Turning the clock back!!

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Member for

13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

Just been thinking about the weather on another Post, and got to thinking what else has changed since we were younger.
Before the milk float, I had to take a "Billy Can" to the local dairy about half a mile from where we lived, and the Farmers wife used a measure of a Pint, (S*D the ltrs) out of a milk churn.
I am sure you guys can think of many things you used to do, but times change and we now take those same things for granted.
What do you remember?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Original post

Member for

14 years 2 months

Posts: 1,259

How old are you Lincoln? My grandfather after returning from the Great War had a horse and cart milk float and did the round twice a day.

The one thing that is taken for granted now is how forums, twitter, skype and mobile phones allow us to talk to anyone anywhere in the world when it suits us, still pretty amazing as it is only about 15-20 years go there wasn't an internet for the majority.

Member for

13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

Inkworm. Old enough to remember that if you wanted milk, you had to, (Where I lived,in an out of the way village) you had to go and collect it yourself, as the Farmer was only a dairy farmer, and I would only assume it wasn't viable enough to buy, feed, and run a horse, for such a small "Business". B.T.W I am 71 next month.
Also there was a "Greengrocer, and the same applied there, if you wanted Veg, you had to go and buy it direct from his house.Oh, He also sold sugar in blue bags.;)
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

When I was a very young teenager I occasionally helped out on a small dairy farm in scotland (3 daughters :)) - we used to bottle the milk and put the foil caps on with a wee hand machine.
My father worked at the Sugar factory in Cupar,and I used to occasionally get a footplate ride on the 'Pug' which was a wee (saddle ?) tank steam engine.
I remember seeing a formation of Scimitars - all showing shock waves at transonic speed.
I was always out and about,always mad on aircraft and used to cycle miles to look at old airfields etc :)

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Re 1

Nice subject Jim !

Hitch-hiking and camping during the school holidays including a lengthy stay on the beach near a shallow stream of fresh water emptying into the sea at Marazion in Cornwall.

Running out of money, and phoning home to get a few shillings transferred to the local Post Office. In the meantime, raiding local fields for a few turnips and potatoes to boil over an open fire, mash and mix with the remnants of a packet of butter. Manna from Heaven !

Disappearing over the causeway to St. Michael's Mount. Always looking over your shoulder to check the advance of the incoming tide before the causeway was covered. Many times cutting it fine. Hitching 300 miles back to London and experiencing the many kind and hospitable people who unstintingly helped two 14 year old Hucklebury Finn lookalikes.

John Green

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

Helping out at the local farm in the dairy where they would cool it and tasting it fresh from the cow but cooled, then helping them put it in the churns for collection....

Going collecting with my sisters and mum Rosehips and getting paid for it as my primary school did collections, it was then used to make Rosehip syrup.

Semolina and tapioca puddings we got at primary school, never seen these days.

Watching Tom the man from the local farm cutting the grass and hedge at my primary school with a sickle and scythe.

Free school milk we used to get and it being withdrawn and all of us in tears..

Decimilisation and rushing to the shop with my old pocket money ( a threepenny piece a week ) and getting new coins as change, also noticing my sweeties had gone up in price :(

Playing outside with the run of the villages and surrounding fields and river for miles.. Cycling on my bike with my mates and not dressed up like a frontline soldier in Afghanistan, and no fretting parents or worry of perverts.

Army camp beside the village and paying on unattended tanks and the German antitank gun on the gate.. Often getting chased in the process.... But you can't keep a good kid down.

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14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,536

When I was about 8 years old I remember my dad giving me money to buy his tobacco and some sweets from the local corner shop, getting what he wanted AND coming back with the correct change. Or my mum giving me a glass bowl for the ice cream man to fill for a few pounds.

Being allowed to roam the area where I lived and playing with my trucks and cars on the kerbside. Catching bugs in jars or saving a few pounds and popping along to the local model shop for a Matchbox Tiger Tank or maybe an Airfix B25.

Having to walk to school or being dragged around town with my mum for the local shop.

Corrugated Iron everywhere (what happened to all the waste ground and corrugated iron?).

Adventure Playgrounds made of old telegraph poles.

Having only three channels on TV.

Spending all day watching the Grand National on TV and my dad putting a £1 bet on for me.

Member for

13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

@ bazv No5. Nice restoration job baz. I served my apprentiship on steam and later diesels. I have worked on Mallard, Flying Scotsman, and most of the well known ones, when they dropped into New England for repairs etc. I thought that the link would show a saddle tanker as we called them, but that little one was a gem, I have never seen one like that before. Very interesting, and once again, old memories came back.:)
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Member for

14 years 11 months

Posts: 894

Biscuits being displayed in large tins, and the shopkeeper putting the required amount in a paper bag, for us to take home; no fighting your way through three layers of cellophane to get at them.
Buying, from the local grocer, fresh fruit and vegetables, which were already ripe, with none of this "ripen at home" baloney, with which housewives are being conned now.
Having no fridge until I was about 20, and buying foam-rubber covers, which were soaked with water, with which to cover milk bottles, in the (often forlorn) hope that the evaporating water would stop the milk turning sour.
Walking about 50 yards, in all weathers, to use the outside bucket-type toilet, and, when big enough, being given the job of emptying it into the cesspit. Finally, at the age of 25, moving into a house with a flushing toilet.
Buying fireworks, quite openly, at dozens of shops, and having fun with them, without suffering any injury, or causing any damage or disruption to other (adult) lives.
Promising my mother to be home by 8 p.m., then "forgetting," while I sat in a friend's house, watching "War in the Air," on his (black & white) TV.

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

@ bazv No5. Nice restoration job baz. I served my apprentiship on steam and later diesels. I have worked on Mallard, Flying Scotsman, and most of the well known ones, when they dropped into New England for repairs etc. I thought that the link would show a saddle tanker as we called them, but that little one was a gem, I have never seen one like that before. Very interesting, and once again, old memories came back.:)
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Yes Jim - she is not like a usual saddle tank - thats why I put (saddle ?) because I had not seen it since 1965 and was relying on instinctive memory rather than giving it some real thought.
They have done a nice job on her and perhaps I will take a trip up to Brechin and see her...when she was at the sugar factory I do not remember there being much paint on her LOL but she may have just been very dirty.
I remember the driver as a very friendly but red faced man,I was told that this was because of a few 'blowbacks'

rgds baz

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

Having only three channels on TV.

You had TV ?? :eek:

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

Mother ordering a Sunday joint and. It being delivered on Saturday wrapped up in brown paper and string slightly weaping and us looking on in awe.

Fishing for sticklebacks and frogs spawn then raising it in a jam jar.

Ahh Edgar playing with fireworks and making them even bigger, several bangers together etc.... The joining the RAF and finding pyro technique heaven.... But better not mention that.

Christmas Turkey delivered by Cathie Adderson, a family friend of my mothers from her farm, (we used to own one) it was huge as there were 5 of us kids and mum, reminded me of Scrooges one at the end when he got the kid to go buy it.

Member for

13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

bazv, On about T.V. I remember every Friday having to take the accumulator to a radio repair shop, and get a fresh charged one, still remember the price two and six, (Work that out you young uns:p )
Jim.
Lincoln .7

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

12.5p Grandad :)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

Having only three channels on TV.

Bloody luxury. We had one channel (BBC) that started at about 5pm for Childrens' Hour and then went off air from 6 until about 8 so people could have their meal in peace.

B&W, of course.

Moggy

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17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

Yup the whole village had colour before us... Getting up in the morn, rushing to watch the apollo missions before school?

Standing in the playing field at school, feeling the ground shaking, seeing the plum of smoke rising and hearing the rumble of the blue streak and blue steel rocket motors being tested.

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

bazv, On about T.V. I remember every Friday having to take the accumulator to a radio repair shop, and get a fresh charged one, still remember the price two and six, (Work that out you young uns:p )
Jim.
Lincoln .7

1001 ,1001 - cleans a big big carpet for less than half a crown ;):D

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12 years 9 months

Posts: 759

Spent a morning, when I was about 10, in Cosford signal box ( no longer there ) with my friend Graham , his Dad was signalman .My other friend's dad was Station Master at Cosford Halt .

Having, nearly , the whole St. in our married quarters lounge to watch the Coronation on our telly . There was only a couple of tellys in the street , it was 1953 & I was 8.

I remember our TV was made by a company called Peto Scott.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 1,751

old

Who remembers "Zoobs their good for your tubes":D

Member for

19 years 1 month

Posts: 6,043

Here is a pic for you Jim,if I remember correctly - you were a space cadet with 115 at westwood airfield !
Here is a pic of 115 at summer camp (I think Church Fenton 67 or 68)
Our CO was David Pittham (one of the last NS pilots)
Our Adj was 'Buster' Brown (ex Pathfinders airgunner)

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/115sqn101.jpg