Today is a sad day. We heard of the death of our Bestman and friend Bob. We never lost touch with him but we had not seen him face to face for nearly forty years. Last year we met up with him at our Golden Wedding anniversary and again this year with five other friends from the park we used to go to as teenagers.
For Bob
Playing football after dark Meeting mates down the park Two lads growing through their teens. Full of hopes , fun and dreams.
Both became each others right hand man. One made best man, so grand. Each had the others wing Staying friends was their thing.
As years went by the meetings dwindled Though memories were often kindled. Eventually a yuletide greeting With promises of a reunion meeting.
The years and miles kept them separated. Til an anniversary meeting was fated. Soon the years just fell away As they celebrated 50 years since that wedding day.
Then a meeting with friends from the park. Food and beer talk of aging, having a lark . Talk of knees and operations Grandchildren, bills and vacations.
A simple operation on the cards Who’d of thought the outcome could be so hard. The heart once so big and strong Could not cope and he was gone.
We are left behind unbelieving Only just back together, now left grieving.
Thursday was yesterday which means it time for Maggie and Lauren’s join venture.
It’s Lauren’s choice for this week’s prompt for Throwback Thursday : Going to the Movies.
Do you remember specific times you went to indoor movies or drive in theatres?
We didn’t have drive in Movies in the U.K. until very recently and as yet I have never been to a drive in movie!
Do you remember the first time for either?
The first film I can remember seeing as a child was when my mum took me to see Snow White , the original Disney version. It was truly the most wonderful thing I had ever seen.
I believe I went to see “A man for all seasons” a fantastic historical film set in the court of Henry VIII and the man for all seasons in question was Thomas Moore. Our convent was a five minute walk from the cinema so we all walked upon crocodile formation.🐊
Do you remember going with friends and not parents?
I remember going to the cinema with a girl friend or friends we usually went to see pop star films . We saw “Catch us if you can” starring the Dave Clarke Five, “Hold on” starring Herman’s Hermits. There were other films but I really can’t remember them 😊
Please share one or more experiences about going to the movies.
My sister Frankie took me to see Westside story again I was totally enthralled by the sing and dancing I loved it.
I must of been to the cinema in my courting days with hubby but I can’t remember…. I can remember more recent trips but not early ones. I also remember us taking the boys and often their friends to cinema : Star Trek, Star Wars, Flash Gorden (that was fun) A film where we all stood up and cheered!
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and took the children to many more!
I also remember hubby and I and friends going to see Brave Heart…we stood and cheered at his speech before the battle and I don’t think there was a Scottish person in the cinema!
As I say there have been many many more and concerts too 💜💜
Today its Thursday and it’s Maggie’s turn to pick the Throwback Thursday Challenge. The subject is Technology Influences. Maggie’s post should be interesting because she has had a long and varied career in I.T.
What kind of technology existed around your house as a child? We had huge wireless full of valves which too years to warm up! Dad had a telephone, it was part paid for by the NUVB National Union Of Vehicle Builders, because he was a union rep and shopsteward for the organisation and worked tirelessly for them every evening and occasionally weekends after a long day’s work at his day job. He was an upolster and made the seats for the London Tubes and Buses… He was a body maker for London Transport.
What technology do you remember coming into your home for the first time? The Telephone of course, The electric iron poor mum had to cope with a heavy iron irons that you heated up on the stove! When I was about twelve/thirteen years old our first TV arrived! We rented ours from The Rediffusion retail chain, renting and servicing TVs, radios, VCRs and hi-fi systems, was common on high streets until it was bought by Granada Rentals in 1984. The VCRs and stereo system were beyond our means! What kind of televisions or radios did you have – post pictures if you can find them. We had a rental T.V. black and white and not very big. As I said the radio / wireless was huge and like the T.V it had valves too. Eventually my brothers and sisters got transistor radios, they seemed tiny and we had a red and grey Dansette record player and there was a reel to reel tape recorder.
How did music technology change in your lifetime? Well we went from scratchy 78s to 45s and 33¹/³ vinyl to tapes, cassettes, CDs to streaming on line and funnily enough back to vinyl! When was the last time you purchased music? In what form was the music? Streamed from iPlayer Imogen Heap, and a CD also Imogen heap! Did you have a home computer? If so, what was it? Not when I was young …my hubby had one from work a Toshiba I believe. Our eldest first purchase in his early teens was an Amiga. The boys progressed to towers and laptops, tablets and phones!
Did you have a webcam? Did you stream content with it? Yes I do but no not really. What kind of phone did you have? Do you have a landline today? I have a Moto 600 5G.Yes we do have a land line . Did you have toys with integrated technology, robots, automation, etc? No but the boys did.A dog robot.
What technology ‘blew your mind’? Nothing really I just accepted it all!
When did you get your first cell phone? I held out against a cell / mobile phone for ages , I guess it was late 90s and was either a motoroller or Samsung.Compared to my present phone it was a brick and was just a phone.
What brand and model was it? Did you carry a pager? As above but no I never had a pager but hubby and the boys have all had them for work . I remember in 1988 hubby came home from work and he had a brief case which when opened up had a large phone in it almost like a walky talky lol we were impressed a mobile phone!
Is there any current technology you refuse to own or have in your home? No I don’t think so …not keen on internal security cameras but they do help us look after Ruby 💜💜
Lauren and Maggie share giving us the prompts for Throwback Thursday. This week it Lauren choice for this week’s prompt is: The impact of religion.
Lauren says “Religion (faith) is very important to many people. Even the decision to not follow a religion has an impact on our lives. It is rare for two people to have the exact same belief of the origins of religion. Religion (faith) often provides a cultural identity as well as a system of values and ethics. The choice to follow a religion (faith) can offer a community of like mined people as well as a division between others who are not of your faith.”
Did your family attend services together?
I was bought up Roman Catholic, with an Irish father and English protestant convert to Catholism Mother. We all went to Confession on Saturdays and church on Sunday. Did you attend weekly, more than once a week, only on specific holidays, or some other designated time frame?
We all went to church twice a week and also every Church holiday, Easter, Christmas and saints days. Was everyone of the same thought as to what faith to follow?
In our house yes indeed. Did you have friends specifically from church/synagogue/ temple/ mosque, etc.?
No not really except when I was in the choir but more acquaintances than friends. Did your family practice religious ceremonies at home?
Not really but we would eat special foods on special days and fast on others If you chose to depart from what your family believed (and feel like sharing) why did you do so?
I did I am no longer a Catholic, my hubby and I are both agnostic but hope we are goodChristians. I dispair at some of the dreadful things done in the name of religion and church. I believe I am agnostic much more because of my experiences at school , a convent taught by Nuns. My parents and siblings were and are wonderful Christians as well as Catholics. I am hope I am a good Christian.
For those of you joining SoCS for the first time, it’s a little different than the other prompts in that it’s not always a whole or single word. If you’re joining in from JusJoJan, don’t want to write stream of consciousness style, no worries. It’s up to you! If you do want to try it, please check out the rules on LindaGHill’s page .It’s fun! Here’s your Saturday prompt:
Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “a rainy day.” Write about the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “a rainy day.” Enjoy!
A rainy day in London.
A rainy day keeping an eye on the weather. Two friends spending a day together In their home city. They came by train They have umbrellas incase of rain.
Heavy grey laden clouds hang above The roofs opposite, threatening. White swans glide a pair for life Light fades rain threatening Where can we shelter Lights from cafes Glisten in Dappled Thames.
I have decided to write three Haiku, using the three forms I know, 5/7/5, 3/5/3 and 3/2/3.
I suffer from Raynaud’s disease it was undiganosed as a child so winter is full of cold memories. I also took the music of Tori Amos as an inspiration.
I missed last week’s due to my eyes but it’s not going away over night so I am pushing forward in to this new year happy to be in such great company.
in early winter the earth stands frozen in time hibernation’s key.
Caution this is not a fun blog post but it’s a true one from my heart.
Maggie is our hostess this week as she alternates with Lauren for the Throwback Thursday/ I Remember When series. This week’s prompt is: School Memories – Take this prompt wherever it leads you. Here are some suggestions to consider.
Who was your favorite teacher? What about your worst? Were you a member of any clubs? Did you attend homecoming or the prom? What was your favorite subject? Were you the perfect student or a troublemaker? What clothes were in style when you were in school? How did you get to school? Bus, walk, drive? Any extracurricular activities? What did you do for lunch? Did you attend football games or other sports? Did you attend school when corporal punishment was applied? Have a school photo you wish to share?
I wrote this poem on abuse at school by piers and teachers, in 2012. It is personal and I am not afraid to say so. My school days were among the worst days of my life. I was lucky in a way as there was no internet in my day, once I was home I was more or less safe.
It can be even worse these days as there is now cyber bullying so the poor victim cannot get away from it unless they cut themselves off completely from the modern appliances. In fact some people are Tolled after their death and so it is their family that carry on receiving the bullying.
It is abuse it should be stopped but the schools do not seem to be able to stop it !
It’s nothing less than abuse.
Rounded shoulders head hung down
Rounded shoulders head hung down why do they all make fun of me I am not a clown. Sitting in the row spiteful girls stick their pens in my legs. Teacher at the front she must never know, she wouldn’t help she treats me like dregs.
Following me nearly home, calling me mean names,in the playground I always stand alone they don’t pick me for their games. Opening my desk finding it’s been trashed , my text book been drawn in and my favourite doll has been smashed.
Mum tried her hardest but being the youngest of six my things did not get replaced they just got fixed. My plimsolls were the wrong colour they were black instead of white , I was hauled up on the stage, lectured in front of the school then had to stay on late that night. I just could not make it I could not win with staff and girls against me all I could do was just give in.
I met my boyfriend, and his friends did not like me because I spoke differently, I was from the posh school. They though I was rich, I was not I was just like them it would of made no difference if I’d let them know. When we were out or at a party they were pleasant to my face but if my guy was not there and behind my back the things they said were just a disgrace. They joined the line of teachers and my piers it makes me wonder now how I stood it for all those years.
I am not saying I no friends, no that would not be true. I did have friends and they were good but they were the very few. I always felt so ugly, too fat and too short and if anyone was nice to me I could not believe it. What do they want was my first thought.
Things got better when I started work I seemed to come out of my shell like a little butterfly I changed and put aside my days of living hell. They tell you, you don’t realize that school days are the best days of your life , thank God I never listened or I would of ended mine with a knife.
Thank God I grew away from all the pain but sometimes I see a face hear a voice or a name and it all floods back again. I am older now and have all that I could ask for, family and friends but sometimes my calm deserts me and confidence takes flight, fear and dark descends and I feel lost in the night. I ask the question now why children’s jibes and actions can be so mean and cruel. The worse days of my life were my years at school. I cry each time I read or hear on the news how children can hurt each other IT NOTHING LESS THAN ABUSE.
Di at pensitivity101 said : “Welcome to The Three Things Challenge. Below are three things that may, or may not, be related. Simply read the prompt and see where your creativity takes you. You can use one, two or all three words in your post, there are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre apart from keeping it family friendly. You can use 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC as a tag and my logo if you wish.
Charlie’s dead Prune your petticoat Hide that slip Only Jessabels Show their underwear.
I saw the words today and immediately thought of my mum, she had a horror of any of us girls showing our underwear. She often referred to our petticoats as slips and often would say, “Hold on Charlie’s dead.”
I wrote a little Tanka in the shortened disapline of 3/5/3/5/5.
I believe the origin of the saying comes the time after King Charles ( a very snazzy and frilly dresser) was dead. The Puritans made everyone dress very plain and somberly… Frills and furbelows were frowned on. Hence if your pretty petticoat was showing you were a wanton hussy! So there you have it. “Charlie’s dead”
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