Penny Winkles Roasted Spuds
Faggots and mushy Peas
Fish and Chips on a Friday night
Free school dinners if you please
Holes in your socks, holes in your shoes
A liberty bodice to keep you warm
And a pixie hood to sit on your head
And wellington’s to wear for a storm
Mitts for your fingers
A scarf for your neck
Malt and cod liver oil for your chest
Derbac soap and a nit comb
To make you look your best
If the elastic broke in one leg of your draws
We would then tie it in a knot
Or used a half penny to guarantee
Yes, it would hold it up a lot
Stockings arrived as older you got
And suspender belts to wear
Two suspender clips at the front
And two at the back
And they felt wonderful to be there
Make up ‘Max Factor’ foundation
Was plastered on nice and thick
Thick eye brows and yes
Thick ‘Max Factor’ red lipstick
Lacquer to squeeze on your
‘BIRDS NEST’ hair style
And borax to wash it all out
And when Saturday arrived
Did it all again, for another great night out
So old days still sit in my head
And give me a smile upon my face Old end, old ways, old fashions
Went along at a very good pace
And yes they are repeated by
Today’s youth it seems
And they go out feeling wonderful
But, they now look like I used to look it seems…………
Take a look at the sky line best seen every night
Tall buildings and chimneys and yes old gas lights
Some days the fog entered and stayed there all night
Pea soup we all called it and no stars shone through it
The smell of the gas works and of course HP
Told us were we lived and yes gave us all glee
Each evening the ‘Gas Man’ came around
With ladders and a stick
He’d light the wick climb up his ladder
And light the gas lamp very quick
Must have been a long long job
As there were lots and lots of Streets
And lots and lots of lamp posts
Must have run him off his feet
Each morning another gent appeared
As a man who knocked you up
An extra long pole which he held
Gave your window a very loud knock
I do realize he was wanted of course
Because not many of us had a clock
Every night the paper men called
Tommy Tickelmouse bought the Dispatch
The taller one was called ‘Blackbat’
And he called out loud to sell us the Mail
And then on a Saturday night the ‘ARGUS’ followed the trail
The ice cream man sat on half a bike
And had to peddle it hard
The front part was the ice cream box
And he always came up our yard
Shouting ‘Come on now boys girls and folks
Come and buy my wares
I have ice cream and lollies too
Buy them enjoy them and share
‘Any old rags’ yes ‘any old rags’
The call that came from the rag man
Sometimes they called with a horse and cart
Or just pushed along a barrow
But we didn’t mind nor did we care
The thought was already in our head
What’s he giving us to-day
For the rags we had long shed
Every person was accepted those days as part of all our life
Never moaned about them as they never gave us any strife
Remember having wonderful days in school in Church whatever
Having friends and neighbours all about
And thought it would last forever
But moved forward and yes put my memories
Into the back of my head but hey
Remember them now and yes do love to share
So do be happy don’t be glum because
NECHELLS, DUDDESTON, VAUXHALL and ASHTED
To me where never a SLUM……….
The thoughts in my head,
They will always remain
Big thoughts for my Mother
Again and again
No matter how old I am
Feelings will always be
For my Mother most people called
‘Mrs P’
Jobs done for us all like
A Queen bee busy all the time
Looked after us specially
Kept us cosy and warm
Cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed
There were no complaints,
Just hard work, sweat and toil
Loved us and hugged us
And clouted our heads
Smacked our bums
Then sent us to bed
Yes tears were shed
But quickly went cuz
Mother was the best Mother to us
Hard up days often came around
But Mom always sorted it out
Scrapped bits and pieces together
And boiled them together in a pot
‘Sit and eat you three
Dip bread in if you can
Fill yourselves up and fingers crossed
There is more bread to cut
Not just an old stale crust’
Will never know how my Mother coped
And bought us all up on her own
Loved us and kept us
Worked hard to protect us
But sadly we lost her
When her 51st year came around
Mother hope you can hear me
Will’ shout it out loud’ if I can
Love you and loved you
For the life that you gave
For the protection and manners
And lessons on how good to behave
The love that you gave us
You said was issued to you
To give to the three of us
Until we all grew
To adult age and sense
Proving to Mom
She had followed the instruction
So Mother, job finished and well done
Mom will always keep you
In my heart and in my head
As my marvellous Mother and yes,
A brilliant and wonderful friend
For Mother Ivy Beatrice Pickering nee Allen
With love from Daughter Betty Ann xx
Playing on the railway
By the bridge in Saltley Road
Playing on parked rail coaches
Three of us having fun setting
Up our tea with bits of rubbish
Oh boy filled us with glee and fun
Dorothy Sheene my friend,
Took a look around the billboard
Standing along the bridge
Then a big ‘Betty come here’
Was sounded so, went to my friend
Dorothy at a fast pace
And what we were about to do,
Would be a big yes big disgrace
Standing by a bus stop
The 14 one off course
Was Miss Jones our Bible teacher
Getting transport going home
But we were about to give her a frightener
Make her scared and make her frown
‘MISS JONES MISS JONES BIBLE PUNCHER’
Came rolling loudly from our mouths
We then hid behind the board
Giggling and laughing out loud
‘MISS JONES BEST FRIEND OF JESUS’
Out it came again, poor Miss Jones was
Twisting, turning and spinning round and round
The 14 bus at last turned up and,
Our Teacher left a space
So back to the coaches the three of us
The thought even left our head
That we had upset Miss Jones
With what we had shouted and yes
What we all had rejoicingly said
School the next morning
And yes in Miss Jones class
But the ruddy door flew open
Hit the back wall with a crash
Miss Hasting senior teacher
Hands on her hips at the back
Her mouth it never opened
There was no good reason for that
Dragged by the scruff of our necks
Out into the junior yard
And she wopped us with a wooden ruler
And yes it was blooming hard
Then Miss Hasting told us on the spot
‘Know you shouted at Miss Jones
I saw you both do your trick but,
Thank me that I have only slapped you
Instead of doing you all a
‘JESUS CRUCIFIX’
Now who was shivering and shaking
No not our Miss Jones
Just me and my friend Dorothy
The tale had now been told
Each time I go under the bridge
To visit ‘Heartlands’ in Melvina Road
The bad thing we did to Miss Jones
Still enters my grown up old head
Left school and decided
Boys were on me list
Would creep around
And look for them
And yes maybe give am a kiss
Many just as friends
Going out for a walk and a talk
Or going to the pictures it seems
Love would get around one day
Well that’s what filled my dreams
Kisses and cuddles up the entries
Giggles in the dark
And sometimes on a Sunday
Would go for a quiet walk in the park
Met three chaps one Tuesday night
Went to the Ashted cinema to watch a film
Walk you home they told us
But we will stick to the rules
When we arrived at Weston street corner
My bladder was ready to pop as it was
Full right to the top
So made excuse to pop home for a tick
But said I’d be right back
But wow I wet me knickers
So went into the brew house quick
Changed the draws wiped me legs
And strolled happily down the road
But then what occurred, made me turn out red
Johnny took me hanky and ran it past his nose
‘Betty that’s a lovely perfume
What’s it name my dear
‘Oh, oh, oh It’s called French WE WE
Was my stuttering reply to him
But, made sure that day
It would never happen like that again
If I needed the toilet
Would look and make an early job
Wanted to be a lady friend
Not a smelly little wet blob
Often have a thought
And yes a great big smile
Wonder if that night John Smith
Had a puzzle thought enter his head
Was it really the French WE WE perfume
Like…… Betty P had said ??????
‘Let’s go for a mooch’
My brothers would say
‘At BLOOMSBURY STREET LIBRARY’
Come on let’s make it a day’
Lovely red brick building with,
A very big black and white clock
With brass handles and
Big wooden doors to let you in wooden
But once inside the library,
‘Hush’ no talking just a broad grin
Keeping quiet was the order
And please walk quietly at the start
As men sat reading papers
But we always after leaving
Had a loud giggle and a laugh
Books in book racks to be looked through
Old and used that was true
And a children’s corner with lots of
Colourful books from which to choose
Assistants keeping out their good eye
To make sure we obeyed the rules
If we kept borrowed books over the date
When they should have been returned
Around would come a librarian
Peddling his bike to the door
And we had to pay the fine
Or if we didn’t as Mother said,
We’d be ‘prosecuted’ for sure
The library was altered but,
Was really only slightly changed
Somewhere in the 90’s
So lots of people came
To have a look around again
Carl Chinn was our celebrity
Who chatted to us all but,
The thing that sat in my mind that day
That there were no old gent readers
Sitting in the hall
No podiums no papers no quiet if you please
The old days had left us
Just like a breeze
Also gone was our old school
The’ Bloomsbury Street’ one if you please
The fire station facing the library
That too hit the floor
So some of old Nechells…….
Just wasn’t there any more but,
The ‘LIBRARY’ is still standing
Scrubbed and looking clean
The clock still ticking
The tower of course is, supreme
Glad she is still standing
And one more tale I have to tell
‘Heartlands’
Have now adopted her
On the front of the magi she stays
So read it and take a look as she
Brings back memories of old days…………………………………..
‘Is the TUTU frock going up my bum
Making it itch and rubbing it some’
Maybe a new idea has entered my head
Back to my ‘DRAIN PIPE’ trousers instead
Seeing myself dressed up to the nines
Being a ‘TEDDY BOY’ the Edwardian kind
My hair it was quiffed and it looked great
My modern clothes left me in a good state
Loved my self from head to toe
Looked at myself in the shop window you know
And thought, ‘THIS TEDDY BOY IS SEX ON LEGS’
‘Anyone offering’ was what the ‘TEDDIES’ said
Oh well, a good thought had raced through my head
About what used to be
But, today am back in my frilly TUTU you see
As I now have to calm myself down
For my ballet lessons are due
Be good mannered and polite
And gently sway from left to right
Wave my wand and get the steps correct
And I will land up on a stage
(Fingers crossed)
Very soon I expect
What occurs over the years
Things that come and do go
But stuck in my head
Thoughts that I loved
So would still like to be
An’ EDWARDIAN TEDDY BOY’ you know
This small poem is about and for John Kirby.
Love to you KIRB….Betty P
Aunty Nellie was our friend, my Mother used to say
We would visit her and Brian, with whom I used to play
They lived just around the corner, it wasn't far to go
But I always looked forward to it as when as a kid you do you know
Auntie Nellie was so nice, she made us feel at home
She had the broadest smile of anyone I'd every known
Brian was her little chap and he hung on her every word
And Nellie loved him so dearly, Brian was Auntie Nellie's world
Cups of tea! they drank plenty, me and Brian we had pop and we sat and listened to the chatter, we thought they'd never stop
One day Auntie Nellie left us, it made us all so sad
But what became of Brian, Auntie Nellie's little lad?
Angry I'd lost my little playmate, all of a sudden he was gone
But a long time after I remembered: my friend Brian had lost his MOM
She loved him oh so dearly, never really meant to go away
And feel sure now, Brian, Auntie Nellie wanted to stay
But you were always in my thoughts young Brian
Why did they take you away? we'd lost our Auntie Nellie and
I thought they would let you stay
Brian never left my thoughts those fifty years ago
Always thinking where he might be, would I see him soon???? don't know
I always kept his picture, one of Auntie Nellie too, always asking the same question
BRIAN, WHAT DID BECOME OF YOU?
Now my questions are all answered I'm so very glad to say Cuz Brian and I are back in touch as he wasn't so far away
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