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redlig
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Having worked with the elderly before I retired and became one the thing I noticed in the unhappy was the complete lack of 'productive ' hobbies etc . as opposed to watching football etc. I realise that some are physically unable to do activities requiring dexterity or movement but there was a % that could participate but were mentally/emotionally or lack the imagination to engage . I found it almost impossible to encourage these folk to do any thing. I had one success with a wheelchair bound gent who I was able to start on the road to photography. I can remember him saying after a few months that he could become almost invisible to the public in his wheel chair and was able to take some really stunning street photos.Tales of hardship...and some fun
I was born in '47. Think our first TV was in '50? 9" with a big magnifying glass, so 405 and BBC only. Only moved on when BBC2 came out, as parents not interested in ITV. My bro and I converted the old set into an oscilascope..
Rationing still on and that odd concentrated orange juice, along with spoons of malt. Off to school on my fairey cycle (up the A10!) at 6 or 7.
Helped the milkman on his round locally for 6 pence and a bottle of orange.. Rag and Bone man came past. Eye was kept open in case Hercules dropped some rose fertilizer...
As for Concorde, actually worked on bits of the air ducting round the engines, getting the aerodynamics right. Made GRP ducts for tunnel testing, as the HS guys were having trouble with the flow.
When young, we had remarkable freedom. In this day and age, parents would be prosecuted and we taken into care, for some of the stuff we were allowed to do.
Aged 11, I built a little sailing dinghy. I suggested I would sail across Falmouth bay. 'Sounds like a good trip' was the only comment at breakfast, so I did. I did take a life jacket, so that was OK...
As for the comment about most 'over 75s having not much of a life. We, and many of our friends, keep busy. Myself, still bashing out stuff in the W/shop, as people keep turning up with ideas. But, one chooses what is less heavy and not so many jobs as in the past. No restoration of Chateau gates!
Having said that, a couple of rolling gates at 4 & 5 mtr this month. Order book has a couple of months full, so far.
KF
KemppiFrog
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No, used to go down for holidays from Herts, usually during Falmouth week to promote which-ever boat, by racing it. My tiny puddlejumper was carried in the cockpit of the larger boat for the road trip down.
roofman
Purveyor of fine English buckets and mops
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As a kid we used to board the Russian and Chinese cargo ships and they would give us sweets and food that looked like it was from another planet. The chinese still had the Chairman Mao regulation boiler suits that every china man wore back in the 60,s. We would stay on the ships for hours and still as kids had the savvy to only go when there was about 8 of us incase they started fiddling
never ever told our mams
never ever told our mams
James1979
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We used to do that on the Russian bulk carriers that came into the port. They would have Skodas and Ladas on the cargo hatches and sell them to locals.As a kid we used to board the Russian and Chinese cargo ships and they would give us sweets and food that looked like it was from another planet. The chinese still had the Chairman Mao regulation boiler suits that every china man wore back in the 60,s. We would stay on the ships for hours and still as kids had the savvy to only go when there was about 8 of us incase they started fiddling
There was a big Zetor assembly plant in the town so they’d deliver them and take whatever’s back. Theyd bring wood from Russia as well to the timber yards on the docks.
Us ugly kids were always safe
rtcosic
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Yeah, Yeah, yeah...and you walked to school 6 miles thru knee-deep snow and it was uphill both ways.....
Unusual for an American to have lived in Sheffield.
brightspark
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we had lowcox and Jones lemonade i .used to do electrical work at the guys house who owned the factory. a right character
premmington
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We used to do that on the Russian bulk carriers that came into the port. They would have Skodas and Ladas on the cargo hatches and sell them to locals.
There was a big Zetor assembly plant in the town so they’d deliver them and take whatever’s back. Theyd bring wood from Russia as well to the timber yards on the docks.
Us ugly kids were always safe
King's Lynn Zetor tractor plant on northern bypass. Skoda Estelles in mass - for sunroofs and alloy wheels.
Big import of cars - wood out export (surely they had enough wood)!
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We were cold war kids - school trips to view "buckets of sun" at RAF Marham - trips to docks at King's Lynn to see men with AK's on gangplanks to stop sailors defecting from grain ships and cargo ships with tractors and cars on them.
Looking back we were being "brainwashed too" as kids....
brightspark
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did u believe we were the goodies and other countrys were the baddies and we had the best gear
premmington
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did u believe we were the goodies and other countrys were the baddies and we had the best gear
What I believe is - as I get older.
Both sides were being fed the "party line".
Not sure I explaining myself very well here. Sorry I am not that articulate...
octo0072000
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Both sides were being fed the "party line".
all kept in the dark like mushrooms and fed bu==sh=t
all kept in the dark like mushrooms and fed bu==sh=t
ajlelectronics
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I think that you articulated that admirably. You are totally correct of course and I think that it has got worse and worse.
Scalarocco
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Ben Shaws round our way. You got 5p back on the empties.
pedrobedro
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When I used to take empties back you got 3d each for them.
brightspark
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sixpence for us
roofman
Purveyor of fine English buckets and mops
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yep a tanner
premmington
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I too young for "old money" - it came in about 1971. I was born in 1967 - aged four I was not buying my own sweets.
@roofman you make me feel young.
premmington
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