
computedshorty
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Everything posted by computedshorty
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The Muffin Man and others in your street . Many street vender?s, coming along the residential roads looking to sell their wares, so had to attract the attention of the families in their homes they called out or rang a hand bell. The Muffin Man carried a wooden tray on his head with stacked Muffins and Crumpets covered by a cloth this held the stacks in place, he would call out Muffins and rang his bell, and when stopped he lowered the tray in front of him to hang by a strap from around his neck, the chosen muffins placed in a paper bag that had to be blown into to open. The Cats Meat Man carried on his shoulders poles that stuck out front and behind him, dried strips of black horse meat hung some looking like dried leather from the poles, this was a treat for cats that their owners could barely afford, many cats followed the seller but never got any, and eventually gave up and returned home. The Hokey - Kokey Man rode a box tricycle inside the unfrozen box was ice just frozen flavoured chips that were handed to a buyer in a glass dish, this when handed back got a quick wipe on the apron for the next customer. Many a time the child lost the hold of the dish and the contents fell to the ground, the unfortunate child running home to tell mum. The Green Grocer slowly made his way along, an old skinny horse pulling a loaded cart, snorting into his nose bag as the chaff from his oats got up his nose. Not many residents had a large garden where vegetables could be grown so to buy potatoes at your front door saved the carrying of the heavy basket home. Children were told by dad to follow the horse with a shovel and bucket to collect the dropped dung that got put around a struggling rose bush in an otherwise bare garden. The Knife Man who rode a tradesman?s bicycle instead of the fixed basket in front was fixed a Portland stone circular wheel that was rotated by the peddling of the man, the back road wheel was raised up on a stand a belt drove the grinding wheel from the back raised wheel. The people came out with old dark steel knives to be sharpened, these were pressed onto the rotating wheel after many times the knives showed a distinct curve to the sharp side. These knives looked really dangerous. The Chimney Sweep might be ordered to clean the chimney of a house but had many more customers before he had finished, he carried a bundle of cane rods that were threaded to screw into the next cane, a circular bristle brush that was put on the end of the first cane that was put through a slit in the canvas sheet that was covering the front of the fireplace and then up the inside of the chimney flue more canes were added as the canes were pushed up, and the soot finding its way into the room, we waited across the road to tell the man it had come out the top. As many chimney stacks were damaged in the Blitz there was often a blockage of bricks that had fallen down inside the flue. The sweep told you how far up it was blocked normally at the bend in the upper room to the wide brickwork side of that fire place, here a hole had to be made through the plaster and single brick wall. This was not the sweeps job many residents did their own. One perk was that he would be invited to a wedding to give luck to the newly weds. The Rag and Bone Man also had an old horse, he called out ?Enyoldlumber? he liked old iron bedsteads pots and pans with holes in, worn out clothes and even old boots and flock and horse hair filled mattress?s, they collected empty jam jars, that?s if mum had not reused them for homemade pickled onions. That she had bought from the onion seller wheeling his bike with all the dried onions threaded together hanging from the frame. The most unwelcome caller was the undertaker who would bring the coffin, where the departed had been laid out by a neighbour, now the open coffin was able to be viewed, either in the parlour, or propped on end with no lid where Paddy would be wished Best of Health by his old pals with a half of Guinness. The curtains remained drawn until the burial, every one wore black, and walked behind the Hearse for many blocks, neighbours lined the streets men removed their hats even if they did not know the departed even Soldiers saluted as they passed. The Bookies Runner stood at the corner, ready to give a warning the local Bobby that was coming, so all the doors closed and all those standing about went indoors, and the passing of betting slips stopped, but the Copper knew. It is hard to think that back then nobody locked their front door, or even closed it, not that there was much to steal, if anybody needed anything to do a job they borrowed it from a neighbour.
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The Oil shop corner of Goodrich Road & Cryatal Palace Road was owned by Lashams, the Bakers was Noeth's, the ovens extended under the forecourt we used to sit there in the winter if you ignored the black cockroaches climbing over you, this psrt of the paving soon dried out when it rained, down the hill was the Fish shop it was Yorkshire Fisheries, the Green Grocers was Stallards, another popular Green Grocer "Will's" was on the corner of Landells Road the Chimney Sweep lived next to it.
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Do you mix several washing powders and softeners?. An amount of these tend to stay in the loading drawer a film stays there although most powders do mix some do not, they just wrap up a particle and it does not disolve. There is a warning on most boxes not to mix a stain remover as well. My problem has been for years put a pair of socks in and only one comes out. So if you see a zimmerman wearing one blue and one red sock its me.
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Getting money back on returned glass bottles at the off licence. The Mineral Water Manufactures decided to save money by getting their own Bottles baring their own name and design returned for refilling, so they asked for a deposit of two pence on a pint bottle and three pence on a quart, the gallon earthenware flagon was six pence. The early containers were made of a glazed earthenware bottle ( brown & white ) with a thread in the neck top, that a screw stopper also earthenware with a rubber washer sealed the top. Children when they wanted to buy something often searched around for empty lemonade bottles and took them back to the Off Licence for the few pence. A favourite place to find them was on the beach at the seaside but the shop keeper got wise and only gave full bottles in return up to the price of the bottles and no cash. One local firm that called door to door was Mackintosh, mum used to tell us to go out and get a gallon of Ginger Beer, it did not go far between the ten of us. Now Glass bottles have a narrow neck sealed with a metal crown cap. Not many bottles are now returned for refill, the glass is just recycled. There is a trend now to drink direct from a bottle not using a glass, a word of warning those bottles have from the time of filling been stored in a warehouse at the factory, been exposed in transit on the open delivery lorries along dirty roads a spray of road surface mist is deposited on the bottles, they are stored in cellars that might have vermin running around so your bottle could be very unhealthy. After drinking at a local a man might expect to get a red kiss mark on his face, and the woman a big black smudge.
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Goslings Grocers. The Parade of shops in Lordship Lane around 1945 on the side leading to the Plough public house from Crystal Palace Road were. On the corner of Crystal Palace Road , 351 Lordship Lane was Greenwoods the bakers fresh bread was baked in the bake house behind the shop. It is now the Plough Caf?. 353 Lordship Lane was the Opticians. Now it is Amazing Grace. 355 Lordship Lane was s Butchers. Now it is New Touch. 357 & 359 Lordship Lane was the Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society Grocery shop. 361 Lordship Lane was the Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society Butchers Shop. 363 Lordship Lane was the Man Crossman Chain Off Licence. 367 Lordship Lane was Rubrers the Chemist.. Now William Hill. 369 Lordship Lane was Wises Sweet Shop. Now Post Office. 371 Corner of Landells Road was Goslings Grocers. Now Spot Cleaners. 373 Lordship Lane was the Charington?s chain Off Licence. Now Dulwich Grocers. 375 Lordship Lane was Mays Undertakers. Now Uden?s Funeral Directors 379 Lordship Lane corner of Plough Lane. was a Green Grocers. Now Zin Oriental. This three story building was severely damaged in the Blitz, and did not have the top story rebuilt until many years after the war. The Plough Public House was a very up market place, with plush seating. The number 78 bus terminated at the Dulwich Library, having come up Barry Road to the traffic lights the last stop to allow the passengers to get off. It then turned right into Lordship Lane and right again into the Plough Lane again turning right onto a Bus Parking Stand that could accommodate six Buses. There the Drivers and Conductors waited for the time of their return journey, having got water from the water standpipe tap in the alcove in the fence dividing it from the Plough Gardens, using the galvanised watering can to top up the steaming bus radiator. As the there was an incline running back, blocks of wood with an iron handle were available to put behind the wheel of the bus. The surface of the stand was made up of granite sets ( square stones ) it became very slippery when the oil and water from the bus got onto them. The conductor did not mind you getting onto the bus while it was on the stand as it did not stop after turning left into Barry Road. The Bus stand has now been absorbed with the narrow fenced footpath passing between the Plough Gardens. Now makes up the Pubs Car Park. It is interesting that just across the traffic lights, outside Val?s Greengrocers, the Number 60 Tram terminated , reversing with the aid of the Conductor inserting a lever into in to a switch box a slit in the pavement and moving the points to direct the tram to the other track, The driver had moved from his front driving cabin removing the chains across his cabin steps of the passenger entrance to allow the passengers to board, then he moved through and closing the sliding door behind him and as he passed pushed the back of the seats on each side to face the other way finally closing the door to his new driving cabin. The conductor got aboard into the drivers cabin up the steps closing the chains to stop anybody getting on that way. He then climbed the curved staircase to the upper deck, closed the door to stop passengers going down into he drivers cabin passed along the passageway and pushed the back of all the seats to face the other way, fastening back the door to the staircase that led down to the boarding platform. It must be remembered that all this time the Conductor carried his Money Pouch hanging from his shoulder, most of the fares cost just a few pence, but that was in old money and an old penny was about 3 Cms wide and 240 of them to the Pound, so you can imagine the weight of those coins. He also carried his Ticket Rack , a wooden rack with a row of pads clipped in of different priced tickets, each ticket had the main tram stops written so the conductor would punch a hole in it to the point of your purchase. The ticket punch also hung around his neck, and gave a ding on each punch. A used ticket bin was near the exit but most of them got thrown on the floor to blow away with the draft. The Driver of the tram stood up at all times while driving, just a lever to move to the right to control the speed by increasing the electric power, and a wind down wheel that engaged the brakes and foot peddle to bang down on to warn of the trams approach. The driver was very cold in the winter although supplied with an overcoat as there was a double opening for the passengers to mount, there was no heating in the tram, often the rails were obstructed by other vehicles as there was only enough room between the curb and the rails for a car or van to be passed. Large pebbles often found in ballast used for building would fall from lorries to lodge in the groove of the rail, the tram wheel would strike them and the wheel one of four fixed to set would either smash the pebble or it would raise the wheel out of the groove or shoot it away like a bullet, if you were unlucky enough you might get hit, many a run away horse was thought to be caused by being struck by a pebble with force. Picture of No 60 tram Att.
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United Dairies. There used to be a United Dairies Grocery Shop on the corner of Melbourne Grove and Lordship Lane opposite the now Police Station, at the back in Melbourne Grove, was the delivery store warehouse where the Milk Floats & Horse drawn carts, later Electric, were loaded for the Milk rounds, the supply of fresh milk was transported from the main South London warehouse in Harleyford Road near Kennington Oval. Due to the steep incline of Lordship Lane, no great load of milk could be transported uphill, unless the route via Whatley Road then Barry Road was used. There was also a United Dairies Grocery shop just before the Dulwich Library in Lordship Lane, in the parade near the place where Enid Blyton once lived. The livery of the United Dairies was Orange & White. The early bottles were in sizes from a third of a pint, half pint , Pint. Quart ( 2 Pints ). Those early bottles had a 2in wide top, where a cardboard and waxed lid was inserted into a recess with a pull tag to get it open, there was also a small pre cut push in disc to push in a drinking straw, the third pint bottles were mostly for the schools each child got a free bottle mid morning. The bottles were transported in galvanised wire iron crates, these all stacked one onto another over raised four corner restraints, there was no need to have sides to the carts as they rode steady, but the carts were mainly full and as the milkman delivered it meant a lot of moving the grates about to gain access to a full crate, and move the empty bottle filled crates to the back.. The Foil aluminium cap came in later and all the old bottles were made redundant.
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Minimax. Pullins Cars /Motor Bikes. I bought an engine in about 1953 that was attached behind the saddle on my Bicycle from Pullin?s in Lordship Lane, these were Italian but built is the Trojan Motor factory in Purley Way next to the entrance of the Croydon Airport. The thing that was not in its favour was it made the bike top heavy, there was no clutch so it could only be started by lowering the engine onto the tyre of the back wheel by a lever that was to be found to the right of the drivers right hip, this was a small grooved roller that was forced onto the tyre. To start the engine turn on the petrol tap, there was no hand twist accelerator, a lever was to the right hand that was set to just slightly at speed, You mounted the cycle peddled like mad to get up speed then reached behind you for the lever to lower the motor onto the wheel, once it came into contact the cycle nearly came to a sudden stop, or started the engine , and you the adjusted your speed. When you neared a traffic light you slowed down, trying to judge that you did not have to stop, if you did you had to disengage the motor from the wheel, and peddle off then lower the engine onto the wheel again, this was particularly difficult when wanting to turn right across oncoming traffic, as you had to give hand signals letting go of the handlebars, releasing the engine, then lowering it again to move forward. The engine only held less than a pint of petrol and had to have oil mixed with it before putting into the petrol tank. I used it daily to get to work. The road surface was in places made of Tar Blocks these were brick shaped blocks laid on the narrow side and liquid tar poured between each block a thin covering of top tar covered them and a thin coating of small stones but in time the top tar wore away leaving just the blocks, when a frost or snow cover these it became very dangerous when turning, as I found one morning turning right at the corner of Dutch Boy Bagwash Laundry in Peckham Hill Street into Peckham Park Road. The engine failed to disengage and I continued at speed round the corner, the back wheel buckled and I was thrown off landing among a stack of white bags of washing waiting to be taken into the Wash house. There was a number plate fixed to front and back of the cycle, and a circular tax disc fitted to the front forks. I had to half drag the damaged bike to my place of work. Needless to say my next vehicle had four wheels. There were many types of these mini motors, the best I think was the one inside the wheel.
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Living in the country is dependent on your age and your being able to work to maintain your lifestyle. Isolation is the main thing to be considered, have you transport to get you to your place of work and do shopping. Would you be within a reasonable distance from a hospital? Could your partner get there to visit you? We now live not only in the country but on an island and in our 80th year, so things had to be in place for any future eventuality. I found the place and climate that suited me, bought land and built my home to our mutual design, it is now becoming too much for us to do everything as we would want to. Isolation is having no made up road, no house number or Road or Lane just a post code, no local shop, this is very awkward when buying anything in a town store as they ask for both of these, I give My name & Post Code that I give them to type in and it comes up on their computer. There is a only a pub, and about fifty houses in about a mile, buses run only one an hour till 6 pm. My advice is be stocked up with food and water, and the means of emergency lighting and cooking, heating is one of the main things in the winter months, and food for any pets you have. Don?t depend on a neighbour in an emergency as they will be some distance away and most likely in the same situation as yourself. We have been totally snowed in for eleven days one year , and days over the past years. Lived here now for thirty four years, so you will now know why my E. Dulwich knowledge is now minimal, Just memories. I would say that if you get a chance to live even for a shot time in the country take it, but it will all depend on what you do yourself to make it work.
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Has anyone seen those two terribly skinny dogs?
computedshorty replied to kamila's topic in The Lounge
If the owner of these dogs takes them out for walks shows that they are cared for, having seen them three times over three months you might be able to assess any decline in their health. I dont think you should worry about them. If these dogs were starved or ill treated it is very unlikely that the owner would put them on display. It is good that the public are concerned about other animals seen as they walk their own. -
They both sound alright to me.
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Who is J. Russel. Could it be the buxom wench Jane was the famous star of the cinema, if not I think she might have been of that ilk or something similar. Then the writer by the name Bertrum could tell a harrowing tale, I don't think it could be that one as he has gone and was a male. Crupts arena does display canines some are strange none with a muzzle, few of these that are displayed receive a Rosette like a Jack Russel. To expose your reason in advance of your full size investigation, fails to give any consideration of the now ongoing situation. Revelations of thoughts as uselessness of trees within this locality, combined with the daily walks taken and used in dogs activity. Two years and three months did take some time but what did you find? just moved to the area plea, is a good way to pick an unsuspecting mind. I have a vision of a young lady from afar New Zealand or Australia just given birth and keeping freelance publications options open whilst resting before returning to employment.
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The Kiwi bear is unhappy having his fruit thrown away, so chooses a grape from a stall in the road market, being a well trained bear he washes it in the nearby watering can, eating it he projects the pips in the direction of a passing woman with her nose held high attracts a prominant target, the woman gets into her RR car as the chauffeur holds open the door, but the now slippery woman being in the nude slips on the leather seat and is ejected out the other open door that the greengrocer is placing inside her shopping, landing on bags of greenpeas.
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lady decided to run naked down Lordship Lane pauses to sit for a moment on my front wall where my pet hedgehog is lying in the sun, a screem of pain and she wont sit down there again, was last seen trying to absorb blood with dried leaves, reminds me of Eve wearing a fig leaf, dont worry she's now reported nearly home behind the football ground replacing leaves as she goes.
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the local who was found unconscious had been disposing of pruned branches from a nieghbours trees, he had now started to dig to see if the roots extend fron Reckham Rye to his home, he is halfway up Barry Road and stopped to cook some rice but it was unwashed and he became ill, should he name the retailer?
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The crowd was thick at the scene of the accident I pushed my way through, has the ambulance been called? No. reaching under the lorry the unfortunate Traffic Warden had been forced into the empty spare wheel rack but could not get free. Help me he pleaded, not wishing to feel the wrath of the crowd, I placed his wardens cap on his head and pencil behind his ear.
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The old man in the armchair is fast asleep, sitting here I can with my teaspoon flick my smarties over at him, if I get one up his tilted nostril I score a point, if he dont wake up I get two points if he dies of choking I will get life, serves him right wasting my smarties.
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A favourite cereal cant always be considered for your breakfast meals, its what is found when the open door of your cupboard reveals. The Shreaddies were nice last time I ate them, but put them away, that is a few weeks ago now, and they have started to decay. The same thing happened to the remains of my Coa? Coa Pops, I going to rename them, now they look like soggy flops. The Sugar Puffs used to sound when shaken made a racket, now they are just stuck all together inside of the packet. I thought that cooking the porridge you cant go wrong, but as they are a couple of years old they do make a pong. There is still some Wheatabix there are as old as religion, put them out on the window cill to be eaten by the pigeon. I think I will have to settle for a slice of bread and dripping, or boil an egg, or some toasted soldiers to use for dipping. I cant stock up the cupboard again yet, my pensions is all spent, most of it went on the necessities like Gas Electric and Rent. Oh and don't forget the cost of tins food for my pet cat, she really appreciates it, she?s left me a present on the mat.
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For Jelly Babies, theres a lot to be said, fist bite it is off with the head. Then the other extrene chew the feet, enjoying this jelly is such a treat. Bite off both of the legs up to the bum, just taste the flavour of this gum. Nip off the arms, hands and the fingers, oh how the taste in the mouth lingers. The chest and bottom are all that remain, unless you chose all boys (someone explain).
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I remember the shop Law Brothers near the corner of Barforth Road we used to use the cafe opposite but the row of shops have long gone, always a row of Waxed Paper lorries outside, as their yard was too small to allow them all in as others were unloading. I mostly parked over night at the Sternhall Road Works.
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An arm or leg? To experience the true atmosphere of the Wrestling Ring the ones held in the Dulwich Baths were very good as the Pool was covered with a frame then sections of flooring boards covered over the pool, the Ring that was erected in the middle and every slam on the canvas vibrated through the high glass roof. The bouts were by the promoters Dale Martin Empire. One of the many regular wrestlers was Mick McManus. Here he was a man who was just as comfortable in the company of the great and the good, or mixing with the Beatles and other entertainment celebrities, as he was mixing it in our local wrestling halls. I remember a group of them singing together in a show. Jackie Pallo had a feud with Mick as Jackie's wife used to sit ringside and if Jackie was being held in a lock he would blow kisses to Trixie, and Mick would mime him this went on for years of course the audience took it up. Despite being overshadowed by his high profile tag partner many consider the Brixton hard man, Steve Logan, to be far more versatile and exciting than McManus.. There were the two local Law Wrestlers Known mostly by the name College Boy Charlie Law started out as a lightweight, (he wrestled Harry Rabin for the British lightweight title in1943) moved through the ranks and was still entertaining the fans? as a heavyweight on Paul Lincoln shows in the early 1960s. Born in Dulwich, living in Peckham and later Surrey, Law worked mostly in the south, and was especially popular at Wimbledon Palais. Whilst the name College Boy may have been used by others most fans of the golden days consider Charlie to be the College Boy. He passed away far too early, aged just 55, in 1969. Lenny Law known as Len Britain, the day job we were employed by the same company Waxed Papers of Nunhead Lane, he used to keep us entertained with his stories of last night, they used to all travel together in the old battered van to the venues, one night they had stopped at a Transport Caf? on the way back from Northampton. Len was wearing a black high neck vest he put on a detachable white collar, and walked into the Caf? where the drivers were eating their meal and swearing and cursing in their normal way he looked like a vicar, He tapped on the table and they all looked up, he said "gentlemen can I ask you to moderate your language then I can bring in the members of my flock in for tea." Of course they all became silent he then beckoned them to come in. In they came, one with an arm in a sling, one with a crutch and many bandages and plasters on their faces, and real bruises. They hobbled to tables, the drivers realised they had been taken in and they laughed for a long time. Len liked to pretend to be a bit of a pansy. A driver backed up the long alleyway that is now Banfields to the Paper Warehouse but it was lunch time and there were just a few of us sitting in the sun on the large rolls of paper. The driver tried to find the goods inward clerk to come out and unload a single roll of paper, but he was not there. Len said to him, save you waiting give us a kiss and I will take it off your lorry, as the roll was very heavy the driver said OK thinking it impossible as he would have to get the fork lift, Len lifted it in one go and walked off with it the driver did not wait for a signature or his kiss. Mick Mc Manus used to go into the house facing the emergency doors of the baths in Crystal Palace Road I don't know who lived there.
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Working at the packing warehous at 151 Bellenden Road in the fifties, locking up for the night I saw one card not clocked out, going to the other outside toilet behind no 149 the one used by the women, there was water coming from under the locked door, I shouted are you in there, yes I am stuck get me out. I forced the ledge and brace door open to find a heavily pregnant Jamacian woman sitting on the toilet backwards facing the cystem holding onto the flush pipe that had been pulled away and the cystem hanging away letting the water flow over her, as I was the only person on the premises I forced her back but she was tangled with her enormous red bloomers round her ankles, I pulled her into the yard and made a quick deperture.
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