Topping up the barrel of water in the cellar in case of fire The Queen going to Tilbury Daytrips to Greenwich for the cleaner air Latin prep Going to the Globe Theatre Scurvy Hiding from the press gangs Skating on the Thames Leeches Charlton beating Millwall
Topping up the barrel of water in the cellar in case of fire The Queen going to Tilbury Daytrips to Greenwich for the cleaner air Latin prep Going to the Globe Theatre Scurvy Hiding from the press gangs Skating on the Thames Leeches Charlton beating Millwall
By coincidence I saw an advert for one of those today, in The Dolphin, Hastings. Haven't seen such a thing in years. Thought it was weird back then, perhaps even weirder now.
In metalwork lessons we all made handy gadgets that would push the bar down in the old-fashioned coin slot so you could get free calls. The metalwork teacher knew exactly what we were up to but he didn't care.
I never saw it in action, but I have at home a government issue candle holder. These were issued to all civil servants during the winter of discontent so that they could carry on working when the lights went out. Naked flames in offices that were crammed full of paper. Madness.
The family would stand for the National Anthem before the Monarch’s Christmas Day address to the nation. I can recall listening to a radio broadcast of Charlton games on Christmas Day (we didn’t stand for those).
Does anyone these days admit to enjoying The Rolf Harris show? We certainly did. The very thought.
Drink driving. My dad used to be the worst for it. 10 pints down the football club then drive me home. Then a big campaign come out and the whole attitude changed. Mental cos he was a fireman and always told us stories of a bloke getting decapitated and cutting people out of cars from doing it. Not one to be proud of but it was definitely worse 25-30 years ago.
Going out early in the morning during the summer holidays with a football and a bottle of made up squash with a couple of mates and not coming home until dusk, and parents not giving it a second thought
We had a knife sharpening bloke come round who'd operate from his van - knives, scissors, shears, tools - he was quite popular.
Also the French onion man on his bike.
Gordon, or Mr Kaye as we used to have to call him, used to shop in my shop. In his later years he was, let's just say, difficult. But that's for another thread.
My Dad's car having a bench seat at the front - which was brilliant for a family of three. Then it had something done (new engine?) and for ages we were on a go slow with our 'running in, please pass' sticker in the back.
Carrying the Lino down to Lewisham to break dance, Getting told to get up to change the TV channel for my dad, just BBC1, 2 & 3. Seeing my dad on the kitchen chair after having our first automatic washing machine installed, I'm convinced he sat there and watched the whole programme from start to finish. Loading up games on the spectrum TV going off with the card, what about 11pm? Some others have said taping the charts. Going out on a weekend and just saying to your mum, I'll be back for tea. Crook log under 16's disco. Medicine cupboard consisting of aspirin, disprin, calamine lotion, vic and a benelyn. Vosene shampoo, a bar of soap! Rubber tap attachments to shower your hair Buying 20 B&H and a box of matches for £1.20 and selling 12 for 10p each. Rag and bone man Pools collector Milkman with his big black book Dialling on the old phones with the circular dial Running downstairs in the morning in winter to get into the lounge where my dad had turned on the fire 5 minutes before (the only heater in the house). Getting tortoises as a present (might just be me) One Friday a month having the choice of fish and chips or laterly McDonalds When we eventually got a car it was an old fruit and veg van, me and my sister just sitting on the floor in the back all the way to Cliftonville with the one suitcase we owned (not sure that was legal even then). Freemans catalogue
Comments
50p pocket money/week.
A child’s bus fare costing 2p.
Toasting bread under the grill on top of the stove.
Turning on the b&w TV to watch the test card, waiting for the live cricket to come on, often presented by Peter West.
'Drawing' a fire by lighting it in the grate and sticking a sheet of (broadsheet) newspaper over the open fireplace, to get it going.
Ice on the inside of windows (before the fires were lit).
More recently, the sound of dial up broadband dialling up.
The Queen going to Tilbury
Daytrips to Greenwich for the cleaner air
Latin prep
Going to the Globe Theatre
Scurvy
Hiding from the press gangs
Skating on the Thames
Leeches
Charlton beating Millwall
Free Deidre etc.
However I wouldn't find that weird today and would happily go out and make a purchase if it still happened.
Does anyone these days admit to enjoying The Rolf Harris show? We certainly did. The very thought.
Saturday morning pictures at the Granada, Dartford.
Getting the train to Lewisham to exchange multiple books of Green Shield Stamps for a set of towels.
" Listen with Mother " each afternoon via a large wireless.
Also the French onion man on his bike.
Gordon, or Mr Kaye as we used to have to call him, used to shop in my shop. In his later years he was, let's just say, difficult. But that's for another thread.
Getting told to get up to change the TV channel for my dad, just BBC1, 2 & 3.
Seeing my dad on the kitchen chair after having our first automatic washing machine installed, I'm convinced he sat there and watched the whole programme from start to finish.
Loading up games on the spectrum
TV going off with the card, what about 11pm?
Some others have said taping the charts.
Going out on a weekend and just saying to your mum, I'll be back for tea.
Crook log under 16's disco.
Medicine cupboard consisting of aspirin, disprin, calamine lotion, vic and a benelyn.
Vosene shampoo, a bar of soap!
Rubber tap attachments to shower your hair
Buying 20 B&H and a box of matches for £1.20 and selling 12 for 10p each.
Rag and bone man
Pools collector
Milkman with his big black book
Dialling on the old phones with the circular dial
Running downstairs in the morning in winter to get into the lounge where my dad had turned on the fire 5 minutes before (the only heater in the house).
Getting tortoises as a present (might just be me)
One Friday a month having the choice of fish and chips or laterly McDonalds
When we eventually got a car it was an old fruit and veg van, me and my sister just sitting on the floor in the back all the way to Cliftonville with the one suitcase we owned (not sure that was legal even then).
Freemans catalogue