General Chat

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TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live in us forever. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them! Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

WE WERE GIVEN TEA WITH PLENTY OF SUGAR, IN A BOTTLE UP UNTIL THE AGE OF 4 WE WERE TOLD TO GET OUT AND NOT TO COME BACK UNTIL BED TIME/ MEAL TIME

I was born in the 50's agree with you 100% Lesley Love Helenxx

And in the snow when we came in with wet socks where the snow had gone over the top of the wellie boots and soaking gloves etc we were given dry ones to go back out again. What a great time we had, making our snowmen and crashing into them with our sleds just to build 'em back up again. J PS I am '43 by the way.

Jan, I'm one of the survivors and glad I had my childhood, I would hate to be restricted as kids are today, my kids have all been allowed to play outside and dissapere for the day, they make their own way to their mates house and back again, and have been warned that if they bring the copper to the house god help them. Bev

I cant believe I am still here. We are certainly tough cookies in the n icest possible way! xx BC

Jan, Yes I am one of those survivors, it does make you laugh when you think back, in my own particular case, I was told 40 odd years ago to give up drinking coffee, I still do, last week I was told I had a condition and I said oh you cant eat prawns with that can you and the doctor said 'oh they've changed their minds now, you can' Its just so laughable, how did any of us reach adulthood? June xx

GO KARTS HAD MANY A CUT BUMP AND BRUISE FROM MINE. WAS A BIT POSH THOUGH MADE FROM A SIVER CROSS PRAM AND HAD BRAKES . WAS NEVER IN AS A KID CANT GET MY KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE ! WHATS HAPPENED

Yes, mine was planks of wood with pram wheels but I don't think anything as posh as Silver Cross - I think my brother was still being pushed around in that hahaha. Wouldn't have dared nick those wheels LOL.

Hi Jan, You have just brought back some wonderful memories.

DC that's awful. I hope someone cuts his bits off. J

Yep, Mum used to scrub ours in the sink, mostly with carbolic soap, on the washboard. We used to like helping her put it through the wringer afterwards - that was outside the back door in the garden. She'd hang 'em on the line all white and smelling fresh. Can't imagine using carbolic soap now - can you even buy it now???? J

Oh that's right Caz, the mangle!! Definitely penny for the guy and 'knock down ginger' and that was all the year round. We used to tie string on someone's door knocker, hide behind the hedge and keep pulling it. Little b****rs we were. Mind you the sensible ones always cut the string, LOL. J Sorry got your name wrong... Cas. Apologies. J

Jan, we used to play 'Belfast' ...ring the bell and run - fast!! Joan.

You sound about my age Jean,but you forgot one thing about the snow,and water in the wellies.have you forgotten ,toasting your chillblains in front of the fire 'till the itching drove you mad/lol.Boy ,those things bring back memories,Fred.ptfg.&a&g&s.

Oh Jean ,you just brought back horrible memories to me! Hadnt thought about that pink plaster on my little bendy NHS specs with wire legs FOR YEARS! LOL. Joan.

Hi Jan, I am definitly one of those survivors,living in a house of 8 adults with 7 of them smoking. bieng told fat was good for me. Playing in the roadside. Do you think we have gone too far the other way are we getting soft??? Wendy

Now those are memories I will not allow to come to the surface! Joan. A little tin of crayons with your name on it. Girls in the playground wearing nasty nylon slcks with elastic that goes under your foot, UNDER dresse! & the pencil sharpener clamped to the classroom window sill, with a wind up[ handle.Always seemed to chew my pencils.!

I was born early 60's teenager in the 70's and yes I went out didn't have to worry and D C I was assaulted to but by my sister's husband and I was the liar until nearly 2yrs ago but he still got away with it and yes she is still with him so I know how you feel but we got through it hard as it was but we are better people than they will ever be and we are survivors