Saturday, 26 July 2008
Christmas and war
Christmas is always a busy time on the barrow, but I like the hustle and bustle and everyone is happy.
This year was going to be special for me. The figure eight car racing set that I want, is going to be mine after we finish our day. Mum promised I could have it this year, after I cleared up around the barrow. I was eager to set off to the toy shop that sold them. Mum left me outside while she went inside to get it. I saw her talking to the shop assistant and knew there and then, there wouldn't be any car set. It seemed they had sold out.
But then I should have known better. I'd never had a present before, just an apple, orange and a few nuts in a stocking. I don't recall ever getting a Christmas gift or a birthday present either; but I did want that racing set.
When the new year started there was talk of war with Germany. A man by the name of Adolf Hitler was going to conquer the world - not that us kids understood it all. We carried on playing our games, and going to school. Until we heard on the radio that Britain had declared war on Germany.
Everything went fast from then. We had to go and get our gas mask, be shown how to fit it, and told we had to have it with us at all times. It fitted into a cardboard box with a string to hang it around our neck. Next thing our parents had to register for ration books, so things were going to be scarce very soon. Even sweets were rationed!
I can't remember how much we were allowed. All I know is that I gave them up for a long while - I guess I was sweet enough!
Two sweets, I do recall, were Spanish wood and a farthing gob stopper. They lasted for hours.
Next came the air raid drill. If the siren sounded we had to make our way to the cloak room. During the length of the raids we could never work out why it was safer there than anywhere else in the school. Also, if the siren went on our way to school, and if we were nearer home, we were told to go back, so they always sounded nearer home of course! But that was later.
The authorities informed all parents that school children would be evacuated if they wanted to be. This sounded like fun to my brothers and me, so we put our names down on a list to go. Some time later the school sent home notes with instructions for our big adventure.
We had to pack a bag with our clothes, then we were taken to the railway station, and formed groups of each school, until departure time. We all had a label tied to our lapel with our name and address, in case we forgot who we were! We got on the train, I think a bit upset as we had never been away from home before, not even on holiday.
...to be continued
Flip
This year was going to be special for me. The figure eight car racing set that I want, is going to be mine after we finish our day. Mum promised I could have it this year, after I cleared up around the barrow. I was eager to set off to the toy shop that sold them. Mum left me outside while she went inside to get it. I saw her talking to the shop assistant and knew there and then, there wouldn't be any car set. It seemed they had sold out.
But then I should have known better. I'd never had a present before, just an apple, orange and a few nuts in a stocking. I don't recall ever getting a Christmas gift or a birthday present either; but I did want that racing set.
* * * * *
When the new year started there was talk of war with Germany. A man by the name of Adolf Hitler was going to conquer the world - not that us kids understood it all. We carried on playing our games, and going to school. Until we heard on the radio that Britain had declared war on Germany.
Everything went fast from then. We had to go and get our gas mask, be shown how to fit it, and told we had to have it with us at all times. It fitted into a cardboard box with a string to hang it around our neck. Next thing our parents had to register for ration books, so things were going to be scarce very soon. Even sweets were rationed!
I can't remember how much we were allowed. All I know is that I gave them up for a long while - I guess I was sweet enough!
Two sweets, I do recall, were Spanish wood and a farthing gob stopper. They lasted for hours.
Next came the air raid drill. If the siren sounded we had to make our way to the cloak room. During the length of the raids we could never work out why it was safer there than anywhere else in the school. Also, if the siren went on our way to school, and if we were nearer home, we were told to go back, so they always sounded nearer home of course! But that was later.
The authorities informed all parents that school children would be evacuated if they wanted to be. This sounded like fun to my brothers and me, so we put our names down on a list to go. Some time later the school sent home notes with instructions for our big adventure.
We had to pack a bag with our clothes, then we were taken to the railway station, and formed groups of each school, until departure time. We all had a label tied to our lapel with our name and address, in case we forgot who we were! We got on the train, I think a bit upset as we had never been away from home before, not even on holiday.
...to be continued
Flip
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Nicknames
Today I thought I would tell you about my family names we all had for each other and were widely used outside the home too. I must say I can't explain why the names or what they meant. So I will leave it up to you all to ponder.
Grandfather was 'Twinny' and Dad was called 'Goidy'. Then there was Uncle Boo, Uncle Nitna and my aunt was Liggie. Her daughters were Tiggie and Babe. Only one of my brothers had a nickname and he was called Pomp. My grandad's brother's name was Apple!
And my name was Flip. That was the name I used until I left school at age fourteen. Only my teachers addressed me in the correct manner.
Hence, you will notice throughout I will possibly refer to Flip.
Keeping it short today, not sure if anyone is reading this any way but if you are, I thank you.
Flip
Grandfather was 'Twinny' and Dad was called 'Goidy'. Then there was Uncle Boo, Uncle Nitna and my aunt was Liggie. Her daughters were Tiggie and Babe. Only one of my brothers had a nickname and he was called Pomp. My grandad's brother's name was Apple!
And my name was Flip. That was the name I used until I left school at age fourteen. Only my teachers addressed me in the correct manner.
Hence, you will notice throughout I will possibly refer to Flip.
Keeping it short today, not sure if anyone is reading this any way but if you are, I thank you.
Flip
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Way Back When
Back today to continue my ramblings. I'm not sure how this is all going to turn out, but I'm trying.
These were the years of talk of war with Germany but of course us kids didn't really understand so carried on as usual. We rode our home made scooters and billy carts, played up the wall with our cigarette cards, championship conker matches. We tried all ways to harden them to make them last through numerous hits, but all succombed in the end!
We had whipping tops, peg tops, chippers, and of course the inevitable matchsticks down the gutters when it rained - not much traffic in those days so it was quite safe to play on the streets. I once road a horse bare back on the road, could you imagine doing that today?
The canal ran parallel to our street with a bridge across called the Halfpenny Steps (hapeny steps as we used to call them). I was told that was the cost to go across when it was first built, but I can't comfirm this. It was a great meeting place for us kids.
I forgot to mention it was a short dead end street before the bridge with about six houses and also was the entrance to the public baths - two indoor swimming pools, one for females and one for us men no mixing!
I went to St Mary's school, about five minutes from home although I wasn't a catholic. Not sure why this was but then lots of things in my life didn't make sense. I did enjoy my schooldays. Loved the lessons, some of the nuns were very nice but others were a little bit on the angry side.
I always remember the name of the one I had when I first started. Her name was Sister Ansel. Not sure why I remember that name. Must have made an impression on me.
That's all for today. I would like questions if anyone has any, and will answer them if I can,.
Be back soon.
Flip
These were the years of talk of war with Germany but of course us kids didn't really understand so carried on as usual. We rode our home made scooters and billy carts, played up the wall with our cigarette cards, championship conker matches. We tried all ways to harden them to make them last through numerous hits, but all succombed in the end!
We had whipping tops, peg tops, chippers, and of course the inevitable matchsticks down the gutters when it rained - not much traffic in those days so it was quite safe to play on the streets. I once road a horse bare back on the road, could you imagine doing that today?
The canal ran parallel to our street with a bridge across called the Halfpenny Steps (hapeny steps as we used to call them). I was told that was the cost to go across when it was first built, but I can't comfirm this. It was a great meeting place for us kids.
I forgot to mention it was a short dead end street before the bridge with about six houses and also was the entrance to the public baths - two indoor swimming pools, one for females and one for us men no mixing!
I went to St Mary's school, about five minutes from home although I wasn't a catholic. Not sure why this was but then lots of things in my life didn't make sense. I did enjoy my schooldays. Loved the lessons, some of the nuns were very nice but others were a little bit on the angry side.
I always remember the name of the one I had when I first started. Her name was Sister Ansel. Not sure why I remember that name. Must have made an impression on me.
That's all for today. I would like questions if anyone has any, and will answer them if I can,.
Be back soon.
Flip
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Way back when
I'm sorry but just found out about blogging so hope I don't bore too many people. I live in Queensland, Australia in the beautiful city of Caloundra. I originally came from the UK quite some time ago and settled in NSW with my wife and two children but like older people my mind wanders back to days I spent in my childhood.
Some of my earliest memories go back to around my being eight years of age, born to a family of totters and also fruit and veg sellers on Saturdays. It was around that age that I started to work on the barrow so I became, as was known in those days, as a barrow boy (barrer boy). I had to stand and shout to the people as they passed by, trying to sell whatever my father obtained from the Covent Garden markets. Some times carrots or celery and lettuce.
I hated the cold, the icy wind that blew my coat sleeves, which were smooth and shiny where I wiped my nose (I wasn't the only one). But there were other things to make up for it, like the smells of the fresh bread coming from the bakers where you could stand and watch the bread being baked or the butcher's shop where you could buy a piece of pease pudding and faggots. As I recall the taste was out of this world - not sure if I would feel the same today!
Back then the Lyons Corner Tea Rooms where everywhere. The best and cheapest cup of tea around and oh so warm on a cold and snowy day. Dad used to let me have a short break, so I made the most of it with my cup of tea and cheese cake.
Perhaps I started at the wrong place. I should have said where I lived. We had a big old place in North Kensington. Rows of houses and closed up shops, one flight of stairs up to a landing that housed the toilet and the bedroom come kitchen come lounge. I slept in this room with my older sister. We all ate our meals in there and spent the evenings around a small fire place trying to keep out the draughts. My parents had a bedroom one flight up, then a front room that wasn't to be used except on very special occasions but it had to be thoroughly cleaned every week! I had another sister but I can't recall where she slept.
Outside our window was a flat roof that my dad covered in earth and grew tomatoes - I can't remember if it smelled or not. Two doors down was the stable where the horse and cart was kept.
Our horse was called Tom. I loved that horse. I told him all my problems but he always listened without a murmur, no matter how long i kept talking. I had to clean his stall, put all the droppings in a sort of cage. I supposed someone cleared it away but I can't recall.
Dad went to the markets on Fridays and the goods were stored down the stable. No locks or chains - pretty honest those days! Of course celery had to be washed, lettuce trimmed and I remember cleaning and taking yellow leaves off brussels sprouts well into the night. Also I cooked the beetroots. Each batch took four hours in an old copper boiler. Then, when cooked, I had to lay them out in shallow boxes keeping them apart so that they didn't touch and bruise.
Oh my, I have rambled on but then it might be of interest to some. Before closing today, I should tell you I am seventy seven years of age with a grown up family who of course urge me on to use the net, so sorry, blame them! Lol!!
Bye for now...this is just a start.
Flip
Some of my earliest memories go back to around my being eight years of age, born to a family of totters and also fruit and veg sellers on Saturdays. It was around that age that I started to work on the barrow so I became, as was known in those days, as a barrow boy (barrer boy). I had to stand and shout to the people as they passed by, trying to sell whatever my father obtained from the Covent Garden markets. Some times carrots or celery and lettuce.
I hated the cold, the icy wind that blew my coat sleeves, which were smooth and shiny where I wiped my nose (I wasn't the only one). But there were other things to make up for it, like the smells of the fresh bread coming from the bakers where you could stand and watch the bread being baked or the butcher's shop where you could buy a piece of pease pudding and faggots. As I recall the taste was out of this world - not sure if I would feel the same today!
Back then the Lyons Corner Tea Rooms where everywhere. The best and cheapest cup of tea around and oh so warm on a cold and snowy day. Dad used to let me have a short break, so I made the most of it with my cup of tea and cheese cake.
Perhaps I started at the wrong place. I should have said where I lived. We had a big old place in North Kensington. Rows of houses and closed up shops, one flight of stairs up to a landing that housed the toilet and the bedroom come kitchen come lounge. I slept in this room with my older sister. We all ate our meals in there and spent the evenings around a small fire place trying to keep out the draughts. My parents had a bedroom one flight up, then a front room that wasn't to be used except on very special occasions but it had to be thoroughly cleaned every week! I had another sister but I can't recall where she slept.
Outside our window was a flat roof that my dad covered in earth and grew tomatoes - I can't remember if it smelled or not. Two doors down was the stable where the horse and cart was kept.
Our horse was called Tom. I loved that horse. I told him all my problems but he always listened without a murmur, no matter how long i kept talking. I had to clean his stall, put all the droppings in a sort of cage. I supposed someone cleared it away but I can't recall.
Dad went to the markets on Fridays and the goods were stored down the stable. No locks or chains - pretty honest those days! Of course celery had to be washed, lettuce trimmed and I remember cleaning and taking yellow leaves off brussels sprouts well into the night. Also I cooked the beetroots. Each batch took four hours in an old copper boiler. Then, when cooked, I had to lay them out in shallow boxes keeping them apart so that they didn't touch and bruise.
Oh my, I have rambled on but then it might be of interest to some. Before closing today, I should tell you I am seventy seven years of age with a grown up family who of course urge me on to use the net, so sorry, blame them! Lol!!
Bye for now...this is just a start.
Flip
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