washing machine with a mangle. That was replaced when I was still at junior school.
What about OMO? Where did that go to?
|
pam
|
We had a washing machine with a mangle when I was a child - proper finger nippers they were.
As for Omo I remember it but haven't seen it around for a long time Speeds.
I have never heard of snowballs and cherry brandy mmm you have me wondering what that would taste like now.
However on holiday in Majorca a few years ago I fancied something different and asked if they had any snowballs - off went the waiter eventually came back and said what are they we laughed and told him a drink - trying to discribe it - then he looked at me and said - you make joke? yeh? which made us laugh even more. I ended up with a glass of wine ahhhhhh well!! Pam
|
Annie
|
My aunt had a machine with a mangel, a little one with rubber rollers, I dont know about Omo but I can remember another early detergent call Oxydol that vanished many years ago.
I haven't thought about snowballs for years, they were very popular in the sixties.
I went on one of the early day trips to France as a teenager, C 1963/4 it was said to be the worst Channel Crossing for fifty years, my Mum saw it on the news while we were out. It was very rough and most of the passengers were seasick, I can remember the smell and the toilets to this day. I was lucky I wasn't but my sister was, she said that all she could think of when we landed was Oh God another two hours of that when we go back. My mate and I stayed on the top deck watching the sea crashing along the sides and chatting up a couple of lads who escaped the dreaded sickness.
It must have been a Saints day as the was a procession through Calais and all the little girls were dressed in white. These days it so is much quicker and easier. It was fun though,
Annie
|
pam
|
Sounds like you had a great time seak sick and all!!
I remember our holidays as children - skegness or blackpool.
There were three of us children and only dad working as mum was the home maker.
First job after unpacking was to buy us all buckets and spades and a ball each.
We spent our days on the beach when possible but I remember being at Blackpool on rainy days and going into one of the shelters on the sea front with a ball and a bag of nuts! We didn't have a lot of money to spend on amusments during the day that was for the night time and when at blackpool I remember going to the boating pool to catch crabs and to Uncle Toms cabin ( a family pub) for crisps and pop. We all had spending money which we had saved and mum and dad showed us how to split it up so that we had equal amounts to spend each day - and when the days spendo was gone that was it until the next day. Happy days. Pam
|
Annie
|
Most of our holidays were spent with my grandmother or an aunt, think it gave Mum a break, our seaside trips were usually one day events. One year we stayed with my grandmother when Mum had and lost a baby sister . I remember that because she helped us budget our money, my brother went to an aunts.
Granny took us all over the place and we met up with various other family members, her sister in law lived near Lympne airport, I think that has gone now and we were very impressed watching the planes. We stayed with her Coronation year a and went to Canterbury with her, I can still remember the flower beds set out with the Queens coat of arms.
She usually took us to Folkestone as well where her cousins there were fishermen.
A neighbour of hers always dropped us of at Seasalter on his way to work at least once every trip, I am suprised at how little the coast there has changed from when I was a child.
We were always invited to tea at the farm where Mum worked during the war and helped drive the cows in for milking and collected eggs among other things.
Annie
|
pam
|
Sounds like a wonderful time for you as well Annie, I hope our children will remember their younger days with such fondness.
I remember taking my daughter to Skegness one year and it was very breezy (of course) so we went into a playground just off the beach out of the wind which was blowing the sand.
Nad loved the donkeys so hubby and I took it in turns to take her for rides - she was only around 2years old.
It was hubby's turn so I settled back in my chair for a rest. On his return he was covered in sand and so was Nad. It seems that a group of girls were acting silly and one screamed - it spooked the donkey nad was on - the donkey bolted with hubby in hot pursuit Nad held on for a while - then fell off!! Luckily she wasn't hurt but hubby had recieved a kick from the donkey. It put Nad off them and she would never go on them again. 12 months later she was bridesmaid to my cousin who had a horse and trap to take her to the church and she wanted Nad to go with her! No Way!! She would not sit in it at all and has never been on a horse since! Pam
|
Annie
|
Ouch I felt that kick, mind you I think I agree with Nad, the landlord of the pub near us had a donkey, it let my brother and sister ride, no problem, my turn and it always tipped me into a nettle patch.
Yes loved my childhood breaks, the first time we went to Seasalter the neighbours next door said we needed swimming costumes, Granny being a needle woman adapted one of my sisters vests for her, the neighbours wife found and old mans costume, obviously prewar , you know like the Edwardian ones, full body with sleeves made of wool, Granny cut that down for me, God knows what I looked like but enjoyed the lovely shallow water any way.
My Julie loved buckets and spades, nowadays age appropiate is in but that never bothered Julie, when she went out with me we always sat on the beach and she had her bucket and spade,if people found it strange then that was their problem, actually I am very proud of the fact that she never gave in to political correctness and did what was her choice, very strong minded lass was my girl. Confounded the experts many times.
Annie
|
pam
|
I also agree with nad and yourself about - well not just donkeys but horses as well. In the 70's when nad was a twinkle in her dads eye we used to go to Mablethorpe to the Golden Sands caravan park with friends.
On one occassion we decided to ride the horses over the sands. I was given the smallest horse as I was only tiny (ahh those were the days!) Not sure what happened??
Anyway - back to the post. Off we went all 4 of us with our guide over the sand dunes heading for the beach.
Problem was my horse had a mind of it's own and went a different way to the others - but eventually we ended up back with the group. Unfortunately as our guide was giving us a 'talk' my horse stood on a bottle - which exploded - which in turn spooked my friends horse - and off it galloped across the sands. Our guide just stayed with us and watched, calling out ' PULL ON THE RANES' to my poor friend who was clinging on for dear life - none of us had ever ridden before. Anyway my friend was unhurt and did manage to stay on the horse but I have never been on one since - too high up off the ground for me folks!! Pam ps Annie - I bet you looked 'grand' in your cossie. x
|
Annie
|
Doesn't sound the best introduction to horse riding, cant say I was that way inclined although I loved Whitbreads big dray horses. Often had a ride in a cart behind one of those, Mum always took us to watch them being released in the field when they came down on holiday, the used to gallop and roll on the grass with delight.
I think we all gain a bit as we get older, in my case love of food is probably to blame. I am the local cake making lady.
The red woolly costume used to stretch and drag down when it was wet, not really a problem for a skinny 7 year old though with nothing much to look at, it was pretty itchy as well.
We collected loads of winkles in the buckets bought from the shop on the front, (still there) but never cooked them, I guess Granny dumped them, they probably stunk. Thinking back she was a fantastic lady, very strict but we loved her just the same, when she visited she always bought dolly mixtures in the little shop and then she would make cones out of newspaper and share them out, a few each day, I realise now we learnt a lot from her,
Annie
|
pam
|
The days of the long swim wear was just a little before my time. I can imagine how itchy the wool would have been, I got a mental picture of this little girl with the crutch of her wet swim suit down to her knees. lolol
I just had the bog standard stretchy swim suit as a child and when in my teens and twenties wearing a bikini. Didn't have much on top in those days and we always went away with our friends (another married couple) John was a joker and on one occassion said to me Pam - I'm not sure why you wear a top to your bikini cos I have more than you - CHEEK!! Doz his wife and my closest friend was quite 'busty' and I still remember a year or two after, we both went topless and were playing with a ball in the sea in Majorca. Doz's boob were bouncing nicely on the top of the water and the elderly gentleman nearby? - Well folks I reckon he thought it was christmas and his birthday rolled into one. Pam
|
Annie
|
Yes Pam it was down my knees, red baggy swimsuit and ginger hair, later I did get a normal stretchy one but that was an emergency solution, to be honest I think those sort of suits had been out of fashion for years even then, the neighbour probably had it at the back of the cupboard, those days people hoarded all sorts of things. When it was no good for any thing else it was cut up and made into rag rugs, well at least my Mum started a few and had us pegging away but none of them ever got finished. One elderly great aunt had one made out of first war soldiers puttees, it must have weighed a ton.
You are very brave, I never went topless but I did once crochet a bikini and wear it, wouldnt dare now, too many bulges in the wrong place, I was never that well endowed either, at least it has never sagged, reckon the elderly gentleman was lucky not to have a heart attack.
Annie
|
pam
|
I'm the same as you these days Annie far too much flesh wobbling around!!
When I was engaged (in the late 60's) my hubby to be and I spent many a night pegging a rug for our new home. I will never forget it.
Half moon shaped, white in colour with green ivy leaves on - what a choice to put up to the coal fireplace.
We had lino upstaires and a sheepskin rug at each side of the bed (bought from the Isle Of Man whilst on holiday) to keep our tootsies warm on a cold night (no central heating) Pam
|
Annie
|
I actualy made a woollen hooky rug myself and gave it to Mum, that had white poodles on, that went in front of her coal fire, collected all the ash, when I was young we used to get ice inside the bedrooom windows in winter and lovely patterns made by Jack Frost as my Dad told us. We must have been tough as we survived it, I cant remember the last time I saw real frost patterns on a window, they were very pretty.
For the rag ones you used a much bigger latchet hook with a pointed end, I dont know if you can still get them.
We adopted a pigeon who used to come to that window sill every night for food, later he bought his wife and chicks, eventually they stopped visiting but my brother and sister and I loved them coming. Dad taught us how to entice him gradually. Dad was very good with animals, once our cat came home with wire from a trap round her neck, she had been missing a few days, Dad removed it, she had a bald patch where the wire had cut afterwards, poor thing. It did gradually grow over,
Annie.
|
pam
|
Oh yes I remember the ice patterns inside the windows and the snow hanging from the roof - we used to open the windows to try and dislodge the snow - just to make it fall with a thump below. We survived because we had the old armie coats on our beds to keep us extra warm didn't stop our noses getting cold though. Our outside pipes to the upstairs bathroom used to freeze up as well and I remember dad going up on the ladders and putting hot water on it. We also adopted wold birds which were injured and tried to make them better my two brothers were worse than me for that once had a bat ugghh. My mum drew the line one day when my brother came home from work (he was 16) and had a snake !! Mum made him take it back to where he had found it the following day. Also he had a tame Jackdaw I remember that for sitting on his shoulder and swollowing a blue bottle fly whole and I could here the fly buzzing on its way down the birds throat. Pam
|
Annie
|
Pam we used coats on the bed as well, glad we weren't the only ones, any thing to keep warm, we had army blankets as well, horrible rough things but very warm and heavy.
My Mum drew the line when my brother came home with a newt, a lovely male great crested, she made him take it back. I am actually happy with the palmate newts that have turned up in my pond probably on water weed and the frogs.
I remember one year we had a toad living by the well, he never moved, just stared at us, also a lizard which used to sun itself in the privy wall, I dont think any lizards survive in this area any more. They probably stayed because Dad told us to let them get used to us. Mind you his efforts were somewhat spoiled by our cats hunting habits. I think we accepted it though as part of nature, these days I am pleased to see the odd kingfisher but they were part of the life in the stream where we lived and we saw them every day along with moorhens and coots and the odd duck. We often tried to raise baby birds that had fallen out of nests, never with any luck though as they were probably too badly injured, also kept the odd stickleback in a bowl, they never survived either.
Annie
|
pam
|
You sound like us and I suspect most of the children then. We would go down on the 'Rec' in the school hols with mum for picnics and were happy playing in the river or on the swings. We used to take home frogs spawn and the tadpoles which came later - fill the old pot sink up with water in the wash house and put in what we had caught some lived some didn't. These days when I take the children there I make sure anything we have caught goes back into the river.
We also had the grey blankets on our beds to keep us warm. Do you think the winters are generally warmer nowadays Annie? I know we have double glazing which stops the ice inside windows but we don't get the snow like we used to do we?
We used to mainly walk every where as well. Only my beloved grandad had a car and I have fond memories of helping him when it wasn't running right. I can see him now sat by our large grey oven in the kitchen fag in mouth (he used to blow me circles to entertain me) telling me he had a problem with the car (this was when I was around 15yrs) and would I help as my fingers were smaller than his to get to the bit he needed taking off. Grandad was widowed when my mum was a young girl grandma died shortly after giving birth to their seventh child and grandad brought all the children up alone he was great at making and icing special cakes and he taught me how to make pastry from being quite young bless him I wish he was still around.
It's how people had to manage isn't it - by the eldest children having to help more in the home to keep the family together when one parent was gone, and of course the children went out to work at much younger ages than these days. My mum never did go out to work as she had to stay at home when she left school to look after the younger ones then she married and still stayed at home to look after us. Pam
|
Annie
|
I think most country kids had a similar lifestyle back then, most people were not that well of and life was fairly simple. Sandwiches and a bottle of water for picnics usually.
We used to go miles on our bikes as well, when Mum was working we had to start dinner when we came in from school, mostly seasonal work on the local farms usually based around the hops.
Most of us belonged to Guides or Scouts for the boys, Brownies and Cubs when we were younger and church youth clubs as well. I remember we had to light a fire with only one match. Tuesday a man used to come to the village and show films in the Working Mans Club, we all wnet to those as well. Also went to Old Time and Country Dancing lessons there on a Thursday, I remember The Gay Gordons and The Valeta, The Dashing White Sergeant was another one, they often came up at dances and school parties.
Annie
Annie
|
pam
|
Yes we used to ride our bikes around the village and enjoyed the roller skates - several of us used to make a train by holding on to each others hips and go around the village to the hills we had great fun I remember my skates had ball bearings and steel wheels - boy could I travel not sure how i didn't break any bones actually. Remember the bread paper with a waxy finish? we used that as well as candels to make the slides extra fast to whizz down. Dad showed us how to make our own kites with brown paper and the thin rounded wood and we would spend hours on the back field flying it. The field was also fun for making dens - when the grass had been cut we would do this we would just pile the grass up and round in a large circle so we could hide behind it then make 2 seperate dens and tie knots in bunches of grass - having pretend battles with the 'enemy' in the other camp. Simple - but good fun. Our village centred round the working mens club although we didn't go as children until my 2 brothers were older but dad was a member and so we went on the summer trips and to the christmas parties. Pam
|
Annie
|
Yes we did all those things as well, the school playground always had a huge slide when it was icy and most of the streets, remember the school milk, I can remember one winter when the little bottles all got frozen solid, when I was at infants and primary they used to make us drink it. We had to go out as well whatever the weather at breaks, guess we learnt to run about to keep warm
The Working Mens Club was very much part of village life back then in an old hut like structure, now replaced by a new building just known as the club, I remember the seaside trips and later on theatre trips, there was a local group of men who would always be in the Club but I dont think here they were ever as huge as the northern ones,
Annie
|
pam
|
I agree about the milk bottle tops Annie and remember mum getting in the milk only to find the tops raised up as they were frozen or a hole in one bottle where the birds had pecked to get a drink. We had a shop in our village which gave food etc on the 'tic' Mum had a red book and would send me down there if we ran out of anything the total would be added into the book and would be paid at the end of the week when dad got his wages. I think most people in our village shopped there on 'tic'. There were no super markets then. I took my young brother there on one occassion in his pram. Got back home with the shopping and mum asked 'where's our Andrew?? whoopps I had left him outside the shop! I must have been around 12 then. Pam
|
Annie
|
Leaving your brother is one thin Pam, I have a friend who left her own baby pram and all outside the bakers, he survived though and is grownn up and married these days.
It was the bluetits who used to peck the tops of of milk bottles, they used to drink the cream of the top.I remember that it hit the papers when they suddenly started doing it all over the country. It doesnt happen so often these days for sdome reason, perhaps because not many people have milk delivered any more. Our milkman when I was young had a motorbile with a side car adapted as a milk float.
Tic was part of life back then, the shop keepers knew who they could trust to pay them, some people were denied, when we were out in the wilds our groceries were delivered once a week on a Friday and Mum ordered a week in advance and paid when they were delivered. In those days the rent man called as well, the farmer when we lived in the wilds and the council man when we were rehoused.
Annie
|
pam
|
As a young teenager I worked on a milk round for 3 years. I remember having to stand on the back of the van with its doors open when we got stuck on ice or snow, and on severalt occassions borrowing my 2 younger brothers sledges to pull the milk to parts of the village which was blocked by snow - it was heavy work I can tell you. We used to have a break half way through the morning and have a bacon butty and a warm drink before refilling the van with milk and eggs for the next villages delivery. Tommy the man I worked for/with had a son my age and i remember one day walking through the dairy with a full tray of eggs to put into the van and tommy's son calling my name and throwing something towards me - it had the effect of making me jump - he laughed - but stopped as the full tray of eggs fell to the floor as I jumped! lololool Boy - was he in trouble lolool He is a retired police inspecter these days and although Tommy (his dad has been dead many years his mum is still alive and I still visit her. If John is there we still laugh over his prank which went wrong. lolol Pam
|
Annie
|
It sounds as if you really enjoyed your job, I did a paper round when I was at school, at times here the mist used to be so thick in the morning that you couldn't see more than a few feet, very few people had cars and you could hear bikes going along a few feet away and just make out the lights.
The mist made you soaking wet as well, my brother did an evening paper round and did far better than me, he used to get tips in the pubs especially on a Saturday night, mostly I just got them at Christmas, at one house the dog used to grab the paper as it went through the letter box and I tried hundreds of times to get up the path without him hearing, I only managed it once, when the boy I took over the round from showed it to me he said that if the dog was out at one particular house to just throw the paper on the doorstep and run, it never was though. Not everybody had letter boxes and I had to leave papers in all sorts of strange places,
Annie
|
|
|
|