General Chat

We used to share a gobstopper

and no doubt chewing gum

Did you ever make your own telephone?

a length of string between 2 tin cans
:

Yes, I remember the telephone, using two tin cans and a length of string David, and the swing using a length of rope with a cushion over it, hanging from the garage doorway, boy did that hurt your legs, but still great fun.

We always went to my nan and granddad's on Boxing Day, it was great as the whole family got together from all over the country, I had aunts and uncles all over the place, some in Scotland and others in Oxfordshire. It was the only time we all got together and I looked forward to it every year. Sadly most of them have passed away now, so no more Boxing Days together anymore

I've finally finished all the wrapping of the presents and didn't realise how much I'd bought so all my shopping is finished now too, apart from the food, although I've made a good start on that too with the chocolates and nuts etc... The tree goes up a week today, so all I have left to do is the Christmas cards and decorate the living room and Sandra's bedroom. I need to put my thinking cap on as to how to decorate the living room this year. I still don't have any ideas yet. I try to do something different every year, the only thing that's the same is the tree and I try to make something to put in the room too, but can't think what to make this year.
Good job I've got plenty of time

I'm settled now, watching another Christmas film with Sandra, then I'll start dinner I've been on the go since 7.30 this morning, so I don't think I'll have any problems sleeping tonight, I'm tired already

Evening All

I have been a bit off today.Bit sicky feeling ,painful hip and tired ..Poor old soul.
But i did go out this morning and bought Hannanh a couple of things for Xmas.I bought a Coatigan and a tunic/dress.Now I am not sure about either lol.I will look at them again in the morning or maybe wait until Janice comes at the weekend and see what she thinks.

I wasn't allowed Gobstoppers .But often bought one secretly ,and I would suck it and then hide it and so on until I got to that lovely aniseed pip bit in the middle

Chewing gum used to be the Wriggleys and I would stick in on my bedside table overnight then add a bit of toothpaste to it the next day .Bubblegum was banned as Mum thought it was common ..But once again I still used to buy some .Usually out of one of those machines .
I remember when my sister was young she got hold of some chewing gum and fell asleep with it in her mouth.She woke up to find it all stuck in her hair and on her neck.
Needless to say my Dad had one heck of a job to get it all out.

My Hannah did the same when she was about 5.(I didn't even know she had got hold of any gum.It was so badly stuck in her hair I had to call Nigel (my hairdresser) He was a young lad then and living at home just a few doors away.He came round and had to cut it all out of her hair !!!!.Luckily her hair was so curly so you couldn't notice that she had had chunks cut out...Nigel and often have a giggle about that day .

I must go back and read todays posts.

I have spent most of the day looking for my goggley eyes for dolls. I have found one pack but they are nto the ones I want. Is'nt it annoying when you know you have something somewhere but can't find it. I always find other things I was looking for before for something.

A gob stopper would last me ages. I was always taking it out of my mouth to see what colour it had turned into as they had layers right the way through. I can remember my cousin and I both bought some and she went and dropped hers putting it in her mouth and it cracked right in half so you could see all the coloured layers inside adn even one half had the little seed Jane was talking about. It still tasted just as good she said. Don't think I would have eaten it if it had been on the ground............

Meant to say that I remember the Phyllosan adv ert that said Phyllosan fortifies the over 40's. I think they were only yeast tablet like things. My nan used to like a bottle of Senatagin tonic wine. Silly name as it was no tonic!!

Dad did'nt drink as I think i have told you before but at Christmas he would have a glass of Ginger Wine or Green Ginger wine. Mostly I remember Stones as a make or Crabbies???

As Frank says, most of you seem to have had Christmases as a child that I could only dream of! No relations came to us at Christmas and we didn't visit them. I only ever met 2 of my first cousins out of a total of 56 as my parents only kept in touch with one of my mum's sisters. Similar to Frank's mum, my mum would spend Christmas day saying 'this time tomorrow it will all be over, thank goodness'. There was no excitement or build up to Christmas. On the day, dad wouldn't even open his presents and usually spent the afternoon watching telly or sulking. One year when he finally appeared downstairs, my toddler brother who'd been waiting excitedly to see what was in dad's presents picked one up and rushed over to him with it and was brushed aside and angrily told he didn't want the present. I can see his crushed little face now. How can you be so cruel to a little child! So, like Frank, Christmas has been far more enjoyable since I was married. We've loved it just as much when it's been just the two of us as well, especially when we were both working. One year I wrapped about 6 tiny presents for OH and hid them all over the house. Each present had a clue in it to work out where the next present was hidden. You make your own fun don't you. I like the sound of those reindeer crackers Jane.

Well, I had an email today from the student who did the Diabetes Study. Not only do I have a free lunch and the presentation to look forward to a week on Friday, he's now asked if I would mind talking to the members of the National Institute for Health Research who will be attending as he thinks I would be an ideal choice!! I'm quite chuffed and will be phoning him tomorrow to let him know I will be more than happy to do it.

Sorry to read you're off colour and sore Jane. If it's muscular have a lie down and gently massage where it aches, you might get some relief.

When we were kids the loaned gob stopper was passed on when it changed colour.

I used to get a shilling, sometimes 2 shillings off my Dad on a Friday. Would spend ages looking in sweet shop windows. Didn't take long to eat my choice.
As well as bubble gum there was Beechnut gum out of the machine.

They used to sell cigarettes out of machines too. Wonder no one broke them.

Mel that little seed in the Gobstopper was the best bit ...I think most of us as children would have just wiped any dirt off or a rinse under a tap .I know I did lol

I bet you will find those Googly Eyes just after you get some new ones..That is always the way. Is this to do with whatever you are making??

Thanks for the PM Jane, sorry to hear you're not feeling very well, hope you feel better soon. Maybe you could have a hot bath, that might help

Going to watch corrie now then the rest of the soaps then off to bed, I'm absolutely shattered. I've not slept very well for the last two nights, but think I might sleep like a baby tonight. Well, I hope so anyway.

The film was really brilliant!! Maggie Smith should certainly get an award for her performance. I had 2 nice scoops of peanut butter icecream as usual. OH likes the cookie dough one. I see they are stopping giving out their discount tickets at the cinema at the end of this month. Another perk gone!

Sorry to hear you haven't been well Jane and I hope you are your old self again tomorrow. The things you got Hannah sound nice anyway but it's good to have a second opinion!

It is annoying when you need something and can't find it Mel. Yes, are they needed for your mystery?

Girls blew huge bubbles with that pink bubblegum and it would pop sticking all over your face!! I never had it, but did like the Beechnut with the little white pillows David mentioned and also Wrigley's Spearmint chewing gum. Girls would chew gum if they thought they might get a kiss and I expect it was the same with boys!

I would sometimes buy a gobstopper, but really liked those aniseed balls that went from brown to white etc when you sucked them. I can remember chocolate bars being sold in machines on the pavement too.

Glad you enjoyed the film Ann.We are seeing it in a couple of weeks

I am off to bed now xx

Switching my PC off for the day in a minute. Wishing you all well,

I hope you get a good night's rest Jane Bye

It's only me.

Ann, It's not nice but I'm not the only one who had a bad time at Christmas, was I.

I use to get my sweet ration 2 ounces a week and an old thrup penny piece to go to the sweet shop on Saturday evening. The five of us would tramp into the shop. I would have gobstoppers, my brother Ted a Mars bar, which he would cut into SEVEN PIECES and have one piece a day. Mary and Jean would have those tiny Dolly Mixtures, I can't remember what Bill had.

When I first worked in London you could buy Paine's Poppets from the slot machine on the station for 6d in fact there were most types of chocolate available.

In those days Offices in London gave staff Luncheon Vouchers 2/6d a day. !! I could get a bowl of soup and Roast beef dinner for that. Today I am sure it would cost nearer £10.00.

What have you been up to Jane, DRINKING from a wet glass Hope you feel a bit better in the morning.

Ros has been dozing herself up all day. So I hope she sleeps alright tonight and feel a bit better in the morning.

Well the soaps are over, now it's the Jungle. So Ebay here I come.

Jan's daughter Kerry (where we are going Christmas day) has asked if I can do a ham for Christmas Evening. I have two in the freezer. One I will do for them and one to take to Conrad and Jan's in Devon. That will relieve the pressure in the freezer. !! I might even take the Turkey Crown and Lobsters down also.

Ros and Carolyn want to go to see Maggie Smith's film this week. So that's another afternoon on my own

See you in the Morning sleep tight.

I'sd love to see that film but there is nowhere round here to watch a film. We used to have a film in the village hall years ago but there is nobody who will work the projecter anymore and not enough people went so they stopped it. Mum and I went to see Lavender Girls there as the village hall is at our gateway drive in. It was great and a shame they stopped it.

Signing out now and hope Jane feels better in the morning and Ros too. Love to both

O the eyes are for something else I am going to make.

It'll be out on a DVD Mel or on T.V at some stage. We shall wait and see it then, as it is a bit of a hike for us to get to a Cinema. I've got Lavender Girls on DVD, and we watch it now and again as it is a lovely film.
We've got Son and Partner coming this weekend. It'll be good to see them, it'll cheer us both up!

Good morning everyone. I hope you're well and refreshed.

Was thinking of noises. Where I lived as a child there was a paint factory named Dampney. Above its roof it had a large 4 faced clock. At midday it would sound off like a siren. People checked their watches by it. Must have been for lunch time?

Dampney became British Paints which in turn became Berger Chemicals. We lived in
Portland Road. During the war the rear of that factory was a prison compound for Italian prisoners of war. Some worked in the factory. Some stayed after the war and married local women. My Mother worked there in the part where they put distemper into tins. Berger Chemicals closed and was empty for a long time. It is now used for
student accommodation.

Do hope Jane's ache and sickness has worn off

Morning David, morning all

Quite a dull day here, but no rain or wind........for now anyway.

If the building could speak David, think of the stories it could tell. It's certainly had a history hasn't it?

Hope Ros and Jane are feeling better today.

We don't have a Cinema around here either, I do envy you all going off to see all these films. Maggie Smith is such a good actress and quite funny in Downton sometimes. I normally have to wait for the films to come out on DVD, but at least I get to keep them to watch again, so that's a positive.

Have you almost finished your mystery things Mel? We're all interested in knowing what they are. Are they for Christmas?

I know how you feel about mis placing things Mel, I can't find the roll of brown paper I had and I need it to wrap up the Christmas presents for my friend and her son in Australia. I've got a feeling it's been put up in the loft when we were having our big sort out, so shall have to ask OH to take a look for me when he goes in the loft tomorrow. He has to move everything out of the way of all the pipes up there ready for the boiler people, so it won't be any trouble taking a quick look for me while he's up there.

Well, I feel a bit of a fool, but gave Sandra a laugh. The missing present I was thinking about for Sandra for Christmas I actually gave her for her birthday. I had to ask her if that was the case after spending an hour turning this place upside down trying to find it. Sandra thought it was very amusing

I slept really well last night and feel much better for it today. I must of needed all that sleep as I've only just woken up, which is very late for me.

Nothing planned so far for today, except a bit of housework and washing my hair. We're all looking forward to the boiler being put in on Friday, I can't believe how much we're missing hot water

Going to get a cuppa now, then put the kettle on to wash my hair, I'll be glad when I don't have to do that anymore and can just run a bath
BBL