Old Finances (back in the day)

ChocClare

anguk wrote: »

We used to wander and play for miles too. My Dad was a policeman and he says there is no more danger to kids now than there was back then, the only difference now is it's reported in the media and people have become scared and wrap their kids up in cotton wool. He says my generation (70s/80s kids) were the last of the "free" children, now kids are escorted everywhere and rarely play in the streets like we did.

Yes, you're right: I believe that the number of children killed by strangers has remained pretty constant at about 4-5 per year since the war despite what you might think from reports in the media. It's not that children are at risk from murderers so much; more that TRAFFIC has increased out of all recognition. My friend was just saying the other day how he and another boy cycled from Potterne (just outside Devizes) to Stonehenge and back one day because they fancied going. It's a distance of about 20 miles and they were 10. You couldn't imagine doing it these days because cars absolutely bomb down that road, but it would have been quite safe in his day - if a little exhausting!

Similarly, my opposite neighbour is the retired gamekeeper for the estate. He has a photograph in his sitting room of beaters standing outside his house waiting for the shoot to start. It was taken in 1973 and there must be 30 chaps standing about in the road, plus the game lorry parked. Although it's only a B-road, there is now constant traffic along this road now, lorries and cars absolutely bombing along. You couldn't stand in the road for more than about 30 seconds without getting run over!

3v3

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

...
Anyone remember clackers and how many had smashed hands or broken wrists after using them ...

Yes!! But, we called them Ker-knockers (not sure why?).

And pogo sticks!! Loved my pogo stick

And homemade go-karts made from a wooden crate and pram wheels :rotfl:

lillibet_dripping

ani_26 wrote: »

This does bring back memories. Jim Reeves was always on the radio at sunday lunchtimes.

As for Angel delight, not a patch on Instant Whip. I seem to remember some kind of butterscotch flavour? Yum.

In fact, whatever happened to butterscotch? You used to be able to buy butterscotch fruit gums.

In our house, Sunday lunch was not complete without 'Two Way Family Favourites' followed by The Navy Lark. Teatime was always accompanied by 'Sing Something Simple'!!!!

And yes, I was in the Tufty Club!!!!

And talking of dolls - who remembers 'Dolly Darlings'? They were about 6" high and came dressed in different outfits - my favourite was the air hostess dolly darling!

ani_26

jackieb wrote: »

Did anyone else have syrup tin stilts? My dad made me a pair.

On the bus to school, which was an hour away, we used to eat syrup from tins using our pens. I kid you not. Pure unadulterated syrup. No wonder i have fillings. I seem to remember alot of sugary things, when there was sugar.

If anyone is reading this bizarre ermm trick,sorry, habit, and it rings any bells, hmmm

ani_26

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

If any of you want to reminisce about you childhood, you could always come to mine for tea!

Around 4 o'clock?

We'll be there. :cool:

ani_26

GreyQueen wrote: »

EDIT; had clackers, too, in shocking pink. Mum still has them in her home somewhere and I tried them out as an adult and got bashed knunckes yet again..doh...some things never change.

Mine were bright orange too.

Its a shame personal injury specialists hadn't been invented then. I wonder if they would have had an exclusion clause for clackers.

I wonder who and why clackers were invented?

ani_26

Oh dear. This thread has gone more than slightly off topic, about old finances, and degenerated into a trip down memory lane, for better or for worse. Just different. But maybe it shows how we made the most of what we had, or that more simple things gave pleasure.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned muffin the mule, the woodentops, bill and ben, the flowerpot men, weed, little weed, Err, what else, my memory isn't so good these days!


Anyway, isn''t retro fashionable? Everyone is buying what we had, these days. I forgot oxford bags, fur coats, afghan coats, platform shoes, ( no wonder my feet are shot ) ermmm?????


Oh, of course we had ' proper ' rock music in those days, and then, wait for it


GLAM ROCK

Butterfly_Brain

ani_26 wrote: »

Oh dear. This thread has gone more than slightly off topic, about old finances, and degenerated into a trip down memory lane, for better or for worse. Just different. But maybe it shows how we made the most of what we had, or that more simple things gave pleasure.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned muffin the mule, the woodentops, bill and ben, the flowerpot men, weed, little weed, Err, what else, my memory isn't so good these days!


Anyway, isn''t retro fashionable? Everyone is buying what we had, these days. I forgot oxford bags, fur coats, afghan coats, platform shoes, ( no wonder my feet are shot ) ermmm?????


Oh, of course we had ' proper ' rock music in those days, and then, wait for it


GLAM ROCK

:rotfl::rotfl: all those skinny men without a hair on their chests

Uniscots97

Ani, I think you're right with the retro thing and I think we all need to go back to that.

1) save for what you want
2) don't be shy using vouchers
3) make do and mend (dye stuff, change buttons etc rather than throw away)


...........anymore?

Chickenopolis

All this talk of dolls... I still have a doll that I was given for my 6th or 7th birthday, I am 42 now and hated dolls which is why she is probably in good nick. She has an American voice and when you pull her head , which is on a string it says things like "gulp", "here comes my body" "my feet are moving closer !", "boing" and "thats quite a stretch" oh and "Ive lost my head over you". My Mum said that it was based on a famous American actress/comedian called Joanna ??? Did anyone else have one of these as I don't think I have seen another one. She would have been made in the mid to late 70's.