U3A Writing: Saturdays And Sundays
“Tea over, the washing done by the children – of course no dishwasher in those days, we settled down to play snakes and ladders, tiddledy-winks or bagatelle. On some occasions a game of dominoes, cards or perhaps a jigsaw to complete…’’ Jean Kirby recalls the quieter, gadget-free weekends of sixty years ago.
I’m sure if my grandchildren were to read this they would say, “What a boring life.”
No mobile phone, computer, play station discos, sleepovers, Sunday football, mountain biking or orienteering. But my grandchildren do attend church.
Saturday at five o’clock - tea and the football results on the radio. As we kept hens, we had poached or scrambled eggs, a cheese bake or sandwiches, scones, jam, homemade cake or bottled fruit.
Tea over, the washing done by the children – of course no dishwasher in those days, we settled down to play snakes and ladders, tiddledy-winks or bagatelle. On some occasions a game of dominoes, cards or perhaps a jigsaw to complete.
The radio programme I remember was In Town Tonight. All the traffic in London was stopped and interesting people were interviewed. As we got older, we were sometimes allowed to listen to Saturday Night Theatre if the play was suitable.
We went to the cinema to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which I found very scary, Bambi, which was very sad, or a comedy with The Huggets.
In the summer we played hopscotch or French cricket with friends, or helped the local farmer with haymaking. We had great fun jumping on the haycocks. I’m sure the farmer wasn’t very pleased. We rode in the hay cart pulled by a lovely brown horse.
A special treat was a walk to the local bowling green. We sat outside the club and had a glass of yellow lemonade and a packet of crisps complete with a packet of salt in blue paper.
In our early teens in winter we danced at Sunday School, getting in everyone’s way as we tried to learn the barn dance, St. Bernard’s waltz, the Polly glide and the veleta. Supper in the interval was always very tasty. Home to our beds, complete with hot water bottle.
Sunday morning the papers arrived at eight o’clock. Time to get up and eat a breakfast of porridge, partly cooked the night before, and toast. We dressed in our Sunday best - winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves and proper shoes, in summer a pretty dress and a Panama hat. Then a mile-and-a-half walk to church and Sunday school.
Once a month there was a parade from the Scout Hut with Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scout Band to church.
Home for Sunday lunch – Yorkshire pudding served first, followed by meat and two veg, roast potatoes and pudding and custard. How did we manage all this food?
All exciting stuff. We were all happy and safe walking to school, shops and church.
