Those Were the Days...

what a lovely old fashioned feel - the mangles, my granny had one, we used it to squeeze out the sheets, in the garden in the sunshine - before the line.

it also makes me think of Ena Sharples - who was the complete opposite of Granny who never ever did the curlers...:)

Thanks so much for reading, Maisie and for your lovely comment;-)

Tina

Such an atmospheric poem Tina- I really loved it. Made me a bit nostalgic about my childhood with alleys and backyards and gossiping matrons. Such a colourful poem.

;)Pia

Many thanks, Pia;-) My childhood was spent in the backstreets and the backyards of Tottenham, North London and like you, I could tell many a tale;-)

Pleased you enjoyed.

Tina

very vivid, and so many points brought together!

Many thanks, Rhiannonw. Pleased you enjoyed.

tina

Hello Tina,

as everyone else has said, this is pure nostalgia.
Many memories come flooding back for me, while
reading this beautiful piece.

And as Mary Hopkins sang:- Those were the days my
friend, I wish they'd never end!

Thankyou for the great read.

Jenny.

And how well I remember that song by Mary Hopkins...it was nineteen-sixty-eight, or thereabouts, the year my eldest daughter was born.

Really pleased you enjoyed, Jenny and thanks for taking the time out to tell me;-)

Tina

I enjoyed it very much also and now have Mary Hopkins on repeat in my ear........whatever happened to her I wonder?

new Silver=Spun-Sand
H!. Really good images and description of
the olden days,which you write so well,enjoyed very much. specially the mangle,smoke and pinnies. We had a mangle wringing and used apples to Squeeze through.For homemade wine. No washing machines.No light toilet outside.Night lights for bed.
Do you remember the coalman heave the coal in the
cellar.You certainly can join me in most of the poem.
Second hand clothes. I have The Carnival is over on my mind. Was it The Seekers or The Carpenters. Neil Diamond on again last night.
Have a good week-end.
julie xx

Thanks, Julie. So many of the things you mention I can identify with. Pleased it evoked so many memories for you;-)

Tina xx

Mary Hopkins...rumour has it she now lives in a chateau in France which can only be reached by carrier pigeons, but who knows?

Pleased you enjoyed, Coral and meny thanks for your lovely comment;-)

Tina

Lovely read - very evocative Tina.

OTT - many thanks for reading and letting me know you enjoyed;-)

Tina

You paint a very appealing and colourful nostalgic picture full of wonderful images.

It's a world that I never really knew, I'm sorry to say, coming from a middle-class background and not belonging to any kind of community although I do remember women in headscarves.

Funny how headscarves are now mostly associated with muslim women when they used to be a common form of British head-gear back in the 50's/60's/70's

Very much enjoyed your poem. It was very entertaining and a glimpse into a whole
different world for me.

Particularly liked:

and gossip hung
in the air
like the smell
before rain...

"and gossip hung
in the air
like the smell
before rain..."

I LOVE this image. I'm a passionate hater of gossip. I just don't understand how it's possible that somebody's life would be so boring that they resorted to spreading or making up stories about somebody else's!

Right, well, just had to get that off my chest ;-)

A very enjoyable piece to read with some wonderful imagery. As always, a well done from me.

Nathan x

Well-wisher, many thanks for your lovely comment. Times sure have changed and you are so right about headscarves.

Pleased you enjoyed, and that it gave you a glimpse of 'another world'.;-)

Tina

Many thanks, Nathan;-)

I don't much like gossip either. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Pleased you enjoyed.

Tina xx

Nicely done, feels poignant and remembered.

Thank you, celtic.