50 years of driving
Discussion
silverfoxcc said:
Steffan and Hasbeen.
Yes i think we were very lucky in growing up when we did, and seeing the new marvels, jet travel, colour TV, pirate radio, easy transport for the 'teens' scooters and motoring,The space age with sputniks and men reaching the moon, which 15yrs earlier was stuff of Dan Dare and Buck Rogers, and later when we are still 'young enough' to appreciate them, Satellite TV, computers reducing in size,apparently the Moon lander had less computing power than the first Sinclair ZX80 which was IIRC 16kb?, t'internet, again, look at the first series of Star Trek and even Hitchhikers guide, and wasnt the Ipad thought of before its time? The emancipation of youth, where a bonus wasnt a measure of doing your job correctly, just doing your job correctly WAS the incentive.but on the plus side, you could leave one job on Friday nd start another Monday Geez Civil Servants getting bonuses. Not heard of at all.
The only other time i can think of where so much was avanced in such a short timescale would be 1890-1920, with flying, motoring, electricity coming to the fore and radio and TV in its infancy.
But what has changed is the attitude towards the world and people in general, there is a lack of respect that is rife, every tom dick and Harry can quote the last minutia? of their 'uman rights, but know tiddly squat of their Human responsibilities. Were we money driven like today, were we in a race to have something bigger and better than the next bloke? where being famous is being on a talent show, Yet with only two tv channels and no pop music radio, except luxembourg in the evening that appeared to fade as the tide went in and out, we were never lost for something to do.But today they roam the streets like feral packs, claiming 'no one does nothing for us'. Well it was the same with us, but we went out and found something to do, mainly because we had to. you dont see kids plating run outs, hopscotch, bulldog, hide and seek etc, today, mainly because the elfansafty nutcases deem it dangerous. I cannot remember wholesale deaths of children from falling out of trees, mass drownings when swimming in the local river,because we were brought up to respect danger, and if someone did break an arm or leg, it was learnt and never forgotten. it was our fault, we didnt look to blame someone els, It is the Nanny state over the years, say from the early 70's that has got us where we are today.Where being on benefits was looked upon asthe last resort, as opposed to it being one of the growh 'employment' industries today. Despite the amount of entertainment that is about, the art of doing something for yourself is slowly dying, except where violence,and destruction is involved, yes that existed in my early years ,but you knew that if you were caught, a clip round the ear by the local bobby, was also followed up by a thump from your Dad
Now i havent any regrets about my time here, just think myself lucky to have been part of it, would i do it again..Yes i bloody well would, everyday was a new learning experience. Not a rant bemoaning today, nor a rose coloured look back. I expect today children wll have similar memories, but in a different way.
I can only agree with your comments. IMO the English shire towns are still largely as they were 50 years ago a bit bigger but still identifiable as the same centres of population as they were. Towns like Leominster, Ledbury, Pershore, Bridgenorth, Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, and hundreds of others are very largely as I still remember them from 50 years ago. Midlands towns as examples because I am a Midlander. But equally true of Stamford, Huntingdon, and indeed places like Bovey Tracy, Tiverton, Sidmouth and so on. Yes i think we were very lucky in growing up when we did, and seeing the new marvels, jet travel, colour TV, pirate radio, easy transport for the 'teens' scooters and motoring,The space age with sputniks and men reaching the moon, which 15yrs earlier was stuff of Dan Dare and Buck Rogers, and later when we are still 'young enough' to appreciate them, Satellite TV, computers reducing in size,apparently the Moon lander had less computing power than the first Sinclair ZX80 which was IIRC 16kb?, t'internet, again, look at the first series of Star Trek and even Hitchhikers guide, and wasnt the Ipad thought of before its time? The emancipation of youth, where a bonus wasnt a measure of doing your job correctly, just doing your job correctly WAS the incentive.but on the plus side, you could leave one job on Friday nd start another Monday Geez Civil Servants getting bonuses. Not heard of at all.
The only other time i can think of where so much was avanced in such a short timescale would be 1890-1920, with flying, motoring, electricity coming to the fore and radio and TV in its infancy.
But what has changed is the attitude towards the world and people in general, there is a lack of respect that is rife, every tom dick and Harry can quote the last minutia? of their 'uman rights, but know tiddly squat of their Human responsibilities. Were we money driven like today, were we in a race to have something bigger and better than the next bloke? where being famous is being on a talent show, Yet with only two tv channels and no pop music radio, except luxembourg in the evening that appeared to fade as the tide went in and out, we were never lost for something to do.But today they roam the streets like feral packs, claiming 'no one does nothing for us'. Well it was the same with us, but we went out and found something to do, mainly because we had to. you dont see kids plating run outs, hopscotch, bulldog, hide and seek etc, today, mainly because the elfansafty nutcases deem it dangerous. I cannot remember wholesale deaths of children from falling out of trees, mass drownings when swimming in the local river,because we were brought up to respect danger, and if someone did break an arm or leg, it was learnt and never forgotten. it was our fault, we didnt look to blame someone els, It is the Nanny state over the years, say from the early 70's that has got us where we are today.Where being on benefits was looked upon asthe last resort, as opposed to it being one of the growh 'employment' industries today. Despite the amount of entertainment that is about, the art of doing something for yourself is slowly dying, except where violence,and destruction is involved, yes that existed in my early years ,but you knew that if you were caught, a clip round the ear by the local bobby, was also followed up by a thump from your Dad
Now i havent any regrets about my time here, just think myself lucky to have been part of it, would i do it again..Yes i bloody well would, everyday was a new learning experience. Not a rant bemoaning today, nor a rose coloured look back. I expect today children wll have similar memories, but in a different way.
Problems in the UK are largely confined to the big industrial centres of population IMO with far greater trouble thereabouts. Manchester London Liverpool and so on. Massive faceless characterless council estates breed ferral rats that know nothing except what they want and what they need and what they are entitled to. And they know absolutely everything about their rights, as you suggest. Responsibilities sadly do not exist for these sad specimens. That is undoubtedly the biggest downside of our welfare system. Personal responsibility is no longer valued. Being idle by choice has become far too attractive.
One feature of modern life that is improved is the accessibility of living and working elsewhere and I do think that cheap air travel and the general acceptance of emigration as a respectable move in life has made working and living abroad very much easier. I spend at least six month abroad every year and I feel better for it. Perhaps that is a sign of the future.
Edited by Steffan on Sunday 16th February 19:42
Congratulations silverfox on the 50 years of driving.
I'm just over half way there
Passed my test at 17, 27 years ago.
I've owned 50+ cars (now stopped counting) in those years.
No accidents; no parking fines; I've had one SP30 speeding fine (exceeding 30mph) in 1987 (just after passing my test) my boss asked me to go "as fast as I could" in the works Marina van)!
I'm just over half way there
Passed my test at 17, 27 years ago.
I've owned 50+ cars (now stopped counting) in those years.
No accidents; no parking fines; I've had one SP30 speeding fine (exceeding 30mph) in 1987 (just after passing my test) my boss asked me to go "as fast as I could" in the works Marina van)!
Yes, another Congrats on 50 years driving.
Bike Licence from 1976 then car 77.
So only 38 & 37 years for me.
Just scanned the brain cells and came up with 23 cars, and 11 motorbikes and 2 wives!
One £5 fine (bike 1978)
One 4 point speeding (bike 1998)
One write-off car (nice chap in Volvo ran into me).
My time was mostly in 70s the Disco era, Sweeny and Professionals on TV were MUST watch!
Flared trousers and cheese-cloth shirts!
Bike Licence from 1976 then car 77.
So only 38 & 37 years for me.
Just scanned the brain cells and came up with 23 cars, and 11 motorbikes and 2 wives!
One £5 fine (bike 1978)
One 4 point speeding (bike 1998)
One write-off car (nice chap in Volvo ran into me).
My time was mostly in 70s the Disco era, Sweeny and Professionals on TV were MUST watch!
Flared trousers and cheese-cloth shirts!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff