Reminiscing

Reminiscing

When I was a young lad things weren’t half so bad
we would laugh, run and play in the street all day
With few cars on the road, mostly bikes were rode
with two jackets on the street, footballers would meet
We’d play out all night, when evenings were light
not ranters and ravers, respected the neighbours

As shops shut at six, we’d hang around for our kicks
when they closed on Sunday we didn’t fade away
from any starvation, we were a healthy nation
We never heard of cancer, real food was the answer
No Wholemeal just white, but we grew up alright
water came from the tap, not that new bottled crap!

We’d put sugar on our bread or margarine instead
never overweight from the food that we ate
Because we’d walk never ride, always played outside
we would come home from school (dinners were cruel)
Pudding made from stale bread was what we were fed
because it didn’t grow mould when it grew old

One slice put us right we’d be playing all night
or we’d have corned beef stew just made with a few
onions and spuds they would make you feel good
Or a cheese and potatoe pie, was always put by
made from old hard cheese, which when grated would please
between two slices of bread, it beat sandwich spread

Then custard and jelly in front of the telly
takeaways were fish and chips, no pizzas or dips,
Aerials on the roof, no wi-fi, Bluetooth
no Mobiles at all, just a phone box to call
No computers those days, so we had to find ways
to keep ourselves amused, there was plenty to choose

Snakes and ladders and draughts, Ludo, arts and crafts
playing Hopscotch or tag, sweets at threepence a bag
Returning empty bottles of pop, with threepence on the top
We’d climb trees in the wood, but were always good
because Coppers were burly would turn your hair curly
If they threatened to come, speak to Dad or to Mum

We used to like skipping, bread with pork dripping
At school we were blessed with pots of ink on the desk
to dip in your split pen, no nice biros back then
Education wasn’t sparse, we had the three R’s
School holidays were fun, seven weeks in the sun
but even if it poured we were never bored

We had more than our fill, on a day trip to Rhyl
We fell out of trees, lost teeth, skinned our knees
No Health and Safety then, in those glorious days when
we played marbles and conkers, no one went bonkers
Macdonald Hobley, presented shows on TV
With a plum in his mouth, cos he came from the South

George Formby was wily, like Old Mother Riley
Take your pick, box thirteen, the Goons, Hughie Green,
young Monica was funny in Double your money
Champion the horse and Fury of course
don’t forget the fruit gums Mum, Wrigley’s chewing gum
Tinned Carnation milk. creamy thick, poured like silk

Daz white knights knocked the door, win a fiver or more
Persil’s plastic flower, only two ad breaks an hour!
When programmes had been seen, we’d stare at the screen
Till the white dot went away at the end of day
My Memories are not pure, but one thing is sure
They were the good old days, in so many great ways!