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