Back then when I was growing up things were much simpler, we never knew drugs existed, life was more carefree, during the school holidays we would take off after breakfast and as long as we were home before the street lights came on, our parents never used to worry as we were always in a crowd and there was not the dangers then that we have today. We could walk around the street in the dark without any worries. ME, I have never been afraid of the dark and going out of a night, even now.1
My two Brothers and I went down to Flat rock at the bottom of our street, the rocks had water running over them, just like a waterfall, there was an oval there also and just around the corner was an incinerator that to us to looked like a castle, a haunted one at that!2
Everyone gathered there, all our friends, we would pick sides and play cowboys and Indians ( I used to like being the Indians ) we would stalk each other through the bush with home made bows and arrows and sticks as rifles. Sometimes we would play Soldiers fighting the enemy. Then we would go back to Flat Rock and ride the water down the rocks. Boy that was thrilling!3
So much fun we would have, we’d arrive home just in time to have our baths and eat our dinner, sit down and listen to the wireless for our favourite serials and quiz shows to come on. we had to use our imaginations to visualize. Buck Roger, The witches tales, ohhh that was my favourite, she used to have this eerie cackle “Hee hee hee I’m a hundred and one years old today” every week she was always a different age! she had a black cat called Satan.4
We would sit there with the lights out enthralled in the stories she used to tell. If it was winter we would have a big fire going in the hearth, every Sunday night for dinner Mum used to make a big pot of tomato soup, then with our long prongs we would put our bread on the end of it and place it in front of the fire, You haven’t tasted toast like it unless it’s been toasted over the fire!5
My oldest Brother John would get up at 4 am in the morning and walk down to the paper shop to deliver newspapers, This was in his High school years, he did this to save up for a bike. Sometimes I would go with him, I used to hear the pigeons cooing and think they were KANGAROO’S! sheesh, what an idiot I felt when I found out they were only BIRDS!! He saved his money and got his bike, he still kept his job, it was easier for him to ride around to deliver the papers. Each new bike he got he would give the old one to our other Brother Bobby.6
I used to borrow his bikes and get up to all sorts of antics…But that’s another story.7
Author notes
More tales of my years of growing up.
If this is featued in the feature box, please comment as you get 3 points..and I don't lose mine..Thank you~angelica
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Comments
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Very nice
I'm still cracking up with such vivid details you mention about the pigeons and kangaroos..and then how you ended up borrowing their bikes...now you say true about the simpler and much more safer times of yesterday. The simplicity of the games you speak about also remind me of the kind of games that the children in smaller towns have (in Mexico) where the farmlands close to the house villages make like huge playgrounds where to play all kinds of made-up games like hide and seek, soccer football with stones like goalies, bonfires, riding in the farm tractors, and play other stick-games, like a type of cricket...marbles in the sand...a town where you could go and play pool in the local little bar without the bar (it was just a house with 2 pool tables...busy all the time..so you had to be good to win a table and be able to play) and I used to go with a buddy when i was 11 or 12 yrs old in themiddle of the night...so safe it was to be at night. Oh well..this was also very nice indeed...thanks for sharing it with us ~ Juan Pablo 
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lovely
*rav* -
I think the radio shows were a great idea and even though TV was meant as a good thing, it has robbed us of our imaginations. Everything does the thinking for us and all we do is make the choices. I have some old radio shows on cassette... I know, I am dating myself here... but I still like to listen to those oldie shows. I think the scenes we can create in our mind is so superior to anything TV could ever capture. Your stories do that... they allow me just enough information to paint my own scenes. lovely work Joan!
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Enjoyed this, Joan. It brought back memories of my childhood. We used to toast our bread on the grates of a kerosene stove (but your way tasted a lot better, I'm sure). You have so many nice memories to share. I'll be back for more!
Love,
<3 Maureen
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WOW...it is a bit strange how we had similar youths. I guess maybe we all have a bit of the same lifes if we are blessed with a loving family.
I know we used to play cowboy and indians as well...also soldiers. We used the leaves in the fall to build forts..of course they were only on the groud shaped as a room with a place for a door. It was great.
I went with my brother on his paper route sometimes too.
Great write again. So much fun to read.
Sam
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Beautiful
You truly are amazing you make your readers feel as if they were there with you. Thank you for sharing your life with us all. Beautiful work my dear friend
Love Rosa,
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You could be writing about my childhood! My father was also in the airforce and ended up on a little island in the St Mathias Group in charge of one of the 'crash crews' servicing the airfield. I too remember the freedom we had to come and go as we pleased with no fear of anything or anyone and oh those radio plays. My sister and I would sit by the radio and be scared stiff (and loving it) listening to "The Day of the Triffids". I remember being very disappointed when I saw the movie a few years later, the triffids where nothing like what we had imagined. Keep on with the writing, I am enjoying it immensely. Cheers, Anne
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BRAVO, Joan! I truly loved these memories you
Joan,
I loved this as I know more about you each and every day. What fond memories you have about your childhood. I wish that I could live like that... or could have lived like that without the fact of worrying at night. It seems you can't go anywhere by yourself at night. At home I can but even then I get afraid when I'm by myself because of animals! Seriosuly! lol (I'm afraid that some animal might come up and attack me) I cannot get enough of this Joan. I do hope you write more! I look forward to reading lots more. Love you!
With lots of love,
Kalen -
Thank you Melissa for reading my story, I had added a lot more, but wasn't satisfied with it, am in the process of part 3. Believe me Melissa unless the Kangaroos are in a zoo, you wouldn't want to meet one, they will attack you, especially in these times of drought, where they come into the suburbs, looking for food and water, their claws can tear you to pieces, so, if you ever see one make sure it's caged
Love~Joan
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This is a wonderful continuation of your childhood. The only problem with the story was it ended before I was ready for it to end. I remember being a teen and not being afraid of anything. I was indestructable and gave the world quite a daring challenging. Or was it that I gave the challenge to myself? lol!
I remember playing cowboys and Indians with my brothers. I was always the Indian as well. I do have a lot of Indian( Native Amercian ) in me so I guess that is OK. I wish we had kangaroos to run into though. I always wanted to see a real one. Especially a mother with her young in her pocket, that would be cool. I can't wait for part three now.
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Thank you Damon, they were good days as far as safety went, I also love living in this time where we can have all the technology we want and talk to people all over the world~your Aussie Friend~Joan
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Hello Joan, I love this story about growing up. We did come from a more simple time, when people didn't use drugs and very few even knew what they were. In the country where I lived I don't guess that anyone knew what they were. I know that I didn't. I really enjoyed this write my friend.
Damon D. Brewer
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