The Paper Round.

When I was a little lad

I had a paper round.

At half past six each morning,

That's where I'd be found.

Rain or shine whatever,

I'd make my merry way.

Reading papers and comics

I was delivering on that day.

The Beano and The Dandy

The Hotspur and the rest

But Rupert Bear in the Daily Express

Was the one I loved the best.

The Times, The Sun, The Herald,

Whichever one you choosed

I'd deliver right on time

But it might look a little used.

I was very reliable,

I never missed a day.

Not only did I read all those,

But I even got some pay.

Later on some folk would say

My knowledge seemed profound..

I never went to uni says I,

But I'd had a paper round.

[sassy59]

So did I Don but I hated those early mornings. Our three kids also had paper rounds and did really well at Christmas. Thanks for the smiles and the memories. Xxxxx

[knitter]

It seems that Rupert Bears rhyming style

Has influenced you

For quite a while.

( I think your poetry surpasses that of old Rupert now though, and makes me smile. I hope you didn't adopt Ruperts sartorial style as well.)

Thanks again .

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

I can't think why you say that,

Suggesting I'm a copycat.

[knitter in reply to Hidden]

No Don, you are the best

My remark was made in jest

( one of my daughters when she was a toddler, used to sing the Rupert the Bear theme at the top of her voice every time she was in her pushchair. )

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

I bet she is a clever critter

Just like her mother Mrs Knitter

[Ergendl in reply to Hidden]

Didn't Ronnie Corbett do a routine about being like Rupert Bear?

[Hidden in reply to Ergendl]

I vaughly remember that, wasn't he dressed up as Rupert Bear when he did it? I'd like to see that again.

This rhyming thing only came to me at the beginning of last year when I joined the group. I wanted to try and help in some way but I'm useless at talking about my ailments or anybody elses. Now I'm beginning to sound like I've had some life-long obsesssion with Rupert. LOL

[Ergendl in reply to Hidden]

Ha! At the risk of compounding that false impression, here's a YouTube link to the sketch: youtube.com/watch?v=SLP2jdJ...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden in reply to Ergendl]

I've never laughed out loud so much

For many and many a year.

So perhaps I was quite wrong about

My obsession with Rupert Bear!

Thank you.

[Dubba61]

Ahhh a trip down memory lane. Reminds me of all the Comics i used to like. "Sparky, the Topper, Mandy, and the Bunty'. "Patsy the Prefect" was my favourite. Even though i had no chance of ever being a Perfect. Too busy reading my Comics! 😊🌻✌️Thanks Don

[chubby2x22]

Very good Don. You keep reminding me of my childhood. In the school holidays we were picked up on a tractor by the farmer and taken mangle slashing and potato picking. Such happy days. Everyone carefree no health and safety. How things have changed. Have a good day jane.

[Lyd12]

Good Lesson in life- money has to be earned. I Used to .take out a neghbour's baby for a walk with the pram - "if she cries stick the dummy in this tin of condensed milk and put it in her mouth"! Iam amazed I was trusted to take a baby out, her mum must have been desperate!

[Hidden in reply to Lyd12]

There didn't seem to be the dangers around to have to watch out for then. I once took my son with me to the paper shop, left him in his pram outside, then went home without him. It was a while before my wife asked where the baby was.

[Lyd12 in reply to Hidden]

I don't know about no dangers, the war was on and I lived in London! We just got on with life, it was never easy, war or peace, a lot of poverty and sickness. I never had an inside loo or bathroom until I got married.

Watched programme on tv about the Spitfire, Tony was interested because he was in the RAF for his National Service. Those brave boys, going up to be shot at time after time, they saved us from invasion. Would today's generation be as tough, with their easier upbringing?

[Hidden in reply to Lyd12]

We suffered from the Bootle Docks air raids, the bombers aim wasn't very good. Being on the coast there was also the threat of invasion from which the RAF saved us.

But then you knew who your enemy was and it drew us all together. These days the enemies are within our midsts, we have grown that far apart. I did my National Service in the Royal Engineers and spent a lot of holidays in Germany, mainly to find out who these people were that were wanting to kill us. It brought home to me how stupid war is and made me wonder who won, if anybody.

[Lyd12 in reply to Hidden]

So true Don. My son is married to a German girl and we have a lot in common. War is started by our leaders and ordinary people pay the price. We need to choose carefully. My dad was in the REs during the war, a sapper, but was discharged because of his cough. TOny and I spent many holidays travelling through Germany and Austria, just after the war as Tony wanted to revisit his RAF postings. SAw Cologne, completely flattened.

[Hacienda in reply to Hidden]

I remember doing this with my Brand New Daughter..I ran back to the Shop like a woman possessed...She often says "Mum Its your Fault I'm like this you Abandoned me" Ha Ha . xxx

[MoyB]

We always used to leave the babies in their prams outside shops as it was impossible to shop with them in your arms and couldn't take prams inside. It was like a playground as the kids used to babble to each other. I also walked away without the baby once, Don! Luckily I remembered before I went far!!

Love your latest ode! I never had a paper round but my son went out in all winds and weathers to do his. He turned up on the doorstep one awful morning and wailed, 'I can't go on!' so I made him a cuppa and packed him off again. I sound such a hard Mum - sending my son out into the elements and leaving my daughter outside a shop! I was a pushover really. xx Moy

[Shirleyj]

My son had a paper round, loved the poem x

[mskpjb]

Superb Don, you've excelled yourself this time ! Sheila x

[Hacienda]

I too had a Paper round Don. Most of us Oldies had the experience. I progressed to a Saturday day Job In Sayers cake Shop,( at 14 ) There you are Don, you could write an ode to my Cream Cakes. ..Ha ha . Love n Hugs . Carolina XXX

[Hidden]

What is that white around your mouth

It's looking quite suspicious?

I thought I'd try them Carolina said,

They really are delicious.

[RoadRunner44]

Oh, perfect! It says it all. Thank you and best wishes. Chrys