Simple days.

I have just been watching a program tonight about the days of steam railways. That was my world as a kid. Imagine the change I have seen, from steam railways to Concord and beyond. From the days of waiting months for a phone line (often a shared party line with next door neighbours) to the internet, and instant communication with almost anyone in the world.

So much progress, but in many ways, I miss the time when I grew up. The annual holiday was spent down in Ramsgate with my Grandmother, who lived in a very big four story terraced house. We travelled down by steam train, which was very exciting. At my Grandmothers I shared a huge and very high double bed with my brother. The place reeked of lavender polish, and in the bedrooms we had very large china bowls and huge china jugs filled with water for washing our faces and hands in the morning. No on suite bathrooms in those days.

My old Granny was a bingo nut, and always had lots of great stuff she had won for me and my brother. Stuff like cowboy hats and cap guns. She was a lovely old lady and never a cross word, she died from diabetes complications at around 65 years of age. One of my earliest memories was the day she died. My Mum was doing the washing with an old fashioned boiler, stirring the washing with a big stick, (when we received a telegram we did not have a phone). The telegram informed my Mum, her Mum had died. It was the only time I saw my Mum cry.

I remember searching among the rock pools on the beach, and staring in wonder at the sea. On the way back to my Grannies, we would stop at the Eagle pub. In those days kids were not allowed in pubs, so while my parents had a pre dinner drink inside, my brother and myself would sit outside with a bottle of pop and a bag of crisps. Simple days, but I could understand those days. These days, I am not so sure.

Eddie