O
O.C.
Guest
Pomgolian
If we could go back in time, would we want to ?
If we could go back in time, would we want to ?
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Rod
Guest
For some reasons yes, theres could be so much to do..... dotting the I's and crossing the T's ........ But to live in those conditions again?
Paul Higgins
master brummie
Hi to everyone. Old post, I know but thought I'd contribute. I was born in a Victorian back-to-back in Cranby Street Saltley. No hot running water, just one cold tap in the scullery. No cooker, a black-leaded range on which we cooked, heated bath water and it heated the living room. Outside toilet. Communal back yard. We then moved to a house in Pype Hayes which was futuristic for us! Hot and cold running water, front and back garden, but still an outside loo which we had until the 1970's. Taking a look at the excellent old photo, did anybody in it look unhappy? Kids playing in the street, neighbours talking to each other. It may have been hard back then, but we only know that because of the luxuries we enjoy today. Would I go back? Kids safe, neighbours who helped when problems raised their ugly head. Crime? I don't think even the meanest of rogues in those days would have robbed their neighbours. I don't think they'd have dared! There was a real community spirit. We actually knew our neighbours for streets around. I would like to go back with some of the luxuries we have today. But if that wasn't available then yes. I'd go. Good days. People really cared about each other. Kids grew up with a different outlook We had a community, poor as it was, about which we cared.
Alf
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Well put Paul
We shared the toilet with 2 other families, a toilet was a Toilet.
We moved to the Mod Cons on 27th November 1947 but as you say still an outside toilet.
Then over the years we lost touch with the people around us started to lose touch with each other silly arguments etc: why I never understood.
I have now have lived for the past 19 years over a mile from nearest neighbor and we have still had trouble with their kids, its their parents like it is all over GB:aww:
We shared the toilet with 2 other families, a toilet was a Toilet.
We moved to the Mod Cons on 27th November 1947 but as you say still an outside toilet.
Then over the years we lost touch with the people around us started to lose touch with each other silly arguments etc: why I never understood.
I have now have lived for the past 19 years over a mile from nearest neighbor and we have still had trouble with their kids, its their parents like it is all over GB:aww:
Paul Higgins
master brummie
Thanks, Alf. Phew! Not often (I am a member of several forums discussing varied topics) that I get such a vote of confidence. Isn’t it a shame we don’t know our neighbours anymore? This loss of local interaction I believe is the root of today’s social problems. We don’t care enough about each other anymore. Try to correct a neighbour’s kid today and you’ll find yourself in court! If I’d gone home and told my dad ‘Mr so-and-so just told me off’ my dad would ask why. If I’d said because I kicked my ball in his garden 5 times, he’d give me a thick ear and tell me to be more careful! Now they come round, and you’re in the wrong! And the kid thinks ‘Hah! I’m untouchable!’ Scary, ain’t it?
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ELIZABETH1
master brummie
It is a shame we don't know our neighbours anymore - I am sure it is part of the problem socially as you are discussing!! I live on a street with only 8 houses and have lived here 10 years - I couldn't say who lives in which house - I know people to say a polite "hello - how are you" as they drive past in their cars - but knowing people seems to be a thing of the past. My neighbours aren't horrible or anything like that - it's just people barely take time to pass the time of day etc.. thesedays.
When I was a youngster in Birmingham I knew everyone in a massive street and most people knew my parents and siblings - and that alone did always make us behave as kids - we never dared play people up for fear they'd go round the house and tell parents what bother we'd caused - so we never found room or had any inclination to mess about and annoy/upset people.
Yes I'd go back to the older days (I grew up 1960's - 1970's) some places we lived were like the houses in the picture Bolton Road, Dollman Street - but they were more carefree and happy days. Seemed my parents never worried so much about us youngsters - like I worry today about my teenagers for all our mod cons and wealth in comparison to what my parents had when we were younger!!!
Today we really lack a "community" and I gues our children have missed out in a big way ?
When I was a youngster in Birmingham I knew everyone in a massive street and most people knew my parents and siblings - and that alone did always make us behave as kids - we never dared play people up for fear they'd go round the house and tell parents what bother we'd caused - so we never found room or had any inclination to mess about and annoy/upset people.
Yes I'd go back to the older days (I grew up 1960's - 1970's) some places we lived were like the houses in the picture Bolton Road, Dollman Street - but they were more carefree and happy days. Seemed my parents never worried so much about us youngsters - like I worry today about my teenagers for all our mod cons and wealth in comparison to what my parents had when we were younger!!!
Today we really lack a "community" and I gues our children have missed out in a big way ?
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jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
I think my children one 32 years old and one 28 year old were part of the last generation who had freedom and could roam but even then with not as much freedom as we had growing up in Brum in the years following WW2. There are new neighbours next to us and we haven't seen them but a few times over the last year. They certainly aren't allowed out of the house except to play in the back garden which has high fences. I do feel sad for them because you learn so much and become more independent if you have freedom when you are young.
The street I live in has seven homes and I know four families at most after years of being here. It's really is a different society now to when I was growing up.
You never see a single child walking to school now either.
The street I live in has seven homes and I know four families at most after years of being here. It's really is a different society now to when I was growing up.
You never see a single child walking to school now either.
brummie nick
master brummie
. Crime? I don't think even the meanest of rogues in those days would have robbed their neighbours..[/quote said:
No I would not go back. As stated here there are things that one would like to go back to do differently. Sometimes you yearn to correct some things but it's no good you can't.
It's right, you don't get to know your neighbours much these days. It would be nice to know them a little more but not too much I think. We are fortunate though, we live on a nice street in Canada and in emergencies people do help each other. Generally Canadians are kind but it is changing somewhat for the worse. I have not used the busses since the 70s but even back then in the city it was everyone for himself. The bus was full when the door would not shut. Stand up for a lady? forget it three guys would beat her to the seat.
I don't know about crime in the UK but here murders seem to be done in job lots these days. In the UK up to the sixties a single murder would be newspaper fodder for twelve months.
One fawcett with cold water; one outlet to plug an applience into; heating water on the stove for a bath. I think we have said enough about the other. Although I suspect that for the ones here who were fortunate enough to have a more affluent childhood, that time could well be remembered by them as prefferable.
It's right, you don't get to know your neighbours much these days. It would be nice to know them a little more but not too much I think. We are fortunate though, we live on a nice street in Canada and in emergencies people do help each other. Generally Canadians are kind but it is changing somewhat for the worse. I have not used the busses since the 70s but even back then in the city it was everyone for himself. The bus was full when the door would not shut. Stand up for a lady? forget it three guys would beat her to the seat.
I don't know about crime in the UK but here murders seem to be done in job lots these days. In the UK up to the sixties a single murder would be newspaper fodder for twelve months.
One fawcett with cold water; one outlet to plug an applience into; heating water on the stove for a bath. I think we have said enough about the other. Although I suspect that for the ones here who were fortunate enough to have a more affluent childhood, that time could well be remembered by them as prefferable.
Paul Higgins
master brummie
I don't know brummie. Maybe there were instances but nothing like the roguery and thuggery that goes on today. And if caught, they would almost certainly be locked up, and in a real prison, not a soft touch! As for forcing they're way into a pensioners house and slapping them about till they got their money, it wouldn't have been the law they'd have to worry about! No society is perfect, but we cared about ours more then. And as Elizabeth1 said:
'When I was a youngster in Birmingham I knew everyone in a massive street and most people knew my parents and siblings - and that alone did always make us behave as kids - we never dared play people up for fear they'd go round the house and tell parents what bother we'd caused - so we never found room or had any inclination to mess about and annoy/upset people.'
Today the parents would say 'So what?' or 'prove it'. I have complained to local parents, and if they are not downright hostile, I can tell they were not interested and would do nothing.
D
dollyferret
Guest
i am very fortunate,i dont like anybody in my street
Sakura
master brummie
Rupert - I think we must be very lucky where we live (we live in the same town). I never go to the stores without seeing people I know. I find the shop assistants generally helpful and friendly. We don't see our neighbours very often in the winter but they are all very nice and would do anything to help each other. Yesterday my husband was out helping dig someones car out of the snow bank the snow plough had built up on his driveway.
Hundreds of young people walk to the schools in our town every day, with adult crossing guards on the main intersections to keep them safe. Few children go by school bus as the service has been cut back, some are driven by their parents.
Our neighbourhood and commmunity here, is just as friendly as Uplands Road was when I was growing up.
Maybe there is more crime, but we did not have 24 hour TV so that you heard about something as it was happening as you do now.
I liked Handsworth and then Northfield after we were married, I very much like where I live now.
An outside loo is ok when we are camping but impossible in the -10C as it is today. Thank goodness for mod cons. :happy:
Hundreds of young people walk to the schools in our town every day, with adult crossing guards on the main intersections to keep them safe. Few children go by school bus as the service has been cut back, some are driven by their parents.
Our neighbourhood and commmunity here, is just as friendly as Uplands Road was when I was growing up.
Maybe there is more crime, but we did not have 24 hour TV so that you heard about something as it was happening as you do now.
I liked Handsworth and then Northfield after we were married, I very much like where I live now.
An outside loo is ok when we are camping but impossible in the -10C as it is today. Thank goodness for mod cons. :happy:
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Going back is debateable for some of us, for others perhaps less so, But I do know that I would love the world to be as it was then, less frantic ( sorry Fran) less crime and all that that brings in its wake. Not least to go out and leave the door unlocked and not be afraid to walk the streets at night.
it
brummie nick
master brummie
Di , the reason people could leave the door unlocked was, they had nothing of any value to 'nick'
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Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
:angel: Nick, Value is relative to the times.
Food of any sort even trodden on cabbage leaves were collected and eaten. (I know me mate Crommie said this never happened, however I remember doing it with my sister and our friend for her Mom. That was when we lived in Dymoke St in 1950's) .
Also Coal dust and Coke dust (not todays kind) were mixed with paper and water dried and burnt.
So by todays standards an unlocked door could mean a treasure trove of odds and ends, the odd coin 1d, 3d bit or 6d (old money) could mean not going hungry that day.
But for the most part (there were a few I know and knew) no one would dream of invading a neighbours home, or person.
Food of any sort even trodden on cabbage leaves were collected and eaten. (I know me mate Crommie said this never happened, however I remember doing it with my sister and our friend for her Mom. That was when we lived in Dymoke St in 1950's) .
Also Coal dust and Coke dust (not todays kind) were mixed with paper and water dried and burnt.
So by todays standards an unlocked door could mean a treasure trove of odds and ends, the odd coin 1d, 3d bit or 6d (old money) could mean not going hungry that day.
But for the most part (there were a few I know and knew) no one would dream of invading a neighbours home, or person.
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JKC
Deleted Upon Request
I knew a few lads who would'nt think twice of breaking into someones home, and taking what they could get their hands on........No...I didn't do any house breaking....but to my shame I did take from parked cars....only the ones who left their doors unlocked, I did it and now feel ashamed...but what goes round comes round....and yes I have been a victim of kids braking my car window to get to my radio/cassette player a few years ago....Justice.....
In the May 2004 issue of Brummagem page 18......D Gunnell talks about her dad Bill Chapman working as a barrow boy....this has to be in the 1930s......D.Gunnell used to live in Talford Street....I used to fancy her daughter......anyway to cut the story short...Bill Chapman once got mugged for his money, and getting beat up himself going to the aid of a old man being beaten up......he was also a victim of a hit and run.....D.Gunnell finishes her story by saying " I don't think Dad would not like the Bull Ring now. I don't think he'd cope. The good days are gone I 'm afraid Carl.Sad isn't it." if they were the GOOD OLD DAY'S.....WHAT WERE THE BAD DAYS LIKE.........
In the May 2004 issue of Brummagem page 18......D Gunnell talks about her dad Bill Chapman working as a barrow boy....this has to be in the 1930s......D.Gunnell used to live in Talford Street....I used to fancy her daughter......anyway to cut the story short...Bill Chapman once got mugged for his money, and getting beat up himself going to the aid of a old man being beaten up......he was also a victim of a hit and run.....D.Gunnell finishes her story by saying " I don't think Dad would not like the Bull Ring now. I don't think he'd cope. The good days are gone I 'm afraid Carl.Sad isn't it." if they were the GOOD OLD DAY'S.....WHAT WERE THE BAD DAYS LIKE.........
Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
I think there is a lot of truth in what Paul says, about not knowing any of your neighbors, most couples today have to work long hours to pay their mortgages, bills etc,
I know my daughter and husband, go out in the dark and come home well after six in the evening. Their weekends are spent catching up on chores and
so on. The way we live and work has completely changed, we may be better off in many ways, but no one seems happy anymore. The big differance I find is nobody
cares for anyone anymore, the world is full of selfish people who just dont give a "monkeys" for anyone else. sorry GOM Bernard
I know my daughter and husband, go out in the dark and come home well after six in the evening. Their weekends are spent catching up on chores and
so on. The way we live and work has completely changed, we may be better off in many ways, but no one seems happy anymore. The big differance I find is nobody
cares for anyone anymore, the world is full of selfish people who just dont give a "monkeys" for anyone else. sorry GOM Bernard
pedlarman
master brummie
Nice one, Paul. Add my name to your opinions...
As for people stealing from their neighbours, I had an aunt who would regularly "pop out" to see someone "down the street" - leaving her door wide open and her purse (which had money in it !) on the table... She would come back and the purse - and the same amount of money - would still be on the table...!
Mind you, that was in the early Thirties, during the Depression days. It's peculiar how suffering people seem to offer more aid, respect, and the "widow's mite" to each other...
Jim Pedley, (pedlarman)
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Graham
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I'm no coward so wouldn't be afraid to go back, although I wouldn't like it as I had to survive more than one murder attempt by street gangs. Also survived poverty, physical, mental and sexual abuse not to mention the sadistic beatings the 'teachers' gave us. My sister woke up one night with a knife at her throat! Were we safe? What a daft question.
Graham.
Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
Graham , I was only speaking for myself and how I felt in my family with those questions and answers in that old post... no one else. It was and is different for everyone.... I know my sister has a very different view to mine.
I was happy back then as I knew nothing else and I saw kids worse off than we were in lots of ways and looking back now we really had nothing and life was very hard for my family and for my Mother for many reasons, least of all having a three children all born blind and an almost blind husband and no regular work for him...
I am happy now becouse I know what we as a family have achieved on a personal level, as I said in a later post It is relative to the times....
I was happy back then as I knew nothing else and I saw kids worse off than we were in lots of ways and looking back now we really had nothing and life was very hard for my family and for my Mother for many reasons, least of all having a three children all born blind and an almost blind husband and no regular work for him...
I am happy now becouse I know what we as a family have achieved on a personal level, as I said in a later post It is relative to the times....
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E
Elizabeth Redmond
Guest
Hi pom i was born and raised around the corner from you and although we had very little i still look back with great affection
and while lots of things have moved on and given us a more comfortable lifestyle i still miss lots from my childhood,dirty dolly's toffee lolly's, lol,but for all of us there are probably things we don't miss,but it was memorable
V
Vintage Brumie
Guest
I was a kid growing up in the 30's in Pype Hayes. The mutual friendship between neighbours then was something that has gone forever.
There was always a strange phenomena though that applied to every street, ...... there was always one family that was a bit dodgy, and ... the kids who lived at the other end of the street always seemed to be inferior to us kids who lived at "our end".
There was always a strange phenomena though that applied to every street, ...... there was always one family that was a bit dodgy, and ... the kids who lived at the other end of the street always seemed to be inferior to us kids who lived at "our end".