A Trip Down Memory Lane

Yesterday I was asked – “What was your favourite Christmas present when you were younger” and it got me thinking. It’s scary how times have changed and how “old” I feel looking back at them all.

Those of you around the 50 years mark will appreciate what I mean – those of you who are a lot younger wont have a clue on some on the things that I am about to share – but its fun looking back at some of the things that were very much the “in thing” to have back in the 1960′s.

I had a happy childhood, we only got presents on a Birthday and at Christmas – and anything that I did get I looked after and had for many years. So everything I did get was very special.

My earliest memories as a baby was when I was about 6 months old – I can vividly remember sitting up in my pram – on my aunties balcony looking out at the children playing. That is the one and only early memory that I have.

A baby would be in the pram up till about 18 months old - today babies are running around at 12 months.

Inside the pram it would have a wooden bottom that was in two parts – these could be removed so items could be stores underneath.

Let me share some of the things that I had back in the 1960′s.

My favourite Christmas / Birthday presents – here is a few of them.

THE TRESSY DOLL

                                 

The Tressy doll was the modern-day “Barbie” she had hair that grew out the top of her head – and at the back of the doll you would “wind” the hair back in again to make her hair short – she certainly was the ‘toy’ to have – I was very lucky to have one and the envy of all my friends. She really was “the” doll to have.

Then there was the Sindy doll – girls would either love the Tressy or the Sindy - mine was the Tressy.

We were only of the lucky ones. We had a telly – it was black and white until I was about 12 years of age.

TV in those days was very limited. Only on for a certain time of the day – and never passed about 11.00 at night.

My favourite programmes when I was little were something called Watch with Mother.

 

Watch with mother was on every lunchtime

and was very popular with the little ones.

 

 

Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men and Little Weed – remember them?

 

 

Andy Pandy

 

 

 

Muffin the Mule

 

 

 

 

 

and The Woodentops – I remember that being shown on a Friday. I LOVED spot the dog – he was always naughty.

 

 

One of my favourite comics was the

I loved reading comics – would always get one every saturday morning.

 

 

 

 

I wasnt really keen on reading books – except for Enid Blyton – I had over 150 of herbooks and lost count of the number of times I read and re read them all.

Some of my favourites were

            

I would go swimming on a Saturday morning – walk into town and buy the latest Enid Blyton book – it used to cost me 2 shillings and 6 pence to buy a book. I would more than likely read the whole book by the end of the day.

Then for my 10th Christmas I got a much wanted Tiny Tears doll. Yes 10 years of age I was still playing with dolls. Tiny tears was a doll that you feed water to through her mouth and squeezed her tummy to make her cry. there are a lot more of similar dolls on the market.

I think my tiny years cost a couple of pounds at the time. I think the dolls are far more prettier these days – this one looks a bit scary doesn’t she.

I loved that doll and she was very special to me.

 

Then came the roller skates. Just take a look at these!!!

I really was the bee knees with these on my feet!

Now I think they look like something out of a museum

 

 

Then came the big one – my first ever bike

I used to go off for hours at a time on my bike. I cycles on the roads, no helmet and went off to the local park for hours on end - no mobile phones – just told when to be home for dinner.

 

 

My dad loved his music – and loved musical films. My very first film was Mary Poppins. By the time I was 12 years old I had been to see the Sound of Music 7 times. That film always reminds me of happy times spent with my dad. If it was today I think my dad would have had every Apple product going – he certainly loved his music and gadgets.

 

Here is his first “tape deck”.

Now this REALLY was very posh at the time.

 

 

 

 

The first real takeaway was the good old

It really was a treat for us to go to the Wimpy Bar. I remember the cola floats – ice cream in a cola drink.

It was at Wimpy that I had my first ever Knickerbocker glory.

 

 

and sweets – like all children I loved sweets

These came in different flavours – they were a square sweet with a hole in the middle.

 

 

Sweet Cigarettes – now they are called candy sticks. As children we would go around with them making out we were smoking  – there would be an uproar if that happened now.

 

 

I loved the corner shop – he had jars and jars of sweets. He would let us have 2 ozs of each and we would spend ages choosing which ones to have.

These sweet shops are making a come back now.

Hope you have enjoyed my trip down Memory Lane – how many of the above can you remember?

A Walk in the Park

My granddaughter came for a sleepover last night.

We were happily have a nice sleep when copper came in and woke us both us with a great big lick on our face!

He was so excited to see here here this morning – he loves having her here.

So, after playing card, having breakfast, drawing and watching a bit of telly she was getting bored around 11.00 so off to the park we went.

We arrived and were the only two there. The weather has been cold lately and very wet but we were so lucky as the sun came out and it was really warm.

She enjoyed having the park to herself

I was surprised that more children were not at the park – after all it was pretty nice by this point. She even took her top off she got so warm running around.

It was lovely and peaceful while we were there

It is a lovely position for a park, they have a closed off area with all the equipment, a picnic area and a place for children to Rollerblade and there are some beautiful views too – just a shame we don’t get the weather to really enjoy it and use it more often.

The views are breathtaking in the background – the picture does not do it justice

After about an hour in the park we got into the car just as the heavens opened and the hailstones came down.

Then we went off for a girlie lunch.

We had a lovely day.

 

The Passport

Do you ever watch the Airport programmes? The ones where you see people arriving late, their passports out of date – and even not arriving with their passports at all.

Yes, hands up I am one of those that criticise and moan at how stupid these people can be. Who on earth does not check that they have their passport before leaving the house!

Well hands up I am “one” of those people and I can’t believe that I did it and the implications that it could have had.

Last month we got the awful telephone call that my dad had suffered two massive heart attacks and we had to get over to the UK ASAP.

It happened to be the only day this year so far that Heathrow Airport was closed due to snow – it took us several hours to find a flight that eventually was going into Heathrow.  We monitored the internet closely hoping and praying that they would not cancel the flight.

My daughter and I threw our stuff into hand luggage as we did not want to have to wait in arrivals for a suitcase – we needed to get off the plane and through as quickly as possible.

Time was not on our side.

We arrived at the airport. We went up to the desk and handed over our passports.  The flight was full due to all the cancellations and delays that day.

The check in clerk asked if we wanted to put our hand luggage into the hold. He could see we were obviously upset and we explained that we needed to get off the flight quickly and explained the circumstances – the lovely clerk booked us in the first row of seats on the plane – explaining although we had our seats we needed to get on the flight first as we needed to have our hand luggage directly over – otherwise it could be half way up the aircraft which would hold us back when getting off the flight.

We thanked him and went through into departures going through all the various checks that you do.

Once through we spoke to one of the stewardesses checking the tickets and she said that she would board us first.

We sat down – we went to put our boarding cards with our passports and then it dawned on us – I did not have MY passport – I had my husband’s passport instead.  I had picked his one up in the panic – but my passport had a pink cover and here I was holding his in my hand with a black cover on it.  And believe you me his picture is nothing like mine!

We went cold – what would happen next? Would they refuse us to get on the flight? How on earth did we get through the check in? Did he miss it due to us being upset – or did he realise and let us through – I don’t know but as you can imagine we were just numb.

Then I realised that I did actually have id in my purse – when we normally go away I always bring a “special” purse – I only carry cash and one credit card – and if I happen to lose it then it’s not such a bit deal – but of course in the rush I just packed my normal purse so I did have some form of ID with me.

Luckily the airline we were flying with would have accepted another form of ID – unlike another aircraft would have done.

We got called to board – we were only asked for our boarding card and thankfully boarded the aircraft.

So, in future I will be a little bit more sympathetic when I see such stories on the telly.

Do they celebrate Mothers Day in Heaven?

My Mum

I wonder if they celebrate Mothers day in Heaven. I would like to think so.

I often think of the little children that have lost their mum and how hard it must be for them seeing others celebrating, it must be difficult for that at school when the others are planning special days and making presents and for us older ones that miss our mum and best friend.

Sadly my mum died 10 years ago – and I still miss her. There are things that you will only ask or tell your mum. I miss the chats that we used to have together.

Memories of growing up in our house were happy ones – I had respect for my mum and dad and I never gave them any concerns to worry about me. I like to think that I was a model daughter.

She used to love a game of bingo and I would go along with her on several occasions. She could be pretty lucky too and won a few quid.

My mum took ill just over 30 years ago – after many tests they discovered that she had Crohn’s disease which she was quite poorly with.

The disease got that she couldn’t really go out in fear that she would need the toilet. And she lost so much weight that she had trouble getting clothes to fit her – she had to shop in the children’s departments – she used to laugh as she said that she didn’t have to pay tax on children’s clothes.

She was the first one there when she found out that my 1^st marriage had gone wrong – I had tried for so long to keep it from her – you never want to hurt the ones you love and I knew she would “hurt” for me – just like a mum would do. Its times like this that you don’t tell you mum everything because you don’t want to see them hurting for you. This is where friends come into their own. This period in my life I couldn’t have got through if it hadn’t been for my mum and my friends.

No matter what ever happens in your life your mum will always be by your side. As I am sure she still is.

She never really got over her illness and just after her 70^th Birthday in October 2001 she went into hospital for further investigations and sadly died in January 2002.

Sadly her last few months were not good. It was one of these occasions where I feel the NHS badly let us down. She had a horrific end to her life – that I feel could have been avoided – just mishaps all along. I wish now that we had spoken up – but we didn’t and something that I will regret for the rest of my life. Sorry Mum x

One thing I am always grateful for is that she got to meet my hubby. I can still remember to this day that first Christmas she met him – she pulled me aside and said “he is a good one – keep hold of him – I can see him making a good husband” how right she was.

So, when we got married 5 years ago I wanted my mum to be part of our day – and the fact that she loved Roses I dedicated my day to her and had the day around the theme of Roses.

I carried a picture of her with me that day – so she could be part of it all and in our wedding album and I dedicated a page to her……………………….

The Rose Beyond The Wall

The Rose once grew where all could see

Sheltered beside a garden wall

And, as the days past swiftly by

It spread its branches, straight and tall

One day, a beam of light shone through

A crevice that has opened wide

The Rose bent gently towards its warmth

Then passed beyond to the other side.

Now, you who deeply feel its loss

Be comforted, the rose blooms there

Its beauty ever greater now

Nurtured by God’s own loving care.

Happy Mother’s Day Mum xx

You might be gone but NEVER forgotten.

So for those of you that have lost your mum savour the memories, the mother’s days that you once shared and celebrate the happy times you once had with your mum.

For those of you that have your mums, celebrate the day with joy and remember there will never be anyone quite like your mum.

My Special Mothers Day Delivery

My granddaughter born on the 30.03.03 (this is called a palindrome) which means it reads the same backwards. And funnily enough her mum (my daughter) was born on the 18.8.81 – again the same backwards – what were the chances of that happening – and to add the icing to the cake our granddaughter was born on Mother’s Day almost 9 years ago..

It will be her birthday on the 30th. She is the apple of our eyes. Although she does have “her moments” like they all do at times!!

She calls me Nanny and my hubby “RaRa” where she got that from none of us know. She has called my hubby RaRa ever since she could start to talk. We quite like it as it is unique to him. Although saying that now she is 8 when she has her friends around she does revert to calling him plain Granddad!

As a 3-year-old she was an exceptionally good talker – in fact you could never shut her up (and she is still the same). She was always full of questions. If she asked a question she expected an answer, and if she thought she was being fobbed off she would press until she got the correct answer – she is still the same now. So we have learnt the best way is to answer as honestly as we can.

So onto to the story……………………………

Picture the moment. She is about 3 years of age. Full of beans. She is with me for the afternoon. She is sitting on my knee and I just knew by the twinkle in her eye that she had “one of those questions”. Yep I was right…………… The conversation went:

Lauren: “Nanny”

Me: “Yes Lauren”.

Lauren: “What are these” (pointing at my boobs)

Me: “They are my boobs” (knowing full well she knew what they were called)

Lauren: “Nanny – when I grow up will I have boobs”

Me: “Yes Lauren when you are a big girl you will have boobs”

Lauren: “Then why hasn’t mummy and auntie got boobs”

Me: “Well some people have big boobs and some don’t”

Lauren: “Oh OK”

She was quite happy with that explanation and left the conversation at that.

Two weeks later she was with me once again. Sitting on my knee the conversation got going again.

Lauren: “Nanny – what is this called” (pointing to my cleavage)

Me: Trying to avoid the answer said “my boobs”

Lauren: “No Nanny – this” (again pointing to my cleavage)

Me: (thinking I am not going to get away with this one) “It’s called a cleavage”

Lauren: “Do you think I will have a cleavage when I grow up”

Me: “Yes probably”

Lauren: “Then why doesn’t mummy and auntie have a cleavage”

Me: “It’s because they don’t have boobs”

Lauren: Ohhhh

She seemed happy with that explanation and left it at that.

About three weeks later my daughter was at home – she was in the shower. She had her back to Lauren but she heard her come into the bathroom – she then heard Lauren in a very dramatic voice say “oh no I don’t believe it”.

My daughter spun around and seen Lauren standing there with her hands holding her head saying again “I don’t believe it” and the conversation went

Daughter: “What’s up Lauren?”

Lauren: “YOU DO HAVE A CLEAVAGE MUMMY – IT’S IN YOUR BUM”

Out of the mouth of babes!!!!

 

29th February

This year is a Leap Year. To most of us it gives us another day in the month of February. But was does it mean to some.

It is believed this tradition was started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year.

Do you know of a woman who is planning to propose this 29^th?

What about the people who are born on the 29^th? Do you think the 29^th would be a nice day to be born on?

Some people born on February 29 prefer to celebrate their birthday on February 28 in a non-leap year because they were born in February, while others celebrate their birthday on March 1 because they do not officially turn next age on February 28.

What day would you chose to celebrate your birthday if you were born on the 29^th?

In some cases, their legal birthdays depend on the rules and regulations of where they live. Many countries make amendments for those born on leap days so they can be considered eligible for marriage, driving and other activities that require a legal age.

For example, each state or territory administers driver’s licenses in the United States. In South Carolina, one man received an extended driver’s license because February 29 was not in the calendar in a non-leap year. However in Maryland, one person waited for six months to get the driver’s license because the computer database did not recognize the February 29 birth date.

Some members of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies do not have the February 29 birth date on their driver’s licenses because their government agencies gave them a choice of only February 28 or March 1 as their license expiration date.

If your Birthday is on the 29^th have you ever had any problems with a legal document?

I have never realised that being born on the 29^th could in fact give so much grief.

We were discussing the “extra day” only the other night. I did not realise until someone brought it up that people working will be giving an extra days work – for no extra money. Extra petrol costs to and from work.

So if a company employs 100 people all working a 8 hour day that company will gain an extra 800 hours unpaid work in that one day.

Can you imagine how many hours that will add up to over the country – the world – let’s hope that this helps the economy in some way? But sadly I think not. It will be swallowed up and vanish without a thought.

What will you be doing on 29^th February this year? Anything special?

My beautiful Dad

Three weeks ago our world came crashing down. My beautiful dad, devoted granddad and great granddad died – and we were totally devastated at how quickly it all  happened.

But this blog is not about the heartbreaking side of our loss – but a celebration of what a wonderful man he was not only to us as family but to his extended family and a mountain of friends that he collected over the years. He will be sorely missed by so many of us.

My dad was born in Kildare and grew up in Dublin 80 years ago. He had 6 siblings and life was pretty hard from them all growing up – he lost his own mum in childbirth when he was only 3 years old. He lost a brother to cancer at the age of 13. They would sleep 4 in a bed with nothing but coats as blankets – yet dad always remembered the good times and shared many happy stories with us over the years. How I wish I had taken more of them in. He was the last of his family to leave us – and with that the end of an era and an end to all of those wonderful tales.

Dad often told us of his school days and his best friend John – whom he still used to visit on a regular basis over in Dublin. Listening to the two of them together was like listening to two schoolboys all those years ago reminiscing about the “old days”. Life in school then was pretty hard. For years dad celebrated his birthday in January – until someone found his birth certificate and discovered in fact he was born in September – he found that really funny.

He was brought up by his sister Sheila – whom I was named after – she was more of a mum to him over the years and I remember how close he was to her.

Dad set up home in the UK nearly 60 years ago and served in the RAF before settling down to married life with mum in London. They were happily married for 46 years when sadly mum passed away.

Losing mum 10 years ago was extremely hard, but we still had dad and their home so life carried on – but this time we have no one left  – and the home that I knew for 50 years is now gone too – walking out of that front door last week for the last time was just heartbreaking. Knowing I will never walk up that pathway again, ring the door and wait for his footsteps coming to open it and seeing his beautiful smile and him saying “hello Doll”.  Never phoning his number and hearing his voice ever again – I know I have the memories but I will still miss him so much.

Dad always seen the best in people, never judged or had a bad word to say about anyone – always gave people the benefit of the doubt. Every single person that knew dad would all same the same – he was a gentleman, kind, funny and very considerate.

In my whole life I have never know my dad to ever lose his temper. Not once.

As a child growing up I was very close to dad. He always called me “doll”. Even the day before he died he was still calling me doll.

It was him that would take me out and buy me my “Sunday Best” clothes – I always had a new best outfit for Easter and Christmas every year. He always chose well and had a flair for finding just the perfect outfit. We bought many an outfit in C&A’s (do you remember that shop?)

He would take me up to London every Christmas to see the lights, up to Buckingham Palace; we would spend all day walking around London taking in the sights.

Dad would take me over to Dublin on occasions to visit family – just the two of us – how I loved those times, just the two of us. We would walk around Dublin like we did in London but instead of visiting Buckingham Palace we visited the Guinness Factory instead.

I loved meeting up with his friends and family – they were such special times. Dad carried on the tradition and took my girls over to Dublin just like he had done with me all those years ago.

Dad bought me my first bike, my first pair of roller skates, my first dolls pram and all the other presents that I always had set my heart on as a child. He never let me down.

He took me to see my first film at the Cinema – Mary Poppins and then my next film was The Sound of Music – he loved that film so much he actually took me 7 times to see it. He loved musicals and loved music in general especially Frank Sinatra. He always had music playing at home. It was dad that bought me my first record player.

He was my rock and through my life he never judged me, told me what to do or said “told you so” but what he did do was support me in everything I did do and more.

When I was 11 years old he took me to my first football match – Brentford FC. I was hooked from that very first game – and for 8 years we did not miss a single home match – and we also went to many away matched – those Saturdays were so very special – me and my dad drinking hot Bovril on the terraces at half time, not feeling our hands or feet with the cold – I wouldn’t have missed it for the world – and to this day whenever I smell Bovril I think of those happy times we had together.

Dad worked for many years in a factory that made car tyres. He then went for a short time to Heathrow Airport before going on to be a Court Keeper in a local Magistrates Court. He loved that job and that is where his best asset shone through – his ability to communicate and his great people skills.

He loved the interaction with the different departments and was highly thought of by many of the Magistrates and staff at the Courts – and including some of the “regular customers” that came through the doors – this was where he ability to be non judgemental shone through – he treated everyone with respect.

Everyone that knew my dad will know exactly what I mean when I say he was definitely a “people’s person”.  I think I follow in his footsteps on that one.

But what everyone will remember dad for will be his sense of humour – that really was his best asset.

He was extremely close to my two girls; to him they were so very special as he was to them.  He also had his beautiful granddaughter and she had him in her life for almost 9 years – but will be in her heart for many more.

Two of his proudest moments were when my girls got married and they asked dad to give them away. He had been there for them from the start and has been one of the most important people in their lives.

We all had dad on a special occasion last year – we had him over here for his great granddaughters First Holy Communion, my brother had him for his 80^th Birthday and my other daughter had him for Christmas, so we all got to celebrate in some way with him for that very last time.

I don’t know how dad did it but my dad was always very popular with the ladies – they all had a soft spot for dad – he never ceased to amaze us how popular he was with them.

Wherever he was he would always end up being chatted up by some young lady. At work, by the barmaids at his local, or just out shopping – he just seem to attract them. Made my hubby quite envious at times I must say.

An example was my brother and I was in Dad’s bank sorting out his affairs; the pretty young girl that was helping us looked up as she was typing in his details and asked:

“Did your dad have an Irish accent?”

“Yes” we replied

“I remember his coming into the bank – he was a gentleman, always smartly dressed and always had nice groomed hair”.

She continued………………

“And what I remember most about your dad was his lovely smile. He was always smiling.”

That was my dad. He always shared a smile with some many people.