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Birmingham Christmas of the past
- Thread starter warren
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I lived at 148 Grange Road in the late 50's, early 60's
Maybe you knew a John & Cathy Ford.They had a daughter Susan and I think 2 younger boys. We lived at the Coventry Rd end on the odd number side. We left about 1953. Their home was possibly near to 148 in early to mid 60”s ?
Time Traveller 66
master brummie
Just found this link . Keep your old baubles its your memories of many a happy Christmas past with family. I remember my father checking which Christmas lights on the tree worked using a transformer from your train set or Scaletric set with two peices of wire . Usually the lights were made in Hong Kong or Taiwan no British Kite Mark then. PS bring back Lucky Bags with the Hong Kong toys in.
Ok so who has tackled that treacherous path climbing the wobbly non-H&S standard ladder to reach the depths of the loft to retrieve the ‘treasure’ of Christmas decorations ? We haven’t yet, but we’re pondering it. I’ve even considered just going out and buying new ones. But the kids response: “No way” !
Every year we say the same thing, must invest in a pull down, stable ladder. But once the decorations are returned to the loft, “out of sight out of mind”.
Meanwhile, we’re still “pondering” the ascent.
Viv.
Every year we say the same thing, must invest in a pull down, stable ladder. But once the decorations are returned to the loft, “out of sight out of mind”.
Meanwhile, we’re still “pondering” the ascent.
Viv.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
not be a stairway to heaven but its a good way to get in the loft, to get the decoration safely
https://www.titanladders.co.uk/
https://www.titanladders.co.uk/
Richard Dye
master brummie
We did pretty much the same as Pete. We bought a new light weight folding ladder on sale. I watched a house inspector who was over 350 pounds go up the “fold down” I had to look the other way as the fold down bent and creaked. And guess what because it’s easy to carry (has a safe handle) and is light weight we use it safely(at least so far after 5 years). Merry Christmas!Hi.Viv i had one of them pull down.it was a bit iffy i pulled it down once and it come down on my head..so i took it down and have now got a step ladder that can be used as a conventional ladder as well. when not in use it goes in the shed.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
i have had mine now for ten years. the old loft ladder was just too much hastle the cover coming down.
now it opens into the loft out the way with out having to wear a 
As we have very young grandchildren we wondered if we’d need to review the Christmas tree decorations in case any were unsafe/unsuitable. I’m pretty sure most are ok (although we’re still putting off going in the loft). But we’ll keep our eye on the children just in case.
Anyway this all started me off thinking about having a child safe tree. So I bought one of those felt trees with felt baubles fixed with Velcro. They can move the baubles to different positions on the tree. So we’ve proudly hung it up. However our 2 year old grand daughter doesn’t seem to be too interested so far. Oh well seemed like a good idea at the time. In any case not all is lost as I’ve enjoyed ringing the changes with the felt baubles !
This all reminds me of one Christmas many years ago when we left our Jack Russell alone while we went out for a few hours. On return (and as usual frantically greeted by the dog) her mouth was smeared bright red all around. Well my first reaction was “she’s killed something!!”. But on going into the living room we could see she’d had a whale of a time chomping on the fake red polystyrene apples from the tree. Can’t imagine they were too tasty ...... errrr
Viv.
Anyway this all started me off thinking about having a child safe tree. So I bought one of those felt trees with felt baubles fixed with Velcro. They can move the baubles to different positions on the tree. So we’ve proudly hung it up. However our 2 year old grand daughter doesn’t seem to be too interested so far. Oh well seemed like a good idea at the time. In any case not all is lost as I’ve enjoyed ringing the changes with the felt baubles !
This all reminds me of one Christmas many years ago when we left our Jack Russell alone while we went out for a few hours. On return (and as usual frantically greeted by the dog) her mouth was smeared bright red all around. Well my first reaction was “she’s killed something!!”. But on going into the living room we could see she’d had a whale of a time chomping on the fake red polystyrene apples from the tree. Can’t imagine they were too tasty ...... errrr
Viv.
Bad boy! Viv.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
ot i know... i left him in the car not long after i got him from the Sanctuary he chomped the car seat what a mess foam everywear
Time Traveller 66
master brummie
Been up the loft on my none health and safety step ladders all decorations and tree down intact. Had a couple of close shaves over the years even the dog keeps out of the way . They seem to have a sixth sense and know when an adult may plummet from the sky or loft hatch onto them. Be careful up and down those steps everyone.
Time Traveller 66
master brummie
His way of telling you to leave him a Bonio.ot i know... i left him in the car not long after i got him from the Sanctuary he chomped the car seat what a mess foam everywear
Source: British Newspaper Archive
This Birmingham Post 1970s comparison of Christmas food costs got me thinking. Look how little prices changed over one year and yet it’s entitied “A Dearer Christmas”. It's also striking that some items on this list would have been unimaginable 20 years before.
Isn’t an “oven ready” turkey the same as a fresh turkey ? The listing of some items like mince pies, Christmas Cake and Christmas puddings suggests to me a general move away from making your own. I know my mum bought at this time rather than made them at home. I expect they were competitive in price too compared with buying all the ingredients to make your own.
I like that the journalist included a tin of Alka Selzer on the list ! A clear indicator that most people could expect to suffer the effects of over indulgence. Remember those little tins where you inserted the spoon handle and twist to open ?
Viv.
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Richard Dye
master brummie
Be careful TT! You are pushing the envelope as they say……
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
but why do we chomp turkey at Christmas?
www.whychristmas.com
The History of Christmas Turkeys on whychristmas?com
The history of why turkey is eaten at Christmas.
www.whychristmas.com
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Fresh turkey-unplucked etc, oven ready - stuff it and shove it in the oven. It would be interesting to compare those prices with todays, was thar click and collect or delivered?
Bob
Something that isn’t listed is a joint of ham. Always thought that was a traditional Christmas treat, but maybe not.
And only walnuts and Brazil nuts are mentioned. As far back as I can remember we always had hazelnuts too. Loved the glossy brown shells. Viv.
And only walnuts and Brazil nuts are mentioned. As far back as I can remember we always had hazelnuts too. Loved the glossy brown shells. Viv.
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Time Traveller 66
master brummie
You are so right Richard i do not bounce like i used to. Thanks for the advice i wil tread carefully from now on if you pardon the pun . Take care yourself.
no joint of ham for us viv dad always got our turkey on christmas eve as they were sold off a little bit cheaper however we always had brazil and walnuts...a box of dates and a box of orange and lemon slices with sugar on which i still buy now mom was never a big drinker but dad always managed to get her a bottle of apricot wine which lasted until dads birthday on 1st of jan....happy days
lyn
Oh yes the sugar coated fruit jellies ! Because mum worked in various local shops customers always bought her gifts, often a bottle of something alcoholic, chocolate liqueurs , fruit jellies, marzipan fruits, that sort of thing. They became a good follow up to the regular box of Roses or Quality Street, I clearly remember mum coming home with bags of gifts she’d been given. Don’t see it so much today.
I expect we got used to having ham as she worked for Bywaters for a while. Must have kept it going when she left. Remember the smell of it boiling in spices and mustard. Then in the oven to finish it off. I also remember mum telling me her mum used to cure hams in her cellar, one being kept for Christmas. So that could be why she cooked ham for us at Christmas - keeping up her family tradition, but modified as we never had a cellar.
I also notice no chocolate logs on the 1970s list. Again we had them quite often as mum ran a bread shop. We always took it for granted we’d have this as mum had her network of shop contacts and grateful customers. Viv.
Viv.
I expect we got used to having ham as she worked for Bywaters for a while. Must have kept it going when she left. Remember the smell of it boiling in spices and mustard. Then in the oven to finish it off. I also remember mum telling me her mum used to cure hams in her cellar, one being kept for Christmas. So that could be why she cooked ham for us at Christmas - keeping up her family tradition, but modified as we never had a cellar.
I also notice no chocolate logs on the 1970s list. Again we had them quite often as mum ran a bread shop. We always took it for granted we’d have this as mum had her network of shop contacts and grateful customers. Viv.
Viv.
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