Category: Memoirs

random musings of a geriatric delinquent – little things – first published 1 July 2014

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This instalment of Commando Senior’s memoirs looks at some of the little things that made life bearable back in, what must have been, austere and bewildering times. Today, even those of us who lead a fairly frugal life, sit surrounded by gadgets to cater to our every need and take most of them for granted. It’s quite humbling then, to travel back in time and see what it was like not so very long ago. Continue reading random musings of a geriatric delinquent – little things – first published 1 July 2014

Memories of the early sixties – holidays

Ulwell Caravan & Camping Site Swanage from geograph.org.uk by OLU
Ulwell Caravan & Camping Site Swanage from geograph.org.uk by OLU

These days people jet off to some warm exotic place for holidays. Back in the sixties only the rich knew the joys of air travel and working class familes like mine spent their holidays far closer to home. My first holiday memories were of a caravan park in Dorset when I was about two or three.  Our little caravan was permanently pitched on a grassy hill in Swanage, saving the need for towing it back and forth.  These days there are lots of caravan parks in Swanage and I have no idea which one it was but we spent many happy weekends there. Continue reading Memories of the early sixties – holidays

Memories playmates and lies

The big wide world outside my gate
The big wide world outside my gate

My very first experience of a playmate was a bit of a disaster although it began well enough. Close to the bottom of the Big Hill, next to the library, there was a big house and in the huge grassy front garden was a beautiful little Wendy House. It was my first ever experience of house envy. Whenever Pappy and I passed by I’d look at it and wish it was mine. Sadly, it’s long gone and flats have been built on the site. One day, as we were on the way to the chemist, a little girl of about my age with short cropped mousey hair, reminiscent of Mia Farrow at the time, came up to the wall.
“Do you want to play in my Wendy House?” she asked.
Of course I was desperate to. Pappy wasn’t all that keen on the idea but, with a little pleading from me, said I could as long as I stayed in the garden and only until he came back from the chemist. Continue reading Memories playmates and lies

Memories of Moonwalk 2011, a long, cold walk in the dark

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Today marks the fourth anniversary of my first Moonwalk so I thought it was fitting to share the story of my day. This was taken from my diary at the time with very little in the way of editing. Even so, I think it captures the feeling of the night, the emotions and the sheer fatigue of walking through the night in an unfamiliar city for twenty six point two miles. I have added a few retrospective comments in italics where I thought they were necessary.

Continue reading Memories of Moonwalk 2011, a long, cold walk in the dark

Memories of the sixties, grandparents

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Most people have four grandparents. Sadly, I only had two. Mother’s father died of tuburculosis when she was a child and my dad’s mother, Mary, who I’m named for, died five years before I was born. Even so, I count myself very lucky because my paternal grandfather, Pappy, lived with us and I spent many of my childhood days with him. Continue reading Memories of the sixties, grandparents

Memories of the early 1960’S – Alex’s wedding

Alex and Dad

In 1963 big changes were afoot. Alex was getting married! Being just three I don’t remember a great deal about what must have been excited preparations but I do have enduring memories of the day itself. Not all of them are good. Continue reading Memories of the early 1960’S – Alex’s wedding

Memories of the swinging sixties – the adventure of going out

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The second episode my my memoirs was posted on my deceased blog not long before the hacking incident that killed it. Luckily, I managed to salvage most of it, dusted it off, polished it up and put it back together. If you’ve read it before I apologise but I promise the next one will be brand new. As the title suggests, this one is about going out in the very early 1960’s. Continue reading Memories of the swinging sixties – the adventure of going out

Back to the very beginning – memoir

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Just before the blog hacking incident, I began to post some of my childhood memories after Sherri at A View From My Summerhouse suggested it. Of course they were lost, along with everything else, but I’ve managed to salvage the ones I’d already written. My intention was  to continue writing more and post one every month but I got a bit bogged down with other things in January. Anyhow, this is the first one, published back in 2014, not long before my blog was hacked. Continue reading Back to the very beginning – memoir