Memories of Childhood

^What made me think of it was, I came across a picture of an old football kit (I think it was Watford) from around the same time and Solvite sponsored them! Seeing the sponsor's name made me think of the ads.

I was watching something about greatest Chocolate ads and then spoke to the Cadbury's Flake girl Janis Levy- the one I remember was her as the Gypsy, and very noticeable even at a fairly callow age; a beautiful 17 yr old redhead eating chocolate(what wasn't to like). One thing the girls had to make sure, on no account, to let their tongues touch the top of the chocolate(it was obvious to many of us what that was supposed to be symbolising) as it would have been banned instantly. She said she had to bite it and then close the mouth. I think it might have been even more memorable had that not happened Another girl Catrina Skepper also appeared in the title sequence of a Bond film 'The Living Daylights'

Climbing over, under on and up things is something I remember. We didn't have to worry about where it was just tried where possible to be careful but that was the excitement. Trees, statues, hills, old buildings(great for exploring) and just getting into scrapes(not running home to Mum to have cuddle and be mollycoddled as today's kids are) It was a real 'jumpers for goalposts' time, sometimes you improvised with things and carrying a small penknife wasn't seen as a weapon but a useful tool. Comics used to give you survival techniques, it was real boys own stuff(and some girls too) and exploring probably shaped the person you would grow up to be. It wasn't all great and yes we did have accidents but we learnt from our mistakes. Joining clubs or even going into the Cubs taught you other skills.

In Cubs we learnt how to build a fire from scratch and then how to cook something. I took this outside to my garden where we once had a ditch and set up a small barbecue - a wire frame balanced on bricks with the intention of cooking a poached egg and beans. The beans went well as did the fire(keeping some water around to douse it if it got out of hand) but unfortunately when I put the egg into the poacher it took ages to cook but then I checked the holder and it had melted! I had forgotten the first thing when poaching-ADD WATER INTO THE PAN FIRST! Oops! my mother was not happy I had ruined the holder. Like I said we learn from our mistakes. Another example of LIVING!

(19-03-2019 17:41 )GreenMachine Wrote:  Climbing over, under on and up things is something I remember. We didn't have to worry about where it was just tried where possible to be careful but that was the excitement. Trees, statues, hills, old buildings(great for exploring) and just getting into scrapes(not running home to Mum to have cuddle and be mollycoddled as today's kids are) It was a real 'jumpers for goalposts' time, sometimes you improvised with things and carrying a small penknife wasn't seen as a weapon but a useful tool. Comics used to give you survival techniques, it was real boys own stuff(and some girls too) and exploring probably shaped the person you would grow up to be. It wasn't all great and yes we did have accidents but we learnt from our mistakes. Joining clubs or even going into the Cubs taught you other skills.

In Cubs we learnt how to build a fire from scratch and then how to cook something. I took this outside to my garden where we once had a ditch and set up a small barbecue - a wire frame balanced on bricks with the intention of cooking a poached egg and beans. The beans went well as did the fire(keeping some water around to douse it if it got out of hand) but unfortunately when I put the egg into the poacher it took ages to cook but then I checked the holder and it had melted! I had forgotten the first thing when poaching-ADD WATER INTO THE PAN FIRST! Oops! my mother was not happy I had ruined the holder. Like I said we learn from our mistakes. Another example of LIVING!

You’ve reminded me of something I did in 1978. It was at Butlins Pwllheli in North Wales, we were staying in the self catering chalets and one of the things that guests were supplied with was one of those old style kettles that would whistle when the kettle was boiling.

To heat the water in the kettle you had to fill it then put it on the electric cooker. These cookers didn’t have rings on them, more like a circular heating pad. Anyways, for whatever reason I was in the chalet on my tod and had decided to make a cup of tea. So soft arse here turned on the cooker heating pad...without checking there was water in the sodding kettle! Few minutes went by...then I think what gives..? Smoke coming from the cooker, turned out the base of the kettle which must have been as thin as tissue paper had melted onto the heating pad.

When the mater and pater discovered what I’d done they collectively rolled their eyes and I clearly remember my Dad coming out with a huge despairing sigh that seemed to go on forever. I had to get the melted gunk off this heating pad with a load of Brillo pads, and a lot of inward cursing.

Oh dear! Well it happens doesn't it, we all make mistakes because we're not concentrating or we forget what we've seen our parents do thousands of times. You spent holidays in Pwllhelli, we used to use go to Littlehampton where my late grandpa had a flat(and a beach hut) which we used to use for holidays and special occasions. Some of my happiest times were spent down there and we went to the best fish and chip restaurant for the best fish and chips-being near the sea the fish couldn't have been fresher. Going on the beach was fun I used to make tunnels in the sand and then put a toy jeep through it, pretending it was an hidden underground military installation. I also used to have TONKA toys, the dump truck and the bulldozer which was perfect for building sandcastles with. We used to go into Worthing shopping and toy shop called GAMLEYS where I got my reward for paddling in the sea(which was a big thing back then for me) a Thunderbird 3 toy. Happy days those.

Do you remember that panic that used to set in if you forgot something(having laid out everything meticulously the night before so you didn't forget it)? It would always happen. You'd get to school and find that you'd forgotten your PE kit, but you'd swear blind you had put in your bag the night before OR a textbook that you would need for the next lesson. PE was worse. In primary school they used to make you do it in your underpants, so I got round that by rolling up my trousers into shorts(no way I was going to be humiliated like that) but at larger school they would make you sit out PE completely and write an essay from those HOW TO... sports books-okay in the Winter but in the early Summer hell on earth as you were desperate to get out and play football or cricket. Text books were also bad because you would probably end up sitting with someone you didn't like and have to share.

(20-03-2019 17:16 )GreenMachine Wrote:  Do you remember that panic that used to set in if you forgot something(having laid out everything meticulously the night before so you didn't forget it)? It would always happen. You'd get to school and find that you'd forgotten your PE kit, but you'd swear blind you had put in your bag the night before OR a textbook that you would need for the next lesson. PE was worse. In primary school they used to make you do it in your underpants, so I got round that by rolling up my trousers into shorts(no way I was going to be humiliated like that) but at larger school they would make you sit out PE completely and write an essay from those HOW TO... sports books-okay in the Winter but in the early Summer hell on earth as you were desperate to get out and play football or cricket. Text books were also bad because you would probably end up sitting with someone you didn't like and have to share.

You’ve triggered another one..


In our Primary School when it was PE we were always reminded the day before, ‘Bring your kit or you’ll be playing netball with the girls’. Given that I regarded girls as thoroughly repulsive creatures at that time, there was never any danger of yours truly forgetting. Couple of lads did though one day, the sight of the two of them looking completely humiliated is one I’ll never forget. Laugh? I tried not to but the more I tried to suppress it the worse it got..,the sounds of half suppressed sniggers coming from faces around me going purple from trying to hold it in didn’t help...

We challenged the girls once to a game of Netball, thinking it would be easy-nope, not a bit they ran rings around us because we stupidly believed it was the same as Basketball(you can bounce the ball several times in that) but nothing could be further from the truth.

(20-03-2019 23:46 )GreenMachine Wrote:  We challenged the girls once to a game of Netball, thinking it would be easy-nope, not a bit they ran rings around us because we stupidly believed it was the same as Basketball(you can bounce the ball sevaral times in that) but nothing could be further from the truth.

We did a challenge as well against the girls at football. Didn’t last very long though, we went about 5-0 up within a few minutes then the game turned into a war. Tackles started flying in with yours truly only too keen to get stuck in..then the sodding teacher called it to a halt!

Was more psyched up before that game than for any of the school team matches I played in. A) Because it was the first time I was playing as an outfield player rather than in goal and B) because of who the opposition were...

I remember we played them in Rounders and Softball and beat them in that. Netball doesn't allow for bouncing more than once and you must release the ball within three seconds. It is also no good going all Michael Jordan and showboating by shooting outside the line because it helps to be closer and unlike Basketball if you miss you can have a second or third try.