I am accident prone and wont to make snap decisions. At fourteen I bought my first bicycle, second-hand, for a pound, and learned to ride it. It was a heavy, characterless brute, with only one gear. A month later I went on my first real journey, to visit an aunt. She was out, so I… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s, The era of cycle accidents
Pre WW2, The 30s, Scouting and the bottle of almonds
My mother, Willie, was always inventive and resourceful and was consequently a horder. Unfortunately she passed the latter tendency on to me and I own a choked workshop to prove it. It was my first scout camp, I had only left the Cubs and been promoted to the Scouts in the late Autumn and here… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s, Scouting and the bottle of almonds
Pre WW2, Tha 30s, Teenage stress
To some extent, auto suggestion, prompts a lot of the ills of today. With the vast amount of material needed for TV and the media, editors are less critical of material submitted. I suppose I come into the latter category – so be it. Through their lifestyle young people in the 30s, were not open… Continue reading Pre WW2, Tha 30s, Teenage stress
Pre WW2, The 30s, Sex and child abuse
I often wonder if young people, with shiny new degrees lecturing us on TV, in dictatorial terms, with such conviction, have really had any experience of the problems they are allegedly solving. I have met a number of those problems head on, at a time when they were not thought to be so. From the… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s, Sex and child abuse
Pre WW2, The 30s, Willy and the suitcase
My mother’s nickname was Willie, and you can imagine the confusion in small minds when my children referred to ‘Granny Willie’ – but that’s our family way. Willie was one of those who constantly find themselves in alien situations, mostly because of a determination to right wrongs – a sort of latter day, female Don… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s, Willy and the suitcase
Pre WW2, The 30s,Enforced Holodays 2
Floss was a handyman at Ramsgate’s huge funfair called Wonderland. He worked on the Big Dipper. Early every morning he sent two cars round the track loaded with sand bags, watching the reaction of the wooden structure as the car went round, to gauge any weaknesses. Next it was my turn for a free, if… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s,Enforced Holodays 2
Pre WW2, 1930s, Enforced Holidays, 1
Parents used to make strange decisions, with the best intentions and even self- sacrifice, but with little realisation what they were condemning their children to. Single parenting is not, and never was, easy, conscience has to be weighed against pragmatism, welfare, economic resources and what is possible. My mother decided I should not be kicking… Continue reading Pre WW2, 1930s, Enforced Holidays, 1
Pre WW2, The 30s, Discipline as a concept
I have had to exercise discipline on others, been the recipient of it being implemented in every form, from lines to a leather belt, and I have had to exercise it on myself, often unsuccessfully. Punishment in any form is transient, and in excess is self defeating. Take a simple example of shock treatment –… Continue reading Pre WW2, The 30s, Discipline as a concept
New Slants on the Economy
Some aspects of the economy, recently been brought to my attention, are in themselves are not unlawful, but they have a considerable effect on the viability of production in this country. A friend of mine recently had their house overhauled by a builder, and then asked him to carry out additional work. He said that… Continue reading New Slants on the Economy
Pre WW2, the 30s, The Secondary School
Oxbridge and ex-Public School staff ran our school on Public School lines – as closely as one could for a day school. We had PT every day, vaulting over boxes, doing running somersaults, walking the high beam and everything one can imagine doing in a fully equipped gymnasium, including a shower afterwards. We played seasonal… Continue reading Pre WW2, the 30s, The Secondary School