Yep, you felt as safe as houses at Butlins…my old mum never had a worry when like you I went out after breakfast and she didn’t see me for hours. Plus, because of the amount of Red Coates wandering around there was always someone you could go to if you needed.
Down Memory Lane
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Pompeyexile A little more of that today wouldn’t go amiss…I wonder when it all went wrong. As kids, were were about 10-11 and we used to go out all day long trekking miles into the woods at Wisley common. Or go Night fishing…..just as a group of kids.
You can’t do that today.
I don’t know if there is more danger out there for kids today or if because of social media and wider reporting it is just ‘seen’ more. There were still monsters out there targeting kids (Brady & Hindley) so why weren’t our parents so worried and like you, allowed me go out all day to the woods or on my bike for miles? Blimey I remember going on a really long bike ride and didn’t think twice about knocking on a stranger’s house door and asking for a drink.
As for making dens in woods or going on adventures on bikes with their mates today, phones have ruined that. If I wanted to talk to my mates I used to go round their house…today? they don’t even need to get out of bed and they would rather play a video game than actually go out and use their imagination and skills in playing.
We used to be out all day on our bikes or in the woods making camps or in the farmers fields piling the hay up and jumping out of the tree into the hay till it got dark. No one bothered you and you came home when you were hungry. As far as Butlins that was the bees knees the fun you could have. I remember eating in the large dining rooms on the long tables and when someone dropped any cutlery the roar in the room was mad. Talk about feeling embarrassed if it was you luckily I never dropped anything.
Just now I was reminded of this…remember watching it on TV. The SAS certainly didn’t take any shit.
Rob666 I remember watching this live on TV while at work, Kate Adie lost it in a big way…
I seem to remember terrorism took a slight downward turn after that…the SAS considered the best in the world and probably still are today.
DavecUK I seem to remember terrorism took a slight downward turn after that…the SAS considered the best in the world and probably still are today.
He Who Dares Wins Rodney!
Nice one…Dave!
5 days later
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Above was the horse called trigger..
Now I’m remembering a time when things seemed to taste better in the past, I guess stuff had less additives?
- Milkshakes made with real milk, not water and powder
- The 1970s Wimpy and Chips…tasted fantastic and that plastic tomato on the table filled with Ketchup…64 wimpy franchises left in the UK?
- The Knickerbocker Glory (remember that one)
- At Butlins…the Golden Egg (diners/cafes)…a plateful of disappointment
- A time when Fish and chip shops were really good in the South and you got the imprint of an old newspaper on your food because they used the oil based ink
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When I was a pup my brother and I would take our go-kart walk around knocking on doors asking for old newspapers.We then took them to the local chippy and traded them in for a bag of chips and scraps. So, there you have it, two for the price of one; eating and being educated all at the same time.
I remember being in a Wimpy once as a kid and an American family walked in and ordered a burger and chips and after seeing what was presented to them, took one look at it and walked out in disgust.
Sweet cigarettes and that brown stringy stuff made out of coconut and put in a packet to look like tobacco called Spanish Gold… Don’t think those would be allowed today.
Pompeyexile Sweet cigarettes and that brown stringy stuff made out of coconut and put in a packet to look like tobacco called Spanish Gold… Don’t think those would be allowed today.
I agree, in fact, I believe sweet cigarettes are called something else now and I don’t think have the red bit on the end. I used to love Spanish Gold and had forgotten all about it!
It’s amazing how parents and companies thought it was OK to sell these products to kids and I wonder how much influence the tobacco companies had on this behind the scenes… e.g. paying for advertising, development and other things.
I also remember the sweet cigarettes but did not like the peculiar taste they had.
Also remember the Spanish gold, this was one of my favourites, remember it being in a tube of yellowish paper about 100 mm X 20 mm. I still like shredded coconut today.
Pompeyexile I remember the sweet cigarettes. They had a lovely smell, and I loved the little box they came in and the ritual of taking out a cigarette out the box and pretending to smoke it like my parents did. Too cool for school ✌️😎
Elcarajillo That Spanish Gold did have a very pleasing and unusual texture and flavour.
Gosh I remember the Iranian embassy siege on the news! A while back I did a couple of training courses run by Bob P who was behind the SAS embassy operation. An incredible guy. He must be over 70 now but he was throwing himself to the ground and rolling about, demonstrating methods of dealing with terrorists armed with pistols etc. Made us late 40s/early 50s guys look decrepit he did. Much respect.
Sweet cigarettes! Yeah how were they allowed? I think they are called candy sticks now, but as they tasted like a stick of blackboard chalk, the only reason for them was trying to look grown up by emulating all the adults and actors who smoked back then.
Wasn’t there another thing which was basically Chewing tobacco? Skoal Bandits or something.
And does anyone remember the Golden Nuggets chewing gum that came in a little bag as if you’d been prospecting in America?
Hotmetal And does anyone remember the Golden Nuggets chewing gum that came in a little bag as if you’d been prospecting in America?
I had forgotten about those, it was a little cotton bag with a drawstring….I used to like em.
I also liked Bazooka Joe chewing gum, we used to trade and collect the little comics inside.
My dad used to collect the little cards that came with boxes of tea….we really drank a lot of tea.
What about sweets that didn’t catch on and soon got dropped? Here’s one for starters….
Swisskit Bars….
With the advertising slogan ’I’d risk it for a Swisskit’
