Whether running on my paper round
In the snow and wind and wet.
Or shuffling to the Post Office,
My benefits to get.
There's always been just this one song
That helps when things get tough.
It's not a mamby pamby song
To some it sounds quite rough.
It's what just then is needed
To push you on your way,
And urges you to battle on
To fight another day.
(Of course, most of us would have to use our mobilty scooters now.)
I hope I have a good way to go before the end of my road and you too Don with your faithful companion Midge 😊
Love it Don, That's what I'm Doing and you, and many more of us Oldies with Stamina,,,XXX
Love harry Lauder Andy Stewart Moira Anderson just to name a few but being Scottish I would x
Oh Don! You took me right back to dark winter evenings, when I was a child, sitting round the gramophone.
Requests for Harry Lauder, Peter Dawson or any of many artistes on our 78's. We even had a few old one sided records and one made of dull red wax over cardboard.
Toast and dripping or hot cocoa and toast made on the fork over the fire.
All wrapped up in home sewn flannelette pyjamas topped with a knitted dressing gown made from lots of odd bits of wool.
No TV so it was records or the radio while we coloured in pictures, knitted or made latch hook rugs (using wool from unpicked garments that had lost it's bounce so couldn't be made into new garments).
I remember my family making rugs out of canvas, very thick wool and an implement like a big hollow needle fitted with a wooden handle were the wool was threaded right through. It seemed quite a violent action was needed get the wool into the canvas. Some made rugs out of old rags too.
Yes Don, that's the canvas and latch hooks we used but 'we wus poor'. We had home knitted clothes, once out grown they were passed down through the family then later they were unpicked and the wool re-knitted but when it got unpicked again it was then used for the rugs, a few strands together for thickness.
The colouring books were Christmas presents, given by Father Christmas with double ended coloured pencils (I think he bought them from Woolworths). Drawing paper was often old envelopes, or clean paper bags from grocery shopping.
Those rugs were lovely to put your feet on when you got out of bed in the morning. The lino was always very cold!
Good morning Don, I’m only 47 so unfortunately I don’t remember Harry Lauder for the same reasons as yourself however I absolutely love him and this particular song like generations past and future generations to come as I’m a loyal Birmingham City supporter and this song is our anthem so many thousands of us sing this song word for word on a weekly basis and it always raises a smile to my lips and heart. Here’s hoping we all have many years of journeying on left in us. Keep right on xxx
Thanks Wendy, I had no idea that Birmingham City F C fans had adopted the song as their anthem and that it is sung by thousands every week! I was thinking that it was long forgotten. I don't follow football as you have probably guessed.
Didn't expect to be singing this morning Don giving my age away saying I remember every word. And joined in.
Hi Don very appropriate for us who are not so mobile. I have a Don't Quit picture in my lounge to jolt my memory when things get tough. Another motto is enjoy today as no one knows what tommorrow holds. Have a lovely weekend
Had to start marching there, to the beat of the song. I don't think I have heard this song before, and not sure I know the singer, but it is a good one though. Thank you.
Look on U-Tube for some of his other songs Anne. He will have you dancing around the room to Roamin' in the Gloamin' or I Love a Lassie. There's nothing like a good rousing march with a solid beat to lift you up when you're down.
Ooh yes please. I recognise those songs. It will be fun.
Thanks for that Don. Do you still do your paper-round??? 😂😂
At 65, you've made me feel quite young this morning! I don't think I can remember these versions - but I've heard many Scottish pipe-bands playing them? Definitely ones to get the arms swinging, even if the feet can't march any more...! 👍
Stewth, Hopalong!! There's 80 years between those two events. It's about raising the spirits not crippling yourself. The Scots have always been unbeatable when it come to spirits. 😃
Definitely Don! My Dad (a lorry driver, when they were 'Gentlemen of the roads') spent many happy times there, and loved the Scotts! He also fought alongside many of them in France, and always had glowing reports of them and their indomitable spirit...! My other half also swears by their single malt..... 👍
How things have changed on the road since the days when lorry drivers were Gentlemen of the road. When doing my National Service I could rely on them giving me a lift whenever the chance arose to get home. One of my neighbours is a long distance lorry driver. His vehicle is the size of a row of houses and he goes to work in a smart suite, briefcase in hand and his cab is like an office with a bed. 🙄
Brilliant, thankyou as always.
Hanks Don. What would we do without you and Midge🐞
I think you will all do extremely well. Not everyone appreciates my quirky sense of humour and at times I'm a little lacking in the tea and sympathy department.
'We Plucked The Heads Of Dandelions'
Stories of a hospital volunteer - Stranger on the Shore 
The other end of the telescope
