Where did you grow up and how has it affected you in life?

[Old Salt]

Not so much enjoying the war but dropping bombs never worried me Old Salt. I meant to write about the poverty and the gutters and bomb damage being our playground. We in the UK did not have toys and such like as they did in the USA, we made our own fun and were never bored. The Canadian troops would give me sweets and some planes they used for recognition purposes. One even bought me a big tank, which cost him 10/-, that was a lot of money. Then I was always loveable. Could list the games we played in the streets as there were no cars, well one in a long street. Now a person needs a permit to park in it, if they can get one. Modern life, pc's, rubbish on TV, people can keep it, I am now a county lover. Oh, I did listen to Dick Barton on the wireless.

I can identify with unusual playgrounds. Before 1944 when things really got serious, we used to play in the woods and never worried about shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns hitting the trees and bushes to the left and right of us. The helpnessness and terror came later when we sat in our basement and listened to bombs hitting as close as two houses away!

And I am glad that Canadians were nice to you children. I had a similar positive experience with French Colonial (Morrocan?) troops that occupied our area ahead of the regular French troops. It was the first time I tasted Spam. I love it to this day. They also shared lamb and couscous with us, plus their very sweet and fatty tea!

My mother was scared to death with the call of the Muezzin (for lack of a better word) to prayer since it sounded really scary to a western ear! Except for a few small thefts they were very well behaved!

The French, on the other hand, were very arrogant. You saw them coming you'd better get off the sidewalk! They also confiscated everything of value. My mother lost most of her cameras in her shop and we lost our precious radio. What can I say? The Nazis started it all!

 

[davey]

Guess I am the odd one out, being born on the South Coast of England just before the start of WW2, so that makes me old. When war broke out, my father was stationed in South Africa listening in on German Radio transmissions. My Mother and I joined him, going by ship, which had to zig-zag all the way to avoid German U-Boats. When united, we moved to Mauritius, where my Father did the same until he had to return to England and was seconded onto HMS Egret to listen in on German E-Boats leaving Spain to attack the Atlantic Convoys. Alas, that lasted for three days before he was killed by a new German radio-controlled bomb which sank his ship, the only ship the Germans ever sank with it.
After that, it was dismal living in a basement in a south coast town, bleak, cold, hard up, food rationing and bombs dropping, but hell I enjoyed it. Oh, and a lot of Canadian troops chatting up our women including Mother who was still early 20's, are you still out there Rex?

nice story Avon I can empathize - similar terms of conditions in the north of england - liverpool bombed well as a major seaport - but we survived and dad came home!

 

[davey]

I call myself a Caesar born in the 'pool - [ caesarian birth in the front bedroom!] still wearin the robes!

 

[Avon]

Here is my post from a thread about something about my DNA:

"Why am I so drawn to a place I have never been to? By DNA I am 100% German, yet I love everything Celtic. My favourite country is Scotland! By book and film! Okay, Canada as well, but I did live in New Scotland (Nova Scotia) for most of my life.

My favourite music is anything that is Celtic! Bagpipes are a horror to many, to me they produce sweet music! The only explanation I have is that the original Celts lived to the east of the Allemannen (my ancestral tribe) and that, when passing through to the West, they left some offspring behind! It's either that or reincarnation!

Sorry Ireland, I love you, too, and really appreciate your music!"

Only been to Scotland one and a half times Old Salt, the first was in June 1963. Drove up there to fish the River Tweed and can remember the date as we sat in the car and listened to the big fight on the 18th, Cassius Clay vs Henry Cooper and Classius was dumped on his butt. Fog, mist and rain and taking my girlfriend into a pub was a sin it seemed as women in pubs were frowned upon. Road accidents everywhere due to the weather. Tried one more time years later, and it was worse, so turned around and went to the Lake District. My birth father's side was Cornish going back years, sailing ships and wrecks, now that is an interesting history. Off-topic perhaps.

​

 

[Avon]

Well yes they might but it seems many more left women behind barefoot and pregnant

Pointless making a comparison between five years of war and peacetime and how proper people should behave. Soldiers of all nations were at it, as were the women of course. Many Canadians wanted to stay with women and child but were not allowed and packed off home. I imagine Johnny was as bad, and it is not all Anne Franks.

 

[Old Salt]

Only been to Scotland one and a half times Old Salt, the first was in June 1963. Drove up there to fish the River Tweed and can remember the date as we sat in the car and listened to the big fight on the 18th, Cassius Clay vs Henry Cooper and Classius was dumped on his butt. Fog, mist and rain and taking my girlfriend into a pub was a sin it seemed as women in pubs were frowned upon. Road accidents everywhere due to the weather. Tried one more time years later, and it was worse, so turned around and went to the Lake District. My birth father's side was Cornish going back years, sailing ships and wrecks, now that is an interesting history. Off-topic perhaps.

​

Now that's what you call being robbed of your illusions! I was aware that everything isn't flowers and sunshine (literally) but women in pubs frowned upon? That's outrageous! @hollydolly, please tell me that things have changed! BTW, from what I've seen, the Lake District is beautiful!

 

[Avon]

I call myself a Caesar born in the 'pool - [ caesarian birth in the front bedroom!] still wearin the robes!

I was a mistake, Mother was only 17, and all the nice girls love a sailor.

 

[hollydolly]

Now that's what you call being robbed of your illusions! I was aware that everything isn't flowers and sunshine (literally) but women in pubs frowned upon? That's outrageous! @hollydolly, please tell me that things have changed! BTW, from what I've seen, the Lake District is beautiful!

LOL..well I can't say someone didn't have the experience they had on a one day visit 60 years ago..and possibly women weren't used to going into pubs .. but then they were pretty smokey , dirty places, mainly Male Bastions... .....since I was a Teen in the 70's and able to drink in pubs, they were very different from that

as an aside.. just to get one thing right.. the Lake District is not in Scotland...

Anyway with regard to Avon's experience when I was 8 years old.. not in my experience.. never saw a road accident ever growing up.. in fact in '63 there were very few cars on the roads apart from in the cities..

Rain is something which makes my country beautiful in it's glorious Lochs and Fauna and flora..it rains more in Western Scotland than England but probably not more than it does in Wales and Ireland..

In the west of Scotland.. it rains approx 175 days a year... in the Highlands about 250.. but that doesn't mean it rains solidly heavy rain.. it can mean just a light shower for 5 or 10 minutes during the day..

 

[Old Salt]

Pointless making a comparison between five years of war and peacetime and how proper people should behave. Soldiers of all nations were at it, as were the women of course. Many Canadians wanted to stay with women and child but were not allowed and packed off home. I imagine Johnny was as bad, and it is not all Anne Franks.

A valid observation! Five years of war does change people, especially soldiers who have been exposed to life and death situations so many times! They grab consolation where they find it and consequences be damned!

 

[Old Salt]

LOL..well I can't say someone didn't have the experience they had on a one day visit 60 years ago..and possibly women weren't used to going into pubs .. but then they were pretty smokey , dirty places, mainly Male Bastions... .....since I was a Teen in the 70's and able to drink in pubs, they were very different from that

as an aside.. just to get one thing right.. the Lake District is not in Scotland...

Anyway with regard to Avon's experience when I was 8 years old.. not in my experience.. never saw a road accident ever growing up.. in fact in '63 there were very few cars on the roads apart from in the cities..

Rain is something which makes my country beautiful in it's glorious Lochs and Fauna and flora..it rains more in Western Scotland than England but probably not more than it does in Wales and Ireland..

In the west of Scotland.. it rains approx 175 days a year... in the Highlands about 250.. but that doesn't mean it rains solidly heavy rain.. it can mean just a light shower for 5 or 10 minutes during the day..

LOL..well I can't say someone didn't have the experience they had on a one day visit 60 years ago..and possibly women weren't used to going into pubs .. but then they were pretty smokey , dirty places, mainly Male Bastions... .....since I was a Teen in the 70's and able to drink in pubs, they were very different from that

as an aside.. just to get one thing right.. the Lake District is not in Scotland...

Anyway with regard to Avon's experience when I was 8 years old.. not in my experience.. never saw a road accident ever growing up.. in fact in '63 there were very few cars on the roads apart from in the cities..

Rain is something which makes my country beautiful in it's glorious Lochs and Fauna and flora..it rains more in Western Scotland than England but probably not more than it does in Wales and Ireland..

In the west of Scotland.. it rains approx 175 days a year... in the Highlands about 250.. but that doesn't mean it rains solidly heavy rain.. it can mean just a light shower for 5 or 10 minutes during the day..

Thanks, hollydolly, I always enjoy your word paintings! They help to put me into the scene. And I am well aware that the Lake District is not in Scotland. I love travel shows and have been everywhere in the U.K. And the rest of Europe, thanks to Rick Steves! (sp?)

 

[hollydolly]

Thanks, hollydolly, I always enjoy your word paintings! They help to put me into the scene. And I am well aware that the Lake District is not in Scotland. I love travel shows and have been everywhere in the U.K. And the rest of Europe, thanks to Rick Steves! (sp?)

yes...now just a word about Rick Steves... he's a lovely man, I've watched many of his YT videos.. but like Bill Bryson.. Rick tends to not see.. or chooses not to report the reality of many places.. he seems to see them through a day visitors eyes.. whether he's actually in a place more than a day is open to conjecture.. but that's the impression he gives.. because I often have watched and said.. why are you describing this or that place in such glowing terms when in fact,.. it's a very difficult place (for whatever reason)... and he only see them through rose coloured specs....

 

[Avon]

The closest I get to Scotland these days is my nearest neighbour as we live on a farm located in the South Downs National Park. It was his family who sold Balmoral Castle to the Royal Family. He still wears the kilt at times and is all things Scotland except living there.

 

[davey]

will he be attending the ball??

 

[Avon]

Yes, but not buying any drinks.

 

[Old Salt]

yes...now just a word about Rick Steves... he's a lovely man, I've watched many of his YT videos.. but like Bill Bryson.. Rick tends to not see.. or chooses not to report the reality of many places.. he seems to see them through a day visitors eyes.. whether he's actually in a place more than a day is open to conjecture.. but that's the impression he gives.. because I often have watched and said.. why are you describing this or that place in such glowing terms when in fact,.. it's a very difficult place (for whatever reason)... and he only see them through rose coloured specs....

But I love rose coloured! I also like Bill Bryson's books. He is not always positive. He upset many Americans when he described in quite a realistic way what had happened to small town America. The sameness created by strip malls and fast food places,for one thing. The tackiness of some tourist attractions for another. Of course that wasn't yesterday either. I am not sure how many strip malls survived the Wal-Mart juggernaut!

 

[davey]

I started life in city and lived quite close to the beatles - the human ones not the crawling ones - I think if you have ever studied John Paul George and Ringo wot you were observing was a quiet confidence usually ; resilience is another word that comes to mind and Liverpool in those days was a very safe city and gave one a sense of pride and optimism for post war life? later as a teenager I moved into the next county which was totally different ; cows l cats in trees with no tails and a delightful cheese to die for and the beginning of romance but that's another tale for a quite fireside evening!

 

[davey]

But I love rose coloured! I also like Bill Bryson's books. He is not always positive. He upset many Americans when he described in quite a realistic way what had happened to small town America. The sameness created by strip malls and fast food places,for one thing. The tackiness of some tourist attractions for another. Of course that wasn't yesterday either. I am not sure how many strip malls survived the Wal-Mart juggernaut!

yes love bill bryson down to earth but very perceptive ; he loved his time in England and met and married a south of England girl who I think was either studying to be or had become a qualified nurse. but his travels around the world are very entertaining and quirky

 

[hollydolly]

But I love rose coloured! I also like Bill Bryson's books. He is not always positive. He upset many Americans when he described in quite a realistic way what had happened to small town America. The sameness created by strip malls and fast food places,for one thing. The tackiness of some tourist attractions for another. Of course that wasn't yesterday either. I am not sure how many strip malls survived the Wal-Mart juggernaut!

yes funnily enough I enjoyed his American books.. but when he wrote Notes from a small Island... ooooh talk about Poetic licence in Spades..

 

[Old Salt]

yes funnily enough I enjoyed his American books.. but when he wrote Notes from a small Island... ooooh talk about Poetic licence in Spades..

And sticking strictly to the subject ... not! I still hold a grudge against the English over Culloden, the Highland Clearances and the banning of the Kilt.

Oh, yeah and Brexit!

 

[Avon]

And the new passion for Camper Vans.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

This has been a very interesting thread to read.

Thanks @fuzzybuddy.

Don't thank me. It was Gael, who originally posted the thread over 9 years ago.

 

[MarkD]

Missed this thread when it started but enjoyed reading the first and last pages. Now I need to get going.

As for me, as a navy brat I was born in Oakland and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Maryland, Guam, Hawaii, San Diego, Maryland again and then the Bay Area once more. Growing up a vagabond has made me a citizen of the world but not a product of any one set of values. It has also made me into a homebody with Hobbit like sensibilities preferring my garden, my wife and dogs, a good book and walks in the countryside. Grew up in a large family with limited funds allocated expertly by my mother and so easily content. I’ve traveled enough and seen enough and met enough people to know that novelty counts for very little and the only way to really cover new ground is to take root and grow.

 

[hollydolly]

Don't thank me. It was Gael, who originally posted the thread over 9 years ago.

actually it was @fuzzybuddy

 

[Marian]

I grew up in a suburb just outside of Baltimore city. It has a reputation as a rough area. There was a lot of crime and drug use there. I have to say that I really enjoyed growing up there though. We lived in a row house and there were lots of kids to play with in the neighborhood. There were 8 kids next door! On hot summer evenings all of the neighbors would sit out on their porches to try and cool off a bit. They would all have coffee and talk and the kids would play. Everyone looked out for each other. I felt safe.
I only live about 10 miles from my childhood home now but it’s a totally different world down here. I am now in a very rural area. It’s very quiet. I spend a lot of time outdoors but in solitude. I miss the fraternization of neighbors although as a senior, I do love the peace. When I was a young newlywed , I found it boring here. Now, I love it.

 

[Sassycakes]

I grew up and lived in South Philadelphia until almost 5 yrs ago when I moved to the Suburbs. I learned a lot when I Lived in South Philly. I had many great years there until the year before I moved. I learned that some neighbors were only using me because I was a pushover. I have been in my new house for almost 5yrs and I don't know any of my neighbors, while my husband knows a lot of them. Life is more peaceful here.