One rather bad and sad memory I have as a child was when the National Front attacked our synagogue. We had only just repainted it after a refurbishment of the hall used and we turned up for prayers one Saturday morning to find slogans daubed all over the wall. We, the community that use that synagogue we very sad and really angry. A complaint was put into the local police and they promised to keep an eye on the place. I have no idea whether the culprits were found but it didn't happen again. The other thing was the threat to the synagogue during the Gulf War back in 1991.
That year I was recruited to be the security for the kids using the kindergarten and the other kids, who belonged to an orthodox school that was using the upstairs classrooms. I've never been so scared in my life, I was the front line and if anything happened I would be right in the thick of it. It was my job to check people who came into the main yard and then I took it upon myself to do a patrol of the area checking underneath cars for any packages or suspicious things. I was initially taken on for 3 months but I made such an impression on the parents of the kindergarten they decided to continue to pay me for a further 2 months. I got £50 a week so it was most appreciated. I had made special badges for the kids with their favourite cartoon characters or things on them and their names so I could identify who was who. It was nice to be appreciated like that. Unfortunately every New Year and Yom Kippur(Day of Atonement) we need security outside and inside to keep people safe.
On a lighter note I remember(although not there myself) in the 1980's when Page 3 girl Samantha Fox was huge (in both senses) she did a signing in London at a record shop(remember those) and she would sign all sorts of things but the crowd that turned up was so big and heavy especially those leaning against the main window nearly caved it in, and in the end she was moved to a safer area.
Not just her mammaries cwp? I mean who could forget the incredible appearance(finally) of her other asset in a special of M*yf*ir magazine in 1998? I remember coming back from Australia with my friend on a freezing November morning, very early on the Gatwick Express and getting to Victoria at stupid O'clock and going into a WH Smith kiosk* and seeing Maria on the front cover. Now of course this was sometimes a ruse to get you to buy the magazine in the hope that your favourite page 3 girl would be in it; nine times out of ten she wasn't but this time, yes! Maria was in there and finally revealing ALL - what a revelation that was and what a photo session that must have been. *I did buy it btw
Here's something we ALL remember. Being able to take empties(used pop bottles) back to the shop, usually a newsagents or maybe you had a collection done each week AND getting money back for them. We were recycling before the term became fashionable and getting a bit of pocket money at the same time. It wasn't a lot but it normally depended on how many bottles you took back and how generous the shopkeeper was. I think that idea would work today and encourage more kids to recycle for a reward although I suspect they would get considerably more these days.
Playing outside on a bicycle, skateboard or other modes of transport. The pavement was less uneven as it is now and a friend of mine decided to do two things. Firstly he had a bit of uneven pavement outside his house and we put a plank of wood down on some bricks making a ramp and then added some bricks in front of it, then jumped our bikes over them off the plank. They made bikes to last back then. Secondly he removed that and lay down some drinks cans and then we took it in turns to weave in and out of them on our skateboards(and yes we had arm & knee pads plus a helmet on) I also remember playing tennis in the road with a very soft ball which once got caught in a nearby tree. Remember that scene in Wayne's World where Wayne and Garth are playing street hockey and have to move out the way as cars come along, well we had that as well "car coming!" went the shout Nowadays kids can't play outside without being supervised which is a real shame.
I don't think I mentioned this before (but apologies if I have ) but does anyone remember the 1970's children's tv show 'Hope and Keen's Crazy Bus'(also Crazy Hotel)? Brief outline of series: Mike Hope and Albie Keen(two comedians) are on board their 'crazy' bus travelling around the country in search of a mystery treasure following an old map. However, they are being trailed by a mysterious figure-the Shadow, in black(now bear in mind this was well before the infamous Phantom Flan Flinger of TISWAS fame also in black) who trying to find it for himself. It had a very catchy theme tune sung by Hope and Keen which can be found on Youtube.
Two hilarious sketches from Not the Nine O'Clock News. I think you'll like the first one mind you the second with the gorgeous Pamela Stephenson ain't bad neither-I know I liked it back then.
Whilst watching the excellent 63UP(ITV) last week I noticed for the first programme 7UP they treated the kids to a visit to the zoo, a nice party and a trip to an adventure playground with zip slide, climbing things and other paraphenalia that we used to see regularly in parks. Can you imagine that today? Kids playing with planks of wood, climbing old sheds and whizzing around on concreted areas on roundabouts? No, neither can I; today's youth are so molly-coddled and pampered and parents are so worried about health and safety they are virtually wrapped up in cotton-wool. Did we care that we fell over, got the odd graze or bruise OR had a fight with someone and got a bit battered(well maybe that one is bad enough to worry anyone) - on the whole no, because it was a way you learnt, through experiences(I mean as a young child I went to have a pee in a field and ran straight into a load of nettles!!-luckily some dock leaves were found) good or bad and that also toughens you up for your next big adventure-school!
Do you relate to that? Did you do stupid things like balance on a wall or jump off a high place and land in a heap. I'd like to hear your experiences as we all have them. Maybe you got bashed by a swinging conker or fell into a river OR maybe you were the more adventurous type and camped outside, lighting fires and cooking food like a Cub Scout. Let us know.
