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Half a century ago... what were you up to?

(242 Posts)
Riverwalk Sat 22-Jul-23 14:57:15

This time in 1973 I was 18 and waiting to start nurse training, having left school three years earlier at the tender age of 15.

I don't know were the time went but would like to re-visit and make a few changes! smile

bevisp1 Mon 24-Jul-23 13:43:30

I was 12 years of age, and madly in love with Donny osmond, David Cassidy, then bit later in bay city rollers (les, main singer) 🤣😂

Ladyleftfieldlover Mon 24-Jul-23 13:44:14

I was 20 and working as a Management Trainee at John Lewis. My weekends were spent listening to Progressive Rock bands such as Ginger Baker’s Airforce and Groundhog. There may have been marijuana involved. I had an assortment of boyfriends - I didn’t meet OH until the following year. It all seems so long ago now and I suppose it is.

albertina Mon 24-Jul-23 13:45:21

Just finished teacher training. Stupidly chose the school to start teaching in according to where the man I loved at the time lived. He did off to New Zealand shortly after !

Boolya Mon 24-Jul-23 13:45:50

I had an 11 month daughter and was expecting another baby, but like first time around, I was dreadfully sick throughout the pregnancy.

NonnaW Mon 24-Jul-23 13:47:31

I was 19 ( 20 later that year), in the WRAF and engaged.

Charly Mon 24-Jul-23 14:15:38

Miserable 13 year old.

Lemontart Mon 24-Jul-23 14:21:36

I was 5 and had just started Summer holidays after my first year at school.

Helenlouise3 Mon 24-Jul-23 14:25:56

Studying for GCE's, winning gymnastic competitions and playing netball for S Wales.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Mon 24-Jul-23 14:28:07

I was 18, still at home but pondering on how best to leave and be independent. I worked in a low-paid office job, bashing away at a typewriter, the type of machine which you'd find a museum nowadays.

LindyB Mon 24-Jul-23 14:48:43

I was 18 and had just got married. We have just celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Three wonderful children and four gorgeous grandchildren. We feel truly blessed.

Susieq62 Mon 24-Jul-23 15:01:02

Just finished my first year of teaching in a wonderful middle school !

Shirls52000 Mon 24-Jul-23 15:06:05

I was 16 and had just left school to work full time pricing prescriptions before starting nurse training. I wish I d stayed on at school and got A levels as I might have made different choices

TiggyW Mon 24-Jul-23 15:09:39

Several people on here are the same age as me! I had just finished my A levels and was working in the Co-op for the Summer. I was looking forward to starting teacher training in September. Some school friends and I went to Scarborough for a week on the National Express coach. I was a big David Bowie fan - still am.😎
I’ve been watching Steeltown Murders on iPlayer (set in 1973) - I can’t believe it was 50 years ago!!! 😳😳

Retired65 Mon 24-Jul-23 15:10:56

I had just finished my first year of teaching in 1973. Going out with someone who I met at college. I can't remember if I went on holiday that year.

Onthemoors Mon 24-Jul-23 15:12:21

So nice reading all these memories. I had walked into the Bank where my Dad always banked - asked if they might be taking on some school leavers. The door opened - there stood the Bank Manager and he welcomed me into his room. I was taken aback didn't expect that. Anyway as long as I passed my exams with the marks he required, I was to let him know. I did -& I worked there for 8 years, very happily.

ForeverAutumn Mon 24-Jul-23 15:15:23

I was 22, married the previous year and into the 2nd year of a 3 year posting (husband in the RAF) in Cyprus.

catwoman Mon 24-Jul-23 15:18:10

I went to HongKong to live as husband was in the Royal Navy. Two children age 6 months & three & a half. Wonderful experience.

Jzpap Mon 24-Jul-23 15:20:17

I love these type of posts.
I was 16 and had just left the 5th form. Spent most of the Summer working in Woolworths and swapping boyfriends on a regular basis. Wish I could go back and change things, I probably would have never joined the sixth form and subsequently wasted a year.

Neilspurgeon0 Mon 24-Jul-23 15:22:42

I was in Japan having just completed Exercise Green Light, a joint U.S./U.K./Japanese/Thai naval exercise showing the flag in the South China Sea to counter Chinese aggression.
Truly nothing changes

Gwenisgreat Mon 24-Jul-23 15:36:41

I had a nearly one year old baby, who loved to run and climb over everything. she was walking and running by the time she was ten months old! I was the slimmest I'd ever been through running after her. She's still very active but now has a 7 year old daughter.

jenpax Mon 24-Jul-23 15:38:00

Nothing exciting, I was still at primary school. But probably looking forward to the Summer holidays and camping in France with my parents

twiglet77 Mon 24-Jul-23 15:42:00

I’d just turned 17, working full time as an insurance clerk, and fairly miffed at no longer having six weeks off in the summer! Taking weekly driving lessons in a Ford Escort, saving diligently, and having to pay my mother 1/4 of my wages for my “keep”. I couldn’t wait to leave home but it was another two years before I moved into a bedsit.

I was already engaged to the boy I married in 1979 and divorced 10 years later, it was so silly but of course we knew best!

essjay Mon 24-Jul-23 15:55:06

just finished my first year of a two year training course to be a nursery nurse and had stupidly got engaged! saw sense and broke it off a few months later

JudeMD Mon 24-Jul-23 15:56:25

I had been married for two years. Suddenly my husband had a job in South Wales and we had to move from Sheffield where we had grown up. I was a big change. We managed to put a deposit on our first home and are still in it, it is a little larger than when we bought it! 50 years on and we have three Welsh children and 4 Welsh grandchildren.
Hwyl Fawr
(Goodbye)

win Mon 24-Jul-23 15:58:13

I too was happily married with 2 sons one of 5 years and one of 18 month,. I was working evenings in the local pub to earn some extra money. I loved my life and my home in country never having lived out of a city before