What was it about those days, our yard had 16 houses, 6 shared outdoor toilets, we being the far end of the yard meant quite trip in the dark, mom would twist us a piece of paper, light it and it would last until we reached the bog door, after that it was manage in the dark lol the one central, gas lamp, never worked ( possibly because of the trainee grenade throwing that we kids practiced (how that came in handy years later lol) the16 houses had a total of 31 kids and 29 adults, as said before 'times were hard' but I can never recall a day without fun and laughter.
Us kids sitting on a fence with Teddy Ward (just enlisted and home on his first leave) him walking up and down with his steel helmet on, we kids hitting him on the head with sticks to test his readiness for combat.
Cold winters with no water or coal, going outside and ripping up the fence pailings for firewood.
Going to war in Aston Park with the enemy from Albert Road, we all, regailed in carboard box
armour, sheilds, wooden swords and spears (How I would love to see that gang lol)
Me and mum running up the yard to the road to help get my dads fingers from the car door it was so cold and him tipsy that he had slammed the door before getting his hand out of the way, the pain being nothing compared with me mums wrath for him being tipsy (again)
The family pride when my brother passed for Handsworth Grammer School, good for me, he now had a smart uniform so I could have his cast off's, didnt fit but did I care lol.
Family who's name I won't disclose who's dad was so work shy and idle he knocked a hole
under the kitchen/brewhouse sink so the cats and dogs could come and go (an early day catflap?)
It was an upbringing that one couln't buy, time spent in The Royal Marines afterwards was a walk in the park. Happy happy day
nutter
(Dave)