"In the beginning"

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The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Growing up in Australia



I can’t remember all of these, but I can recall a lot of them!


GROWING UP IN AUSTRALIA


I'm talking about hide and seek in the park.

The corner milk bar, hopscotch, billy carts, cricket in front of
the garbage bin and inviting everyone on your street to join in.

Skipping, handball, handstands, elastics, bulrush, kiss chasey,
footy on the best lawn in the street.

Slip'n'slide, the trampoline with water on it, hula hoops, stepping
in puddles, mud pies and building dams n the gutter.

The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass.

'Big bubbles no troubles' with Hubba Bubba bubble gum.

A choc-top. Mr. Whippy cone on a warm summer night after
you've chased him round the block.

20 cents worth of mixed lollies lasted a week and pretending
to smoke "fags" (the lollies) was really cool!

A dollars' worth of chips from the corner take-away fed two
people (AND the sauce was free!!)

Being upset when you botched putting on the temporary tattoo
from the bubblegum packet, but still wearing it proudly.

Watching Saturday morning cartoons: 'The Smurfs', 'AstroBoy',
'He-Man', 'Captain Caveman', 'Archie', 'Jem', 'The Wizard of Oz',
'Banana Man 'and 'Heeeey heeey heeeey it's faaaat Albert'.

Or staying up late and sneaking a look at the "AO" movie on the
second telly.

When 'Monkey Magic' with fish face & pigsy had a cult following.
Miraculous Mellops & who could ever forget Degrassi Jnr High?

When around the corner seemed a long way, and going into town
seemed like going somewhere. Where running away meant you did
laps of the block because you weren't allowed to cross the road??

A million mozzie bites, wasp and bee stings. Sticky fingers, Cops
and robbers, cowboys and indians, riding bikes and catching
tadpoles.

Marco polo in the neighbours’ pool ("fish outta water?!""NOOOO"),
drawing all over the road and driveway with chalk.

Climbing trees and building cubbies out of every sheet your mum
had in the cupboard.

Walking to school, no matter what the weather. When writing
'I love....?'on your pencil case, really did mean it was true love.
"he loves me? he loves me not?"

Running till you were out of breath.

Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt. Pitching the tent in
the back/front yard.

Jumping on the bed. Ghosts stories with the next door neighbours.

Pillow fights, spinning round, getting dizzy and falling down was
cause for the giggles.

The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.

Cricket cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorbike.

Eating raw jelly, making homemade lemonade and sucking on a
Funny Face, Zooper Dooper, Paddle Pop or red Icy Pole.

Remember when there were only two types of sneakers - girls
and boys. Dunlop volleys with the green 'n' gold or blue and the
only time you wore them at school was for "sports day."

Bloomers in primary school & bike pants under netball skirts.

You knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents!

It wasn't odd to have two or three "best friends" & you would
ask them by sending a note asking them to be your best friend.

You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas Eve and pretended to
sleep for the tooth fairy.

When nobody owned a pure-bred dog.

When 50c was decent pocket money.

When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for 10c.

When nearly everyone's mum was there when the kids got
home from school. It was magic when dad would
"remove" his thumb.

When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to
dinner at the local Chinese restaurant with your family.

When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed her or use
him to carry groceries and nobody, not even the kid, thought
a thing of it.

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared
to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of
drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.
Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat!

Some of us are still afraid of them!!!

Remember when decisions were made by going
"eeny-meeny-miney-mo" or dib dib's-scissors, paper, rock.

Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in
Monopoly.

Terrorism was when the older kids were at the end of your
street with pea-shooters waiting to ambush you.

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was
boy/girl germs, and the worst thing in your day was having
to sit next to one.

Where blue light discos were the equivalent to a Rave, and asking a
boy out meant writing a 'polite' note getting them to tick 'yes' or 'no'.

When there was always that one 'HOT' guy/girl.

Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.

Your biggest danger at school was accidentally walking through
the middle of a heated game of "brandies".

Nobody was prettier than your Mum.

Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.

Taking drugs meant scoffing orange-flavoured chewable
vitamin C's, or swallowing half a Panadol.

Ice cream was considered a basic food group.

Going to the beach and catching a wave was a dream come
true.If you actually lived there boogie boarding in the white
wash made you the next Kelly Slater.

Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dare".

Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest
protectors.

Now, didn't that bring back some fond memories??

If you can remember most of these, you're an Aussie legend!!!
Pass this on to another Aussie legend that may need a break
from their "grown up" life...


A boy and his train


A mother was working in the kitchen, listening to her five-year-old
son playing with his new electric train in the living room. She heard
the train stop & her son saying, "All of you bastards who want off,
get the hell off now, 'cause this is the last stop! And all of you
bastards who are getting on, get your ass in the train, cause we're
going down the tracks." The Mother walked into the room where
her son was playing and said we don't use that kind of language in
this house.
Now I want you to go to your room & stay there for TWO HOURS.

When you come out, you may play with your train, but I want you
to use nice language."
Two hours later, the son came out of the bedroom & resumed
playing with his train.
Soon the train stopped & the mother heard her son say, "All
passengers who are disembarking the train please remember to
take all of your belongings with you. We thank you for traveling
with us today & hope your trip was a pleasant one."
She hears the little boy continue, "For those of you just boarding,
we ask you to store all of your and luggage under your seat.
Remember, there is no smoking on the train.
We hope you will have a pleasant and relaxing journey with us
today."
As the mother began to smile, the child added,
"For those of you who are pissed off about the TWO HOUR delay,
please direct your complaints to the bitch in the kitchen."

6 comments:

Vickie said...

I remember some of the games you mentioned and what memories they brought back. Thanks for the memories. Peter.

Prerona said...

Peter, really nice :)

Funny how many things are common, growing up anywhere in the world and also how many are different!

Big Dave T said...

I thought this was your personal list at first till I saw "He-Man" and "Smurfs." I remember my boys growing up with them. It was "Clutch Cargo" and "Howdy Doody" for me.

Your treats sound different there. We had Mallo Cups (sp?) when I was a kid, mmmmmmmmm.

Jamie Dawn said...

Ha, Ha, Ha!
I used to be good at the Hula Hoop. I bet I wouldn't be able to do it now without a lot of practice.
Memories...

Ivy the Goober said...

I looooooooovvvvvvvvvvve the smell of fresh cut grass.... why does that smell so good? one time a long time ago I found one of those places that custom make fragrances and they had fresh cut grass. I've never seen it since.

Cliff said...

Thanks for the memories. Good story.