Growing up.

[eightyplus]

Just general chat, a place to have what can all have from time to time, a good old fashioned natter.

Growing up during the wartime bombing of Cardiff was not that bad, but still enough to scar the mind with memories of wooden stairs reaching jagged fingers into the non ending blackness of night, that, with the unforgettable smell of water and smouldering fires were enough to scar my mind for the rest of my life.

Memories now are mostly so fleeting that anything I remember today I must quickly write down because tomorrow’s thoughts will be completely different and those of today will disappear from a brain that seems bent on just teasing me these days.

With school and war behind me a new chapter was about to start in my life where I would have the pleasure of picking fresh bananas from roadside plants, being bitten by a snake in North Africa and riding out enormous waves that made the ship that I was sailing on look like a thimble at the bottom of a giant bath tub.

I was witness to the canal war of 1956 at Suez and saw at first hand the violence and fear of mob violence in Alexandria, almost being on the menu of a very hungry shark a few days earlier had been less frightening than that mob swarming those Egyptian streets.

…………. And what brought all of this on? Reading of a person, one of those so called reality stars writing their biography while barely out of their teens, and here’s me I struggling to find a few lines to fill over eighty years, whatever do these people find to write about?

Maybe we oldies are supposed to have the knowledge but it’s the young that are making the money.

[Louisiana]

I still think we are worth listening to - it will be a shame if our memories are totally destroyed. I grew up in London during the bombings - people have no idea as to how it really was. But, we Brits were such kind, courteous people then and continued to be so in the 50s. love watching black and white films as they portray that time and I feel so at home watching them! I keep "meaning" to put it all down on paper, but probably never will...good for you .....keep writing

[Lyd12 in reply to Louisiana]

I too grew up in LOndon, born in Woolwich 1934 so do have many memories of the war. Being woken In the night to be rushed to the Anderson shelter in the garden while the bombs were dropping. going to a neighbours during a raid because all our ceilings were down. the day our school was fire bombed and we were collected by parents who were smoke blackened from putting out Molotov cocktails all the afternoon. they stood there with tears down their faces because we children were safe, having been in the school shelter. Many more memories, no trauma counselling then! How can our generation not feel sometimes the young are perhaps too sheltered?

[DozyDormouse]

Carry on with your story please. I really want to hear more, it made me feel as though I was there. More pleeeeease (begging like a little child) Dozy x

[eightyplus in reply to DozyDormouse]

It's odd really but I think my stories are so boring, after all the world has become so much smaller over the years. I am just glad that most of what I have seen was before the tourist trade started their love affair with concrete instead of sand.

[Hidden]

You have answered your own question 80+ The longer you have lived the less you remember that's why. I would love to hear some more of your war exploits as well - if you want to talk about it. I knew 2 old soldiers once who were prisoners of war in Burma and they would never talk about it. Very sad. x

[BugsBunny]

Hi eightyplus

Having been born in 1960 I don't have the same memories as you. So I agree with dozymouse, please carry on the story.

All the best

Mandy

[angse]

Hi yes please do carry on its really different to hear it being written in my opinion by a real genuine person, then from reading it second and from a book, this way is much more interesting and personal, I was born in London 1952 so knew nothing of war, only from reading history books, my parents were living in Ireland and came over in 1951 I think?, so they could only say what they read in newspapers, yes and what I did learn the British were one of the most courageous people in history, who just never gave up, it makes me really feel proud to be a part of this nation, the ordinary people I mean, as they were the ones who took the risks and who gave their lives so we all could benefit, makes you angry though to see how many people dont seem to care not only that but just takes everything for granted,anyway keep on with those memories they deserve to be remembered not forgotten, hope everyone as healthy as possible. Angse

Dont

[pergola1]

This is such an interesting thread for me, being in the 80 club so may I follow the conversation. I can remember the day war broke out but too young to realise the seriousness of the time, but it changed my life. I feel privileged to have lived through the period. I will be eagerly reading because a lot of my memories have got blurred. As children, we had such a free life and were contented with the simple things we had. My father joined up and worked in a bomb disposal unit, followed by a trip to India. And why do I have so many American relatives!! A handsome US army officer whisked my sister off, sad at the time because communication was so poor.

The world has totally changed since then as it inevitably would do, but have I changed with it????? Good reading all the messages. xx Pergola

[katieoxo60]

Thank you eightyplus for a change of subject, mind does elude us sometimes as we become more mature. I am middle of a family that ranges from 96 to 6 months my 96 year old mother can still tell a few back tales, my family have all served in various wars and in this city we still recall the damage of the German blitz. As you say we live in a different world now, and some of us have more illustrious lives than others but cherish what wisdom you have gained including your experiences.

[pergola1]

Agree, katie, it is good to have a change of subject such as this, bearing in mind this forum is for health problems generally but good to have diversion to other topics.

[Suzy6]

More stories please. I was born in 1942 and don't remember the war. I remember my mum being very excited as she gave my brother and I half an orange and banana. I hated them. Remember my Dad coming home and I didn't like him for a long time and we were never very close.

[Louisiana in reply to Suzy6]

I saw my Dad twice during the war and used to walk up to men and ask if they were my Daddy! I didn't like mine when he came home...he had such black moods. when I grew up I could understand it all better, but it was sooo complicated as a child. I tend to forget what an interesting life I have had...I happened to mention to someone the other day that I had sailed on the old Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, and that I used to fly via BOAC (PROPELLOR) planes to New York....they just couldn't believe that anyone who had flown propellor is still living :):) So perhaps we should jot down our memories. funnily enough, I remember my childhood very very clearly...much more so than the past few years! - a psychologist told me that those that lived through the war as children would have very vivid memories and would go back to a much earlier age than those living through "normal" times. Enough of all of this...perhaps writing our own history will take our minds off our ailments....yippee!! Hope you are all feeling well.

[FarmerD]

I,m only a youngster(58)lol,but I find it all fascinating,thanks.My dad was in the Royal Signals but would never talk about the war and gave me a healthy distaste for any wars.D.