The way we were
Discussion
This is a thread that I think some older PHs will chime with:
I know we can get all starry eyed about the 'good old days' but I was thinking today that there are some experiences of being brought up on the average council estae in this country in the 1950/60's that I would rather not relive. It was like living in Kes. As cossetted and privilidged as most of todays kids are, and I am the first to point that out to their parents and them, I was wondering iof there are bits of the old days we are well rid of?
I remember having mounds of blankets on the bed because there was no central heating or double glazing, so many blankets it was hard to get in and out and you were still frozen all night. Then huddling around a tiny fire to get warm before walking some vast distance to school. Bus was allowed when it was really hammering it down (2p).
Everyone wore hand-me-downs, often ill fitting and always shabby. Some kids wore wellies to school because they had no proper shoes.
I remember coming in so cold that putting my hands near the fire was incredibly painful and wearing socks on my hands instead of gloves to play out, and wearing my sisters pants instead of swimming trunks (thats where the cross dressing must have started).
I remember the indignity of free school meals, and having to shout out 'free' as the teacher called your name and then having different coloured diner tickets for free meals than paid ones.
Bloody dentists. I have a mouth full of metal. Not sure why they never gave treatment except extractions.
Getting injured was a nightmare. Nobody on our estate had a car or a telephone, or any first aid except that blue bag for wasp stings and indian brandee for everything else.. I can remember falling off a fence and splitting my forehaed and going to school with black electricans tape holding the wound shut. Oddly I now have a bloody great scar to show for it.
And the most disturbing, that some of those kids we teased for being smelly, dirty or just oddly behaved later turned out to be being abused by their parents because nobody could recognise or report the signs. It was only recently that they were convicted for doing the same to the grandkids.
Sod the good old days I say. Problem is some kids in this country still live like that.
I know we can get all starry eyed about the 'good old days' but I was thinking today that there are some experiences of being brought up on the average council estae in this country in the 1950/60's that I would rather not relive. It was like living in Kes. As cossetted and privilidged as most of todays kids are, and I am the first to point that out to their parents and them, I was wondering iof there are bits of the old days we are well rid of?
I remember having mounds of blankets on the bed because there was no central heating or double glazing, so many blankets it was hard to get in and out and you were still frozen all night. Then huddling around a tiny fire to get warm before walking some vast distance to school. Bus was allowed when it was really hammering it down (2p).
Everyone wore hand-me-downs, often ill fitting and always shabby. Some kids wore wellies to school because they had no proper shoes.
I remember coming in so cold that putting my hands near the fire was incredibly painful and wearing socks on my hands instead of gloves to play out, and wearing my sisters pants instead of swimming trunks (thats where the cross dressing must have started).
I remember the indignity of free school meals, and having to shout out 'free' as the teacher called your name and then having different coloured diner tickets for free meals than paid ones.
Bloody dentists. I have a mouth full of metal. Not sure why they never gave treatment except extractions.
Getting injured was a nightmare. Nobody on our estate had a car or a telephone, or any first aid except that blue bag for wasp stings and indian brandee for everything else.. I can remember falling off a fence and splitting my forehaed and going to school with black electricans tape holding the wound shut. Oddly I now have a bloody great scar to show for it.
And the most disturbing, that some of those kids we teased for being smelly, dirty or just oddly behaved later turned out to be being abused by their parents because nobody could recognise or report the signs. It was only recently that they were convicted for doing the same to the grandkids.
Sod the good old days I say. Problem is some kids in this country still live like that.
if only we didn't have to legislate for the lowest common denominator...:wistful: 
regulation technology and a degree of enlightenment has put paid to what you describe but sometimes I really wish that we could regulate ourselves without the need to worry that for example if it isn't law to not beat the shit out of your children someone will actually do it thus making it necessary to have legislation that spells it out so clearly one isn't even allowed to chastise ones child in any way..
regulation technology and a degree of enlightenment has put paid to what you describe but sometimes I really wish that we could regulate ourselves without the need to worry that for example if it isn't law to not beat the shit out of your children someone will actually do it thus making it necessary to have legislation that spells it out so clearly one isn't even allowed to chastise ones child in any way..
minimax said:
if only we didn't have to legislate for the lowest common denominator...:wistful:
regulation technology and a degree of enlightenment has put paid to what you describe but sometimes I really wish that we could regulate ourselves without the need to worry that for example if it isn't law to not beat the shit out of your children someone will actually do it thus making it necessary to have legislation that spells it out so clearly one isn't even allowed to chastise ones child in any way..
Not sure I agree with you entirely. The kind of person who will batter their kids is hardly going to be put off by a law saying don't.
What happens is you get a creeping legislation, whereby more and more things become illegal or tightly controlled so that you end up having to check that you're breathing in the right way lest you get a fixed penalty notice or an ASBO. Unfortunately the current government are well into this process.
In my opinion, the government should be there to govern not rule. I want to be able to live my life without some busybody poking his nose in and telling me that what i'm doing is not in this weeks list of approved activities.
There are many things about the old days that was bad, and coming from the area where Kes was filmed it was just like that. My dad had 14 siblings and breakfast was just bread, no support from the state, the eldest went to work and tipped up until they wed and moved on. So without the monty python bit it was hard, and all the bits that others have mentioned. But having said that there are things that were good which I do miss, civility and respect for your elders and everyone else, respect for authority, self betterment, a sense of community. I visited home recently and went into the local park in Denaby, this used to be beautifully kept with the war memorial at the end, now it is covered in broken glass unkempt with the memorial with graffiti and damage. How can this have happened, it didn't when people had nothing, so why now when even the workshy have everything? Perhaps we have lost the precious things that an era had and replace with things of little true value.
Yup loads of blankets, none of these fangled quilt things. with feather pillows so sneezing all night long, So flicking cold just had to cling onto the hot water bottle to keep warm. Mum used to put on the gas cooker and open the door to heat up the kitchen as the coal fire always had a habit of getting warm just before bed time. Yes we used to walk to school in them days as dad would not take us even if chucking it down with rain.
I never had hand-me-downs but stuff used to come from the jumble sales. At christmas someone elses name was crossed out in a book and my name put in its place.
Hands used to BURN after coming in from the cold and you used to choke on the soot from the coal fire.
Err..... cross dressing
No. Not that one.
Always used to be pointed out in the free school meal queue as we were not the rich elite kids who had it all. You know new bike, new computer (BBC - rich gits). etc.
Bloody dentists - I agree, it was the school butcher that put me off for many years.
Getting injured was a nightmare. First aid consisted of 'Is that all! Your'll get over it!'
But tell you what. I had a fantastic childhood! I appricated what I had (which was not a sight).
I remember playing out till late, chasing butterflies, building huge long go-carts, building bikes and having a hell of time!
I just think its a shame in the age for childrens life to be marred by drugs and the fear of the 'pervert on every street corner' syndrome.
I never had hand-me-downs but stuff used to come from the jumble sales. At christmas someone elses name was crossed out in a book and my name put in its place.
Hands used to BURN after coming in from the cold and you used to choke on the soot from the coal fire.
Err..... cross dressing
No. Not that one. Always used to be pointed out in the free school meal queue as we were not the rich elite kids who had it all. You know new bike, new computer (BBC - rich gits). etc.
Bloody dentists - I agree, it was the school butcher that put me off for many years.
Getting injured was a nightmare. First aid consisted of 'Is that all! Your'll get over it!'
But tell you what. I had a fantastic childhood! I appricated what I had (which was not a sight).
I remember playing out till late, chasing butterflies, building huge long go-carts, building bikes and having a hell of time!
I just think its a shame in the age for childrens life to be marred by drugs and the fear of the 'pervert on every street corner' syndrome.
When I went to play out, my parents told me to beware of the Bogey Man who used to take children away.....
We had no idea who the Bogey Man was, but we had great fun going up to strangers and asking them if they were the Bogey Man.....
On a different note, the Bin Men (Domestic Recycling Consultants?) used to let us press the button on the back of the wagon and then would give us a ride in the cab up and down the estate whilst they emptied the bins. None of that H&S nonsense.
My Dad was a GP, so we had central heating, plenty of Spam to eat and nice new Snorkel jackets.
Father Christmas brought me an Etch-a-Sketch one year. How cool was that?
Well, it was a bit more cool than the Farah flares and tank tops, that's for sure.
Mum drove a Mk1 Ford Granada, and we were so proud 'cos it had a fold down centre armrest in the middle of the back seat.
Halcyon days, but life is far better now.
Pat
We had no idea who the Bogey Man was, but we had great fun going up to strangers and asking them if they were the Bogey Man.....
On a different note, the Bin Men (Domestic Recycling Consultants?) used to let us press the button on the back of the wagon and then would give us a ride in the cab up and down the estate whilst they emptied the bins. None of that H&S nonsense.
My Dad was a GP, so we had central heating, plenty of Spam to eat and nice new Snorkel jackets.
Father Christmas brought me an Etch-a-Sketch one year. How cool was that?
Well, it was a bit more cool than the Farah flares and tank tops, that's for sure.
Mum drove a Mk1 Ford Granada, and we were so proud 'cos it had a fold down centre armrest in the middle of the back seat.
Halcyon days, but life is far better now.
Pat
I was a fairly lucky as kid in the 80's by comparison, however I do remember the occasional less appealing moments...
Waking up in the morning on a school day during winter, with icy single pain windows and a freezing stiff white shirt to put on. Then I had to walk a couple of miles to school in the snow alone, wearing summer uniform shorts! This is because I wrecked three new trousers in two weeks of playground antics and my Mum thought I should be punished. I was the first to arrive in the playground and spent an hour cracking all the icy puddles with my heel. Funnily enough all the misery was quickly forgotten with the joy of the icy puddle smashing.
Waking up in the morning on a school day during winter, with icy single pain windows and a freezing stiff white shirt to put on. Then I had to walk a couple of miles to school in the snow alone, wearing summer uniform shorts! This is because I wrecked three new trousers in two weeks of playground antics and my Mum thought I should be punished. I was the first to arrive in the playground and spent an hour cracking all the icy puddles with my heel. Funnily enough all the misery was quickly forgotten with the joy of the icy puddle smashing.
PatHeald said:
Mum drove a Mk1 Ford Granada, and we were so proud 'cos it had a fold down centre armrest in the middle of the back seat. Pat
Did it have those plastic seats that took the skin off your legs in summer?
I can remember my dad bringing the works van home one weekend so we could all go apple picking. We kids travelled sitting on rolls of fibre glass in the back. Ouch!
shirepro said:
I remember having mounds of blankets on the bed because there was no central heating or double glazing, so many blankets it was hard to get in and out and you were still frozen all night.
Mounds of blankets
we had old Army Greatcoats on the bed. The bedroom windows froze up on the inside in the winter, went out first thing in the morning and never came home till evening and no one worried about us. Ah yes the joys of childhood.I was born 65(so not that old)but our house was unheated etc,lots of blankets kept my jeans in the bed with me to keep them warm.One winter my window had broken and not having enough money to fix it we put a plastic sheet over it.Oh the noise it made when the wind blew,but this winter the snow came.The morning after the snow storm I woke to find 3 inches of snow all over my bed and room,but I was under so many blankets I hadn't noticed.Kids of today don't know they're born.I still haven't got a central heated house so the kids know a little of hardship come winter.Oh forgot when young we also had a outside toilet and didn't have an inside one with bath until I was 14 and this is down south(kent)where all the money is!!!!
The worst part was having to unzip it again...
4WD said:
I was a fairly lucky as kid in the 80's by comparison, however I do remember the occasional less appealing moments...
Waking up in the morning on a school day during winter, with icy single pain windows and a freezing stiff white shirt to put on. Then I had to walk a couple of miles to school in the snow alone, wearing summer uniform shorts! This is because I wrecked three new trousers in two weeks of playground antics and my Mum thought I should be punished. I was the first to arrive in the playground and spent an hour cracking all the icy puddles with my heel. Funnily enough all the misery was quickly forgotten with the joy of the icy puddle smashing.
Cor, that takes me back to my life as a kid too in the 80's:
Anyone remember sliding in the playground on the frozen ice - hilarious as someone would ALWAYS slip over and crack their head...!
And don't get me started on Dens. Why the hell don't kids want to do this - I'd still do it now goven the chance and I'm nearly thirty!
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