What do you remember ?

[giddyup]

Carrying back half a block of ice, balanced on my handlebars, from the ice works, wrapped in a hessian bag for our ice box.

Taking our own pannikin to the shop next door for a pint of milk.

The council night soil truck emptying our sh*t buckets.

Buying skinned rabbits by the pair from the butcher.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I remember that sound from primary school.

The janitor heated some crates before the break. 

We could opt between plain milk and chocolate milk. Obviously, I preferred chocolate milk. 

In Western Australia there was a choice of milk or Coca-Cola at primary school. Probably made a lot of dentists there happy..

[norbra]

Pre WW2 Listening to ABC  radio broadcasts of test cricket commentary from Australia v England Test matches played in UK on a "crystal set" with head phones.

Digging bomb shelters in our back yard garden.

Having sewage connected to replace "night mans"visits.

[The Fugitive]

11 hours ago, The Cobra said:

Lighting it with paraffin block firelighters.

We were more economical. Rolling up newspapers into tubes and tying a knot in them. Place sticks ontop then a few small pieces of coal.

[Prubangboy]

Elvis had an early 45 where he sang, I Forgot To Remember To Forget.

 

But for me, that’s never been a problem.

[SAFETY FIRST]

12 hours ago, The Cobra said:

Dad starting the car with a handle

Crikey, you must be old. 

 

[billythehat]

12 hours ago, The Cobra said:

I find as I am getting older that I often reflect back on how things have changed from when I was a kid. What do you remember ?

Here are some of the things that come to mind, 

 

Dad starting the car with a handle.

Mother fighting with a clothes wringer

Lighting a fire in the living room.

Carrying coal

Lighting it with paraffin block firelighters.

Keeping pigeons as pets

Sunday night bathtime

Test card on TV

Only 2 channels

45, 33 and 78 records

Radiograms

Fruit salad, black-jacks, bronco busters

Coppers had capes that walked the street.

Milk delivered in glass bottles

Phonecall from a box in the street.

Party lines

Pathe News before the A and B movie

Saturday cinema

Saturday job in a Butchers

Sunday was a day of rest and everything was closed.

Playing "kick the can" 

 

 

What do you remember ? Not what you were told about but actually remember from when you were a kid ?

Introduction of drinkable coffee. There was a liquid substitute coffee liquid that came in a bottle (can’t remember the name) that tasted awful.

 

No ‘alternative’ teas. Cocoa powder with hot creamy milk and sugar was a treat.

 

My hardworking mum having 3 jobs. I didn’t personally appreciate the sacrifices she made when we were kids until became an adult with responsibilities.

 

My dad introducing us to curry powder leading to a lifetime addiction to spicy food.

His wardrobe smelling of Old Spice after shave lotion and Brylcreem hair cream. He never used anything else.

 

A constipated Uncle Ron not reading the label on a bottle of Syrup of Figs and chugging the whole bottle down – we laughed like drains for a week after the outcome!

 

Riding old pedal petrol mopeds on the nearby disused railway line (the tracks long removed), again leading to a lifetime of riding motorcycles.

 

Having a paper round, a Saturday job, being a golf caddy and dragging wet coal sacks up the steep hill to where we lived….eeeee it were tuff but seemed quite normal, you just got on with it.

 

Collecting early Marvel comics – probably worth a few shillings now.

 

Living with neighbours that knew it each other and looked out for them. Everyone knew everyone.

 

Yer mates from school and what mischief we got up to.

 

The local chippy that didn’t cost an arm and a leg for a meal. Always a big queue on a Friday and I loved the onion vinegar supplied from the giant glass jar of pickled onions. Never got the gherkins thing though…

 

Collecting old stamps (later stolen by some scumbag) and an interest in astronomy. I remember the wonder of viewing the heavens through a proper telescope.

 

Keeping pets although my dad never liked or wanted a dog in the house.

 

Secondary school teachers with anger management issues, especially after they’d had a few scoops in the pub opposite the school at dinnertime.

 

The kindness of most adults when we were young.

 

Mum taking us to her Bingo club on a Thursday night – no problem for us boys as it meant plenty of crisps and coke all evening!

 

Disco/activity clubs for young lads and lasses to meet up and socialize and then a skateboard race home after.

 

You could buy a packet of 5 Park Drive cigarettes.

 

Party 7 beer cans, Old English Cider, milk stout and packets and packets of real crisps.

 

The one Chinese takeaway in town.

 

Sports day at school.

 

Walking for miles to get somewhere where there was no local transport in town. Never a problem.

 

Visits from the local chimney sweep. He kept champion winning sheep dogs and out-lived his wife and son. He never complained and had many interesting stories of his youth, one of which was riding speedway bikes at the Wimbledon Speedway.

 

Checking out the female babysitters.

 

Having jabs for various diseases.

 

My dad’s sister married a Canadian pilot (she was a WAAF in WW2) and emigrated to Canada after the war. She would send the occasional parcel of a round of extra strong mature Canadian cheese. It was delicious and until this day, I cannot eat mild cheeses.

 

My immediate neighbour was a Scottish man. We understood (my dad’s fault entirely) that his name was Jock and we called him that. Later, we kids discovered his real name was John although he or his wife never corrected us! His mum lived with them and used to feed Hedgehogs in the evening. I haven’t seen one for years now.

 

The trauma of my parent’s divorce and its affect later in life.

 

Searching for crabs amongst the mussel beds under the white chalk cliffs where folk sold cockles, mussels, large crabs and lobsters. Mum liked jellied Ells. Our opinion was that she was welcome to them and no, we didn’t want any!

 

A wee bit later, the importance of education and learning a trade.

 

Having proper seasons; it pretty much always snowed at Christmas and the other seasons followed their course.

 

Watching the first moon landing on an old black and white telly and loved watching Star Trek.

 

Dad always had his radio on somewhere in the house. He used to play piano at the local pub near his air-base during WW2.

 

The one coal fire in the house to huddle around during the cold winter. You could have hung meat for keeping in the other rooms. Going to bed with hot water bottles.

 

And so much more but I’ll leave it there for now. I had an operation yesterday and feeling a bit sore and groggy from the anesthetic this morning.

 

All those moments lost in time…pass me that tissue box would you please?

[CharlieH]

8 minutes ago, billythehat said:

Introduction of drinkable coffee. There was a liquid substitute coffee liquid that came in a bottle (can’t remember the name) that tasted awful.

 

No ‘alternative’ teas. Cocoa powder with hot creamy milk and sugar was a treat.

 

My hardworking mum having 3 jobs. I didn’t personally appreciate the sacrifices she made when we were kids until became an adult with responsibilities.

 

My dad introducing us to curry powder leading to a lifetime addiction to spicy food.

His wardrobe smelling of Old Spice after shave lotion and Brylcreem hair cream. He never used anything else.

 

A constipated Uncle Ron not reading the label on a bottle of Syrup of Figs and chugging the whole bottle down – we laughed like drains for a week after the outcome!

 

Riding old pedal petrol mopeds on the nearby disused railway line (the tracks long removed), again leading to a lifetime of riding motorcycles.

 

Having a paper round, a Saturday job, being a golf caddy and dragging wet coal sacks up the steep hill to where we lived….eeeee it were tuff but seemed quite normal, you just got on with it.

 

Collecting early Marvel comics – probably worth a few shillings now.

 

Living with neighbours that knew it each other and looked out for them. Everyone knew everyone.

 

Yer mates from school and what mischief we got up to.

 

The local chippy that didn’t cost an arm and a leg for a meal. Always a big queue on a Friday and I loved the onion vinegar supplied from the giant glass jar of pickled onions. Never got the gherkins thing though…

 

Collecting old stamps (later stolen by some scumbag) and an interest in astronomy. I remember the wonder of viewing the heavens through a proper telescope.

 

Keeping pets although my dad never liked or wanted a dog in the house.

 

Secondary school teachers with anger management issues, especially after they’d had a few scoops in the pub opposite the school at dinnertime.

 

The kindness of most adults when we were young.

 

Mum taking us to her Bingo club on a Thursday night – no problem for us boys as it meant plenty of crisps and coke all evening!

 

Disco/activity clubs for young lads and lasses to meet up and socialize and then a skateboard race home after.

 

You could buy a packet of 5 Park Drive cigarettes.

 

Party 7 beer cans, Old English Cider, milk stout and packets and packets of real crisps.

 

The one Chinese takeaway in town.

 

Sports day at school.

 

Walking for miles to get somewhere where there was no local transport in town. Never a problem.

 

Visits from the local chimney sweep. He kept champion winning sheep dogs and out-lived his wife and son. He never complained and had many interesting stories of his youth, one of which was riding speedway bikes at the Wimbledon Speedway.

 

Checking out the female babysitters.

 

Having jabs for various diseases.

 

My dad’s sister married a Canadian pilot (she was a WAAF in WW2) and emigrated to Canada after the war.

 

Having proper seasons; it pretty much always snowed at Christmas and the other seasons followed their course.

 

Watching the first moon landing on an old black and white telly and loved watching Star Trek.

 

Dad always had his radio on somewhere in the house. He used to play piano at the local pub near his air-base during WW2.

 

The one coal fire in the house to huddle around during the cold winter. You could have hung meat for keeping in the other rooms. Going to bed with hot water bottles.

 

And so much more but I’ll leave it there for now. I had an operation yesterday and feeling a bit sore and groggy from the anesthetic this morning.

 

All those moments lost in time…pass me that tissue box would you please?

Was that "Camp Coffee " , that was awful stuff, mostly chicory if I remember.

 

[billythehat]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Was that "Camp Coffee " , that was awful stuff, mostly chicory if I remember.

aye, that was it, dosed by the teaspoon to naughty kids!

[SAFETY FIRST]

13 hours ago, The Cobra said:

What do you remember ?

I remember getting picked up by my boss who had a western suburbs Sydney newsagency at 4am weekdays, driving to train station, then walking across the train tracks with my items to sell, newspapers, magazines, chocolate bars and cigarettes and sitting in a small kisosk on a train station. 

At around 8.30am getting picked up and taken to school. 

Edited April 10 by SAFETY FIRST

[sandyf]

No TV only heard about it from those that had been down south, didn't come to north of Scotland till around 1954.

Used to sit around radio and listen to Radio Luxemboug, then send off for free samples.

Today the miniature Mars bars we used to get have been resurrected in multi packs.

[Crossy]

5 hours ago, Rimmer said:

Christmas tree smell once a year in the 'front room'

 

They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
AND EYES full of tinsel and fire

 

 

[brianthainess]

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Yes 

Wonder what happened to the milkmen?

They used arrive at like 530am 

Running from truck 

That was in the days before everyone had a fridge and a car, the milkman, (incidentally they were also the first electric vehicles), also had a cold cabinet on the back, butter, eggs and cream, then supermarkets came along, glass milk bottles gone. 

[Bday Prang]

7 hours ago, proton said:

brylcreame

Fraudulently marketed with promises of the fictional brylcreem "bounce".  But once that slime was plastered onto your hair there was no chance of it bouncing anywhere,  Normally found on the shelf in barbers shops between the condoms and those styptic pencils for shaving cuts

[champers]

21 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Fraudulently marketed with promises of the fictional brylcreem "bounce".  But once that slime was plastered onto your hair there was no chance of it bouncing anywhere,  Normally found on the shelf in barbers shops between the condoms and those styptic pencils for shaving cuts

🎵Put a little dab of Brylcreme on your stairs

And watch your granny bounce.🎵

[Andrew Dwyer]

Buying one of these at the local shop after school, having a race to see who could finish it first, gnawing at it like a beaver and occasionally getting brain freeze !

 

[Bday Prang]

7 hours ago, billythehat said:

aye, that was it, dosed by the teaspoon to naughty kids!

I think it was supposed to be added to a cup of warm water not drunk neat from the bottle, even by the teaspoon full 

[Bday Prang]

3 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Buying one of these at the local shop after school, having a race to see who could finish it first, gnawing at it like a beaver and occasionally getting brain freeze !

 

And stamping on it when empty for the resulting explosive bang if done correctly

[Keeps]

School summer holidays going on for ever

Why Don't You/Banana Splits/Arabian Knights on TV every morning of the school summer holidays

Scrumping

White dog poo (why was that?)

Proper chips cooked in a chip pan

Sunday Roast followed by cold meat and bubble 'n' squeak on a Monday night

Bath on a Sunday night to get rid of the tide mark around your neck

Snapittes (looked like they were in a rizla paper, made a bang when you threw them on the floor)

Ice cream floats

Sweet cigarettes

Toffo's and Texan bar

Holidays at the beach in a caravan or chalet

Pink bubblegum (you could collect the coupons and order a pair of x-ray specs)

Unigate Dairy (watch out, watch out there's a Humphrey about)

 

[quake]

24 minutes ago, Keeps said:

 

White dog poo (why was that?)

 

 

Chalk was added to the mix. 

[quake]

Analog Porn.

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

14 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I remember the milkman arriving every morning clanging the glass bottles and leaving the milk 

 

Do they still have them in any countries nowadays?

I used to do a milk round as a  kid, most have gone  now, maybe the odd  one kicking  about in rural areas.

[Rampant Rabbit]

14 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Yes 

Wonder what happened to the milkmen?

They used arrive at like 530am 

Running from truck 

and later hanging onto the back of the milk float on my  pushbike to pull me up the steep  hill to school

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 hour ago, Keeps said:

School summer holidays going on for ever

Why Don't You/Banana Splits/Arabian Knights on TV every morning of the school summer holidays

Scrumping

White dog poo (why was that?)

Proper chips cooked in a chip pan

Sunday Roast followed by cold meat and bubble 'n' squeak on a Monday night

Bath on a Sunday night to get rid of the tide mark around your neck

Snapittes (looked like they were in a rizla paper, made a bang when you threw them on the floor)

Ice cream floats

Sweet cigarettes

Toffo's and Texan bar

Holidays at the beach in a caravan or chalet

Pink bubblegum (you could collect the coupons and order a pair of x-ray specs)

Unigate Dairy (watch out, watch out there's a Humphrey about)

 

aztec bars

[Rampant Rabbit]

used to have something called "pink with a wink"  I  think its  may have been Nesquik.

Also personally  I was  called  "Beatle" from birth as Mother named me after Paul Mccartney born 63.

Free  milk in a  mini bottle  at school, the cane at school, Bazooka  Joe  bubblegum, Supa Scuda skateboard 1974-5 the craze came in from America mid 70's, Battling  Tops  board  game  below...... Number 11  Bus  Birmingham ,open at the rear, run and jump on step off whilst still moving, they were freezing  cold, Science  Museum  all free  now a rip off, Austin 1100's, later "space  dust"

 

 

[sipi]

Watching president Lincoln get assassinated on live tv.

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 hours ago, Keeps said:

White dog poo (why was that?)

Poodles

[Rampant Rabbit]

Just now, sipi said:

Watching president Lincoln get assassinated on live tv.

Not  on your  phone then??

[The Old Bull]

We had a steel contraption in the front room called a "Morrison Shelter". I remember waking up in it a couple of times.

[Hummin]

I start working and made my own money 6 years old. 

 

Picking stones from my fathers farm fields in the spring was my first paid work, picking potatos, selling flowers, christmas trees, fruit, berries, later had my own field I had to care for, painting jobs, 

 

Best memory going fishing with moms uncle, he teached me about the forrest and fishing. 

 

When I grew up, there was no excuses, and a boy had to learn to become a man.