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March 2015
Welcome- a sign winter may be leaving!
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This month contains articles from John (Baker) – one from our George and
Pictures of our Joyce on her walk
JOHN`S TRAINS
Hi, back again to give you an update on my railway, it is coming on very
well now, most of the track is in position.
I have bought some more engines, over Christmas. I have try to work
my money out as and when, as I said before it is not a cheap hobby!
I have wired the points so that they will work with the flick of a switch,
22 so far, I think it will need another 12! As cost £6 each it will be a bit
of time yet!!
If you look at the photos you will see my locomotives and also an
engine shed that I built from cardboard and clear plastic for windows –
it took me ages and I am now working on a turntable to turn the
engines, the electrics are a nightmare!
Any way that`s it for now on the railway –waiting for pension day to
see what`s left!
So that`s that!
On the health front everything is going on ok after having my plate out
–see the doctors every 2 months and they are very pleased.
So it`s bye for now and will keep the updates coming
John (Baker)
It`s the 6/5 special coming to town!!!
FURTHER WAFFLE FROM GEORGE – (his quote not mine!)
ENTITLED “PROUD TO BE FROM POOR!!”
Hello Again,
Yes you may find it strange that I started life at the bottom of the ladder and
that I have only gone up another 2 rungs to this day! But I personally have
not felt that, for my Mum and Dad could not help their status and did their
best for me – well especially my Mum (I made it my goal to be like her in life)
for she worked her early life in service and was aware of her position to the
well to do in life. She was so humble but gave away to anyone at cost to
herself.
My Dad on the other hand spent his earlier years (because of the 1930`s)
getting hooked on thinking more about drinking and gambling than his family
but as I began to grow up from the then little spoilt brat that I was he must
have thought at some time he must do something about it!
I never forget the one real thing other than football that he gave me , was
the advice not to be a labourer that he was then, “don’t be told to run and
fetch and carry things for others,” you make sure you have them fetch and
carry things for you –be a tradesman or something.
Later on I will explain what I did with this advice. But I became very proud of
him for he progressed then he was working for the council assisting flaggers
or paviours as they were named then (NOW THEY ARE KNOWN AS
PAVEMENT OPERATORS OR WHEN I LAST KNEW) which he became himself
because of the shortage of skilled workers after the war (1945)
Then he had the opportunity to buy a paper round of a gent- whom he had
delivered them for a couple of years – and paid for it out of his wage each
week, which led him to renting an old paint shop which he turned into a
newsagents! So you see why I was proud of him.
But I followed my Mum`s example more because you know how everyone
says they have the best Mum in the world, well everyone who I know, knows
that`s not true!!! Because I definitely Had the best Mum in the world!!!
She worked as a cleaner mostly after she gave up service to have my brother
(who was still born which meant I came along later) but she also was a
cleaner at a Bakers who liked her hard work so much, asked her to serve in
the shop and later as waitress in the function room upstairs for funerals and
weddings (THE BAKERS OPPOSITE THE TOWERS HALL IN MANCHESTER ROAD
BRADFORD) also she worked part time at more jobs as a cleaner. Everyone
loved her, as the best Mum in the world as I said.
This bakers was so important to me as a young streetwise boy, for it became
my friends and I, main source of supply of flour to make gastar marbles from
joints in the cobbled streets when it melted in the summer! (this fact quickly
learnt after the first time I made them and went home my clothes covered in
tar , getting a clip round my ear from my granddad for doing so in the
process) the clip round the ear becoming a regular thing – while being
educated by my granddad.
Having 21 children 17 of the surviving he was an expert at this, as I still
execute to this day many of the things he taught me! I first learnt from him
how to look after myself. For coming home crying from school one day I told
my granddad I had been punched in the face by a boy as I left, and he
promptly gave me my first clip round the ear, and next day he came to school
to pick me up and after, have me point out the boy and make me punch the
boy back he gave me another clip round the ear for not hitting him in the first
place and reminded me that why you uncle Jimmy (one of his boys) became
light heavyweight champion of Hull & East Yorkshire.
When next at Hull I informed my uncle Jim and he gave me a clip round the
ear too! It goes without saying I suppose I never again told my granddad or
uncle jimmy any one had hit me. It taught me to stand up to bullies and in
the long run along with the British Army to avoid confrontation before
anything, but as the army taught kill or be killed (JOYCE SAYS IF YOU LOOK AT
MY EARS AT THE NEXT CROAKIES YOU WILL SEE HOW THEY WERE CLIPPED SO
MUCH – HA –HA)
End of part one of WAFFLE – part 2 next issue! George!
Follow me ladies – this way!!
I told you it was over there!!
Are we there yet? x
Picture of the month!