The clothes we wore

[computedshorty]

The clothes we wore.

Why did a mans three piece suit change to two?

the waistcoat is not now available, even to you.

The waist of the trousers is three inches lower,

the bottoms are not as wide and much narrower.

No row of pearl fly bottoms is just a plastic zip.

the turn ups have had the chop, we have lost a bit.

A time had the drainpipe trousers, a bit restricting,

now ragged Jean?s look much more lived in.

No pairs of buttons around the waist to fix the braces,

or loops on the pants to keep them up in places.

Never see those three quarter length Plus Fours,

or those Fair Isle knee socks the choice was yours.

The detachable shirt collar held by a stud at the back,

then the front stud, it took a time but soon got the knack.

The Bow tie no longer tied around, but a clip held in place,

your tie might be a Winsor Knot a Kipper or Shoe lace.

Gone are the suits with overlapping double breasted,

stripped to the waist now nobody is String Vested.

The silk cravat no longer worn around as a necklet,

no triangle of handkerchief on show in top pocket.

No Brothel Creeper Shoes with inch thick crepe soles,

those brogue white shoes with thousands of holes.

Worn shoes that have steel Blakey studs front and back.

no Toe saver boots with a shiny bright metal toe cap.

The Trilby hat is no longer seen on the mans head,

or the pointed night cap worn while sleeping in bed,

The conical Paper Hat scholars wore as a Dunce,

wore it while standing in a corner only the once.

[david_carnell]

Speak for yourself. I'm wearing most of these today....

[maxxi]

Bring back the spat (just the one mind)

[Sue]

Computedshorty, you are truly the Magonagall (spelling?) of East Dulwich.

If you ever publish a book of your verse, I will buy it :)

Xxx

ETA: It's McGonagall, sorry.

[computedshorty]

What we had to endure.

School girls wore Pig Tails, very long hair in two plats,

sitting there still while mum wove them, drove us bats.

Then when finished they hung down behind the back,

a bow on each tied to perfection pulled taught no slack.

Remember those lengths of cotton material cut into strips.

hair laid on wound and tied in curls to fastened with clips.

No sleep at night the bumps those curlers prevented that,

not the slightest chance of lying your head on pillow flat.

The ? Nit Lady ? came to our school to search for fleas,

a fine comb pulled though your hair found any of these.

There was no hiding place to miss her close inspection,

everyone had their own personal look without exception.

There was an outbreak of Diphtheria, we had to have a jab,

the nurse came with a tray of syringes direct from her lab.

A quick dab with sterile wipe a sharp prick in your arm,

it happened so quick its done before there was any alarm.

A wipe off wasted fluid, now dry stuck on a Elastoplast,

to some children it seemed so unusual they stood aghast.

After a few days, it?s all forgotten and the arm felt alright,

mum said you are protected now, no worry as you might.

At break time had to drink our milk through a waxed straw,

a third of a pint of cool milk, was the rule of the Health law

From a little glass milk bottle with a very wide necked top,

a lid was made of a waxed inserted disc, pushed in to pop.

[computedshorty]

A memory that stuck in my mind.

The time was August nineteen forty, is a memory that is mine,

a long time to have this retained in my head, as I was only nine.

The London Blitz had started, we still had to attend our school,

some children got evacuated from London for safety, but not all.

Heber Road School was for me and six siblings, our local one,

little did we know then some the education that was to come.

The three story building alongside the back garden brick walls,

of houses backing on to Crystal Palace Road, I can still recall.

A building built on brick piers, the space below was our rain cover,

the space between the piers got bricked in to make, we discover.

Made into the School Air Raid Shelter, where we had to spend time,

the door opening too narrow for desks, but the benches fitted fine.

Teacher distracted our attention by letting us play games of cards,

make it interesting, placed a bet of marbles, ball of string by the yard.

Comics of more valued staked, half a pencil a well worn rubber,

one kid staked his lead toy soldier, all found one thing or another.

German Dornier Bombers dropped their bombs, one was very near,

in Chrystal Palace Road, facing the end of Jennings Road we fear.

That bomb alone if landed closer than the two hundred yards away,

a lot of mothers think twice to send to school, so kept home to stay.

That bomb site when cleared of debris, saved the bricks to build,

a large brick emergency water Tank with a high wall to shield.

This proved to be very handy for the Fire crews use water stored there,

pass there now some years later, there is four new houses built share.

Men came one day to make a hole in the high playground brick wall,

a pair of wooden gates soon filled that gap, it took a time to install.

Then a London Taxi converted to a Fire Engine came here to stay

firemen were billeted in rooms above our shelter, we had to keep away.

The small incendiary bombs that were dropped at night, to burn,

one landed on our front window bay window roof, gave me a turn.

It landed just above my head while sleeping in my bed, was alight,

dad dislodged it with a long bamboo pole, I wont forget that night.

[Sue]

computedshorty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> At break time had to drink our milk through a

> waxed straw,

> a third of a pint of cool milk, was the rule of

> the Health law

> From a little glass milk bottle with a very wide

> necked top,

> a lid was made of a waxed inserted disc, pushed in

> to pop.

xxxxxxx

At our school in Winter you could also have warm milk ie said little glass bottles shoved in a sink of hot water :)

Also two whole biscuits for a (old) penny or a load of broken biscuits for a penny :)

God, how did I get so old that my childhood is history? AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH.