Web Page 3060 13th April 2023 First Picture: Portsdown Hill

Second Picture: Chalk Pit

Third Picture:Farlington Marshes

Looking Back. When we were growing up we never once questioned what our parents income was. We did not eat a lot of fast food as it was considered a treat and not a food group. We ate home made meals consisting of mainly meat, potatoes and vegetables and the vegetables were not an optional choice because if you did not eat your vegetables there would be no dessert for you that day We grew up during a time when we mowed lawns, pulled up weeds, babysat and helped our neighbours to earn extra pocket money. We were, by no means given everything that we wanted but we were satisfied. We went outside in the open air to play, we toured around on our bikes, went out with friends, played hide and seek, we went swimming, in fact we rarely sat inside at home. After school we went home and we did our homework before going out with friends or having friends over to visit our own home. Bottled water was unheard of we used the milk machine for cartons of drink. We always had to tell our parents where we were going, who we were going with and what time we would be home. We would ride our bikes for hours. We learnt from our parents and what they said was law, we did not even question it. The words please and thank you were always part of our vocabulary. We watched what we said around our elders and a telling off was not classed as abuse, it was called discipline and you did not hear swear words on the radio or in songs. We were very lucky as we had the slopes of Portsdown Hill to explore and the chalk pits to play in and the beaches to bathe off, plus the wilds of Farlington Marshes we could always explore. We could mess about in boats or go fishing in the creek. Life seemed much simpler then our only worries were to get our homework in on time. So much for progress, maybe I am looking back through rose coloured glasses but I know I enjoyed growing up when I did. Stay in touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com