Having just typed an intro,saying this site wasn't dedicated to retro,started me thinking about the 60's...Well it would things really do wander into my mind....but we were so lucky it was a golden age,jobs aplenty,I lost count of the number of jobs I actually had,after all you could go out in your lunch hour and if you were offered better paying employment,hand your notice in when you got back.
The mini skirt was born,we won the world cup,I think everyone came out on to the streets after the match,and 42 years later we're still waiting for the magic that the squad of 66 gave us,all in vain I fear ,players just don't seem to be hungry enough,and they're far too pampered.
Flower power came to our shores,and naturally I had the kaftan,long blonde hair,didn't we all(lads too),but then we also had the mods and rockers(mod here),and protest songs,yes as teens we protested...quite a lot!!
After all this was our time, the word teenager was officially in the dictionary,and we were the first youth generation to have disposable income.Young men rode lambrettas or motorbikes,and we all paid homage to Carnaby Street...well there was definitely a street sign on my bedroom wall,that said that along with all the album covers and my wonderful Dansette record player.
However we weren't a pampered generation, no benefits, or handouts if you didn't work ,and god help you if you became pregnant before you married...I can honestly say my dad was the most effective form of contraception,as most fathers were..simple terms "Bring trouble to this house and you're on the street",you knew there'd be no reasoning,and like everyone else it would be a shotgun wedding,or unmarried mothers home,so you didn't ,or if you risked it you prayed an awful lot for a whole month which seemed to last for an eternity...There was an awful downside to this the girls who sought out the back street abortionists,there was nowhere else to go, clinics didn't exist,and many a young girl lost her life or was seriously ill.
Every girl married,not the lavish OTT affairs they have now,which usually leaves the new Mr.&Mrs.with a huge loan to start their married life,no ours were simple the bride wore white ,very often the reception was in the brides house,or a local club,your dad ,danced as only dad's can at a wedding, along with an assortment of male relatives,and although most won't admit it ...because of course we've all "moved" on..but the inevitable fight broke out....My mum bless her had to be different I married in the early 70's ,we had an all singing ,all dancing, brand new Holiday Inn Hotel in Birmingham,and they were new to this country,so mum decided our reception was there,which cost mum and dad an arm and a leg...such a waste as we divorced at the end of the 70's,and I've remained cynical regards lavish "do's" ever since ,after all 2nd marriage very simple,register office ,reception in the house and still going strong.
The 60's was my era,a golden age,working hours were long,health and safety..unheard of...the world was a very small place,no such thing as flitting to another continent at the drop of a hat,we had smog ,coal fires,walked for miles,pc's unheard of,but or fashion was unique,thanks to Mary Quant,Twiggy and the like,and anything was possible,every other lad was in a band and some of them made it,and the music was something else...Yes it was golden... I met the Rolling Stones,saw the Beatles live,also the Beach Boys,Brenda Lee,the list goes on, what more could a girl ask for?
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