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Generation X
Crumbly, Coffin Dodger or Oxygen Thief? According to today’s regulators & bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 60s, 70s and early 80s probably shouldn’t have survived, because: · Our cots were covered with brightly coloured lead-based paint, which was promptly chewed and licked. · We had no child-proof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets, and it was fine to play with pans. · When we rode our bikes, we didn’t wear helmets, just flip-flops, and had those fluorescent ‘clackers’ on our wheels. I think you will find they were known as Spokey-Dokeys. (Some old git wrote this). · As children, we would ride in cars with no seatbelts or airbags. Riding in the front passenger seat was considered a real treat. · We drank water from the garden hose, not from a bottle. Guess what? It tasted the same! · We ate chips and bread & butter pudding, and drank fizzy pop with loads of sugar in it. But we never overweight, because we were always outside playing. · We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle or can, and no-one actually died from this. · We would spend hours building go-karts out of scrap, and then raced them at break neck speed downhill, only to find we had forgot the brakes. After running into stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem. · We would leave home in the morning, and could play all day, providing we were back before it went dark. No-one could reach us, and no-one minded. · We didn’t have Sony Playstations, X-Boxes or video games at all. · No 99 channel widescreen TVs. No videotape movies. No surround sound. No mobile phones. No personal computers, or internet chat rooms. We had friends, we went outside and found them. · We played elastics, and street rounders. Sometimes, that ball really hurt. · We climbed trees, and fell out of them. We got cuts and broken bones, but there were no lawsuits. · We had full blown fist fights, but there was no ensuing prosecution from the loser’s parents. · We played ‘knock-down ginger’, and were afraid of the owners catching us. · We walked to friends houses. · Believe it or not, we WALKED TO SCHOOL. We didn’t rely on mummy or daddy to drive us to school, which incidentally, was just around the corner. · We made up games with sticks and tennis balls. · We rode bikes in packs of seven, and wore our fur trimmed parkers by the hoods. · The idea of our parents bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. · This generation has produced some of the best risk takers, problem solvers and inventors, ever. The last fifty years have been an explosion of creative innovation and new ideas. · We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility. We learned how to deal with it all. · And you’re one of them. Congratulations. · Pass this on to others who had the luck to grow up as real kids, before regulators and government regulated our lives, for our own good or so the say. For those of you who aren’t old enough, I thought you might like to read about us. · This my friends, is surprisingly frightening….and it may put a smile on your face: The majority of university students today were born in 1983….they are called youth. · They have never heard of ‘We are the world, we are the children’. And the Uptown Girl they know is by Westlife, not Billy Joel. · They have never heard of Rick Astley, Bananarama, Nena or Belinda Carlisle. · For them, there has only ever been one Germany and one Vietnam. · AIDS has existed since they were born. · CDs have been around as long as they have. · Michael Jackson has always been white, but we know different. · To them, John Travolta has always been rather rotund, (a fat bastard), and they can’t imagine how this fat guy could once have been a God of dance. · They believe that Charlie’s Angels and Mission Impossible are films from last year. · They can never imagine life before computers. · They will never have pretended to be the A-Team, the Red Hand Gang or The Famous Five. · They will never have applied to appear on Jim’ll Fix It or Why Don’t You? · They cannot believe how we could ever leave the house without a mobile phone. Now, let’s check if we are getting old. 1. You understand what was written above, and you smile. 2. You need to sleep more, usually until the afternoon, after a night out. 3. Your friends are getting married, or are already married. 4. You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably with computers. 5. You remember watching Dirty Den in Eastenders first time around. 6. You meet your friends from time to time, talk about the good old days, and repeat again all the funny stories you experienced together. 7. When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head. Yes, you are getting older, my friend. |
I remember the good old days well sparky. It would be nice if we had a lot of the old values today, along with the new technology, then my friend we would have the best of both worlds.
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ooo how i remember the 50s as i was growing up, yes you are right sparky, they were the GOOD old days , thanks for the memory
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One day, I will grow up.
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:bigglasse Aaah what memories. How I ever survived I do not know. Had soooo many fractures and cuts as a kid that the staff at Accy Vic casualty knew me intimately. If I could fall off, down or through anything I would (that's the price you pay when you are nosey) Fell off walls, bikes and one bus shelter roof, fell through one glass window, fell down plenty of stairs and out of several trees (scrumping being a favourite hobby) Never claimed a penny from anyone and usually got a clip round the ear on top of existing injuries, just for being an idiot.
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All this, Lettie, just confirms what I said earlier - you were a right vandal.
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:lol: Ok, I'll admit to scrumping, but most kids I knew did it. Never nicked anything off trees except crab apples though, so it's not like I ruined anybodys prize plums. Had a nasty experience with a Doberman when I accidentally fell out of a tree into somebodys garden and damn near landed on the dog. This was in Leicester while visiting relatives, if you're going to be bad do it where nobody knows you......
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Now we know were you got your love of cider from lettie.
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Forget who nicked all the pies.....Lettie nicked all the apples
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dont climb anymore trees lettie ive got some cider you can have :pint:
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Re: Generation X
Anyone remember going out with a bag of sugar and nicking rhubarb from through the allotment railings? Dipping the rhubarb in the sugar and sucking the end?
Goodness knows why, I hated rhubarb! |
Re: Generation X
And what about gas tar bubbles,the water filled ones were best,after a days bubble
bursting when I got home covered in gas tar me mam played bloody hell and smothered me in lard to remove it {happy days**. |
Re: Generation X
I remember tar bubbles - ah, those happy old days - when you had a cold or were chesty, if they were mending the road your mother would wrap you up and take you to hang over the tar machine and breathe deeply - supposed to be good for your chest! All those nice cancer-producing hydrocarbons being sucked into your little lungs.
Anyone remember Lung Healers - tiny round pills, also supposed to be good for chests? Thinking about it, it probably is miraculous that most of us survived! |
Re: Generation X
yup , does anyone remember fennings fever cure, me & my bother could drink it by the bottle full.
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Re: Generation X
Don't remember fever cure - do remember cod liver oil and malt.
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Re: Generation X
Lettie, I hope the plum reference wasn't directed at me, I remember Fennings fever cure, we used to sell it when I worked in the Chemist, was only bought by the older generation, no offence intended. Brought back some good memories that Sparky, hate to admit I'm getting older still feel like early 20's, I suppose thats all that matters!
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Re: Generation X
I feel really old now - especially as I completely agreed with everything about "The Good Old Days" and then found out if I was born a year later in 1983 I wouldn't have any of the old memories and would be living it up at college/uni right now! Talk about just missing out!
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Re: Generation X
I probably go back further than the rest (or most) of you, but can anyone tell me about this "gas tar bubbles?".....also, earache was a common problem in the 50's/60's and what was the stuff my mother used to warm up by the fire, put on cotton wool and shove into my ears? I hated it as you could hear the crackling as it broke up the ear wax!!!
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Re: Generation X
Would it be Hydrogen Peroxide, Busman? That's what I had to endure, if I ever snivelled & whinged about earache.
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Re: Generation X
It was probably warmed up olive oil. Bussman.
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Re: Generation X
I don’t know if I was a particular bad kid “although I was pig ugly” but it would appear that me and my mates where quite nasty little bu**er’s compared to you people. Apples, Strawberries, Rhubarb and anything that walked that was smaller than you was fair game when we where kids. That would include one piglet, one goose, several ducks, numerous hens and there eggs and the attempted kidnap of a cow. I kid you not……………
I don’t think we where vandals or anything like that, but if you could eat it, we nicked it, simple as that. We took what we wanted but did not cause wonton destruction in our wake, unless it had teeth or carried a stick or shotgun and was chasing us. Just a point to end with, in the end I grew up to be quite a handsome chap, who abides by the law….. Sparks in regard to your original post, what you have there is the life storey of a generation, and we are still going strong. Thank God. |
Re: Generation X
too much protection now in more ways than one
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Re: Generation X
I usually think that "the good old days" are retold whilst looking through rose-tinted specs, but in this case I must agree. Children now will not (usually) be allowed free run of their neighbourhood, let alone the surrounding countryside (as I had as a child, and I only lived in Ossy!!).
They will probably never experience whinberry or crab apple picking, I don't remember seeing any kids going conkering, or playing conkers for that matter. Gone are such things as germaline bubblies (!), jawbreakers, popping candy, playing knic-knac (is that how you spell it?), building your bonfire (not sure if this isn't such a good idea!), treehouses and dens, coming home completely charred from too much sun and having to practically bathe in calomine lotion, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. Too much emphasis is placed on mollycoddling youngsters, and we are in danger of breeding a nation of soft-touch, thrill-loathing cheeky gits!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/i...cons/icon4.gifhttp://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/i...cons/icon4.gifhttp://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/i...cons/icon4.gif |
Re: Generation X
I sometimes wonder if we have bred a generation who will never do anything first hand .... it will all be done by virtual reality on a computer. We used to hide round corners, shooting at the Indians (or the cowboys, whoever got the short straw). Now it's all on screen. Second hand thrills will never make up for the real thing - okay, you don't get skinned knees coming off your cart, but I think we enjoyed the ride more.
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Re: Generation X
Yep I recall those gas tar bubbles - the tar was inbetween the cobbles in the back streets and we used to heat it up with a magnifying glass,till it smoked and then set on fire and then get it all over ones person.I love that smell of burning tar!
"those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end!" "Hope I die before I go bald!" (but Pete Townsend already has) |
Re: Generation X
I have heard of Bananarama and Billy Joel
but im not gettin on im still under 18 |
Re: Generation X
What about a medicine bottle full of 'spanish' water and a penny Hovis loaf to take up to the park......did any of you do that???? And what about the real dandelion and burdock in stone bottles from ???Stantons......I used to drink it right out of the bottle neck and my Dad would tell me it would blow my navel off.....that was Ok because in those days I didn't know what a navel was!
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Re: Generation X
And what about going to the Bug Hut on Saturday Morning.....cost tuppence to get in and we would watch 'Flash Gordon' and then going home we would button our coats at the collar like a caped crusader.....pull the collar up and pretend to be Ming the magnificent........yes those were the days alright.
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Re: Generation X
Saturday Morning Pictures :rolleyes: what a laugh I recall Flash Gordon it was in black and white?
showing me age now!:D |
Re: Generation X
Going to the "pictures" Saturday morning!! (Matinee??) So noisy, you couldn't hear a thing, Objects being flung all over the place (but no bottles or hard objects) It was the "soap opera" of the 60's, you HAD to go the following week to see if Roy Rogers escaped from the indians...........and Batman was always left in dire straights!!
But it was so cheap, even in those days. Was it about sixpence to get in? and there was always enough money to buy an ice cream from the "lady with the tray" during the interval. No over-priced popcorn or gassy coke, just lollies and orange juice!:) |
Re: Generation X
>>They will probably never experience whinberry or crab apple picking, I don't remember seeing any kids going conkering, or playing conkers for that matter.<<
I remarked to another member, only last week, that while Acrylic-Biff ,The Terrier With Attitude, was taking me for a drag through the cemetery on Burnley Road, we came across a fine Horse Chestnut tree with shedloads of conkers beneath it and not a child in sight - what a waste! |
Re: Generation X
Apparently in some schools conkers are banned as a health hazard.
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Re: Generation X
Yes I've seen this in some of the schools up here, in others the kids have to ware gloves and googles so they don't get hurt, and then they can only play if they are supervised. God help us in another generation, farting, nose picking, running and having fun will be banned under Health and Safety, subject to a satisfactory Risk Assessment......:rolleyes::)
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Re: Generation X
All this conkering stupidity stems from this pathetic blame and claim "call Paul" culture that we have now. Everybody is frightened to death of providing activities for kids in case there is a mishap and some disgruntled parent files a claim. We desperately need to kick this claim culture into touch otherwise anything previously known as childlike fun will disappear. :rolleyes:
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Re: Generation X
Anyone here remember sneaking in the backdoor?
In those days there were two flea pits in Accrington.One on Broadway and the other round the back of the Blockade,now what was it called? |
Re: Generation X
Guilty as charged! :o :D The fire exit was round the back and opened out facing the newsagents and the backyard of the Hope & Anchor.
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Re: Generation X
That's the one!!!;) :D
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Re: Generation X
I can remember the Kings Hall being called the 'Bug Hut' and it was only tuppence to go in there when it was sixpence to go the Odeon Saturday Club.....so we used to get sixpence to go to the Saturday club...... but go to the Bug Hut and spend fourpence on sweets (sports mixture were 5 for a penny......you could get a great bag of rainbow drops for threepence) We used to watch Flash Gordon......then we would fasten the top button of our coat and rush round like caped mad things.....what fun!
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Re: Generation X
I used to go to the 'Bug Hut' and of course 'Flash Gordon'. We used to sit on the wooden benches at the front. I remember that 'Walter lindrums' snooker joint was underneath as well. Just a little further up was a pub called the 'Brigade' I think. Blockade doesn't ring a bell. ( I could be wrong) My step grandfather was mine host at the Brigade. His name was Bill Holgate and my maternal grandmother Gert(rude). They also kept greyhounds.(late 40's early fifties). One of them was called Lou.
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Re: Generation X
Speaking of conkers. I still have one on a shoe lace circa 63. It's as hard as nails. It would probably make world champion these days:) . Just one of the momento's I brought with me. You people are so delightful to my eyes reading about the things you remember. The good old days before telly. The whole of Accrington and beyond was our playing area and by god didn't we have fun despite the injuries and setbacks. Lovely era.
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Re: Generation X
Ah Flash Gordon every Saturday morning. He was my hero. :) A whole troup of us used to go down to The Odeon Club.
Anybody remember singing along to the bouncing ball? The only "Blockade" I know of is the one at the bottom of Edgar Street, I was trying to think of a cinema round there and wonder if kestrelx meant The Princes or Empire? I forget which one endured the longest. I think it was The Princes. They were side by side and wasn't there a fire at The Princes so they moved operations to the old Empire and renamed it The New Princes? I remember people used to call it The Princess but that was wrong because it wasn't a female it was plural for Prince or genitive - Princes or Prince's. I'm not sure which. I think the Empire had become a bingo hall (didn't they always?) Memory plays tricks so I'm sure other people will be able to correct me where I'm wrong and fill in some of the gaps. There was a cinema also at the bottom of Avenue Parade. What was that one? Was it The Regal? |
Re: Generation X
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The "Palace" was opposite the end of Avenue Parade, and Ray Linden took it over after it closed and made it into his emporium! |
Re: Generation X
The Palace is the one I was thinking of. Just didn't describe the location very well.
I'd forgotten all about the King's - I saw Pinnocchio there when I was very tiny and that's giving my age away! |
Re: Generation X
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Re: Generation X
The Regal is the old name for the Odeon on Broadway.
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Re: Generation X
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Re: Generation X
No mate, it was The Odeon for all of my life, until it was renamed The Classic in the Seventies and it stayed like that until it was demolished.
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Re: Generation X
Yes you're right of course....brain was on holiday.....That's the name I was looking for "Classic".
Thanks A-Bob, earned yourself some karma!! |
Re: Generation X
Talking of cinemas how about princess cinema,wasnt that on Edgaer st?
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Re: Generation X
There was no "Princess" Cinema. The Empire theatre on Edgar Street was renamed the "New Prince's" Theatre after the original "Prince's" Theatre next door burned down.
See Willow's post, Number 41, in this thread. |
Re: Generation X
Now I think about it I've seen a photo somewhere of the Odeon when it was called the Regal. Is it on here somewhere or is it one of Atarah's?
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