OrphanAnnie

Ian I am sure most of us can relate to your experience with your brothers - family dynamics usually split the 'carers' and 'non carers' - and can empathise with you. We grit our teeth and do the best we can, but the knowledge we have done that is its own reward as Michael says. When my mother died one of my brothers who had never bothered with her during her long illness popped up to stake his claim on the Co-op insurance... I've not met you yet but I see you are a warm and caring person and no-one can take that away from you, and enjoy the family you have around you. As they say 'you can

Yes a really sad loss - I saw her at the Theatre Royal many years ago, I could hardly breathe as I was laughing so much. RIP Bren.

I lived on Park Street which is the street before College Street. At one time there was an old lady who ran the sweet shop on the corner you can see, she had lots of cats who sat on the counter and used to have to move them off the goods to get at them

#18 - years ago we used to go to Colwick racecourse car boot in a morning then on to some brickyard in the afternoon, but it's the only one after lunch I can recall. I can't go to them where I live now as they start about 8.30am and my first bus isn't until nearly 11 when they are about closing. When we moved to the Medders in 1966 we used to go to a jumble sale just down Kirkewhite St near the police station on Queens Drive. I loved it, bought a bundle of 6 umbrellas for a shilling, no idea why but I was so pleased with my bargain!!

An eccentric character, but very likeable - another loss. RIP

I was at a railway station buffet and asked for tea with 'just a spot of milk', (I can't stand the stuff, only use it to colour my tea. Too many bad memories of school milk!) the girl then poured about half a pint of milk in my drink. I refused it, and reminded her I only wanted a 'spot' of milk. This went on four times before I suggested she gave me the milk carton and I would pour in my own. Not allowed to do that - yes, the old H&S! So I had a fruit juice instead, she couldn't understand why......

I always wanted to be an orphan when I was young, because you got to go on the Sunday School outings for free! I also read a lot of Enid Blyton books about adventures at boarding schools and was sure that if I were an orphan I would be sent there. My middle name is Ann and after my parents passed away I used to remind my elder sister I'm now an orphan, and my nickname of Orphan Annie came about. Of course the reality is it is not that great........

Wasn't it one of Akins' places - think they were called Playland? I worked for them in the early 70s at Huntingdon Street, Radford Road and Front Street nut am sure I was sent to the Kimberley branch to cover someone's holiday.

#224 I've not been to Antibes - yet! - but I saw similar fountains in Malta, I think it was Valetta. They are amazing

#31 When I lived on Kinglake Street we used to watch TV in the front bedroom by using a wire coathanger which dad would hang out of the window. He would have to keep shifting to get a picture.

So sad, and in such tragic circumstances. RIP Keith

I was so terrified of the twig man in Rupert the Bear stories I wouldn't let my children read them. There was a woman who lived near us when I was about 7 who had a pet fox, all the kids were convinced she was a witch and we used to run hell for leather past her house. She had a cat before the fox, so we were convinced she had used magic to turn the cat into a fox! Poor woman was probably very nice but we weren't taking any chances.....

I was chatting with my son the other day and he asked if the Palace Coffeehouse is still going? It was just off Parliament Street, when Safeways was there. It was taken over by Wilkos but not sure what it is now. Anyway I used to take him in the Palace of a Saturday morning, and because the staff could never understand the concept of a 'threat' of milk I would buy a black tea and a glass of milk for my son. Then I would take half a teaspoon out of the milk for my tea, and take the milk back to the counter and ask for some milk shake syrup adding. We also used to frequent the Gingham Kitch

#16, thanks for the pic Cliff, the lamp post on the right was in front of the shop. Local kids used to gather round it like moths, and my bedroom was at the front so I used to read by its light - my dad wouldn't let us have lights in the bedrooms. He used to say 'its like Blackpool illuminations' and took the bulb out in the end. Maybe that's why I have poor eyesight now?? The school was demolished but there's a new one now a little bit further up, it's called Kinglake Place now I think?

I lived on Kinglake Street in the Meadows, mum had the small shop at one end opposite the school. Despite it having changed hands a couple of times since a couple called Miller owned it, and my mum running it for about 10 years up to its demolition, locals always called it 'Millers'. There was an off licence at the other end of the street run by a Mrs Edwards (no sign of a Mr E) which had a sign in the window saying 'no blacks'. Bitawkward for her really looking back as there were only a handful of white families on the street.

All the best Chulla, it looks as though you are in excellent hands at the City. ::

I never put money in birthday cards nowadays - too many have landed in the hands of rogue postmen. I still post the cards but transfer cash into bank accounts, most kids seem to prefer the money anyway. I used to love getting cards from my gran when I was little - she always put four tanners in them! When I got older she put a half crown postal order in, I felt really grown up going to the post office to cash it. I think when the two tier postal system came in it was 4D for 1st class and 3D for second? We were encouraged to have penfriends at school and I still write to some, there's still

Reminds me of an old saying - 'Women may have many faults, men have only two. Everything they say and everything they do'

Not only do I put too much water in the kettle, I boil it several times before I actually get round to making the tea. Usually because I find other things to do at the same time (women are great at multi tasking), and as the water must be boiling for a decent pot of tea I have to keep switching the kettle back on..........

Shows what a good actor he was in that he was nothing like the character he's best known for! RIP, DRINK

#220 - we used to get amy mail held by the Post Office while we were away too, wonder if they still offer that service? My brother DJs on the 60's weekends at Butlins, always a great time. I think they've been cut back a bit as the bar takings weren't so high - everyone enjoying the music and dancing too much to drink a lot!! Top Deck Limeade - nasty.....

I worked at Skeggy Butlins the summer of 1974, went up with my friend on the spur of the moment as they were recruiting at the Labour Exchange on Castle Boulevard. She only lasted a couple of weeks but I did the whole season, I worked in the rock shop. The whole time I was there never went near the beach once, however we did join all the nightclubs. In those days you had to pay a joining fee and couldn't come back for 48 hours, they must have made a fortune out of folks on a week's holiday. Quite a few of the pubs had signs up 'No Butlins Staff' but don't know how they knew us. We were ba

I think they''re called apartments nowadays, so they cost more. Same as bedsits are now studio apartments!!

I used to live at the mobile home park at the Marina, just opposite the lock keeper's cottage. I lt took me a few weeks to realise the regular bell I heard - which I thought was an alarm clock on one of the boats - was to summon the lock keeper. What a fabulous job to have!! It was a lovely place to live, I'd spend hours with my son watching the boats going through the lock. I believe at one time there was a sort of beach along there somewhere? There were allotments further down, I would come home from work and regularly find a carrier of cabbage or other veg on my doorstep. I worked for

I remember the long skipping ropes across the road - usually a washing line, and mums joined in. We also used to play a game which involved crossing the road, one acting as farmer one side and the rest of us asking permission to cross. The 'farmer' told us in turn, such things as two bunny hops or a 'lamp post' ( this was lying down full length and moving over to where your head would be) the first to reach the opposite side was the winner and became 'farmer' for the next go. As you say there was very little traffic to interrupt the game we played for hours.