Crumbs, that was a shock to the system

Just to be topical, I can just remember the last Coronation 70 years ago. Not so much the detail, but the excitement and cheerful atmosphere. All school children in Birmingham received a free tin of chocolates which was very exciting. Now, in my small town in Devon, hardly anyone is talking about the Coronation, there are very few street parties and just a small selection of tacky souvenirs. The news is dominated by the cost of living crisis, illegal immigrants, shennanigins in the SNP, Ukraine.....has the joy gone forever?

It wasn't Emmerdale that prompted my horror. There was a programme about Traffic Free Neighbourhoods. The presenter said that the first ones were introduced 50 tears ago. I commented to DH that I didn't think that would have occurred in the 50s. He gave a funny look and said that it was actually the 70s.

1973! I was 21, studying and living away from home for the first time and loving not having to tell my parents every little detail of my day. Certain life would be exactly as I had planned it before leaving school!

It hasn't turned out as planned, but I have only minor regrets.

But oh yes, I know the feeling - it can't be 50 years ago already, surely?

I too watched the Coronation as a child. All neighbours gathered round tiny screen on TV the size/style of a walnut bedside cabinet. First TV any of us had seen apart from in a shop window. Yes, ours, when we got one, was from Radio Rentals. Wonder if it’s our age - but I too am a Republican, whilst still enjoying a bit of pomp. Loved the Queen’s funeral shenanigans - but do think ‘royalty’ ‘nobility’ (except in a moral sense) an outdated fraud.

I did my Ph.D on Human Computer Interaction at a time when the internet was a comparatively new and primitive phenomenon. Many of the adults I taught in further education classes had never used a computer. I can recall attending a conference at which my nephew (who built computers for a living) spoke about the convergence of technology and people were looking at him as though we was talking science finction.

20 years on that science fiction has become science fact. People use smart phones for multiple purposes. We have back office systems which tell store owners when their stock is getting low and automatically generate an order for more. Alexa and similar virtual assistants now run amany homes.

The speed of technology is often frightening.

I went to a fifty years on school reunion a couple of weeks ago. Lovely to see everyone but how can it be so long ago that I did A levels?

I remember 70 years ago - specifically the Coronation of Elizabeth II. I was 9 years old. Like many, my parents got a television (rented from Radio Rentals). My grandmother, great aunts, aunt and next door neighbours joined us for the big day. In our small living room, with curtains drawn to stop glare, we gathered round the tiny screen. It seemed like a kind of a miracle to be watching this as it was happening. Afterwards my father took a photo of us all outside the lounge window. I had obviously been told to stand up straight because I am standing in a very unnatural pose - ramrod straight with my arms pressed against my side. 70 years on and now a republican. My parents will be turning in their graves.

Elless

Are you talking about when they mentioned Emmerdale had been on air for 50 years Kitty? I was shocked too. My DH and I were having a discussion about a 70 year old he met who was learning to ride a motorcycle and I thought he was too old until I realised my DH is 65 and I'm 62 and we ride 😂😂

I have a photo of my GreatGrandFather sat on a motorbike wearing leathers and a leather helmet written on the back it says "To my D. taken in my 87th year. '
Carry on biking

I saw my old English teacher at a family funeral last week, and went over to introduce myself. Afterwards, my DF asked if she’d recognised me. She hadn’t. But then I realised she taught me over half a century ago!!!! I really did feel my age, and probably, so did she!!!!

Yes I would say do what you can while you can. I'm 72 and been disabled for 4 years (just after retirement) my daughters are 47 and 45. I had afghan coat, mini skirts, tapestry trousers in 1968.

I bought a birthday card recently . the front says ----Inside every old person is young one wondering what the hell happened! That about sums it up

I can still remember the smell (or should I say stench) of those Afghan coats. Someone I knew brought one home from Afghanistan and had to leave it out in the garden overnight rather than hang it inside the house.
And do you remember those maxi coats, often double breasted? Kept us all very snug. Mine was a lovely black and white herringbone fabric, very fitted. Most of the boys had dark ones, more military looking.
I saw an elderly man in a local restaurant wearing one the other night, he looked wonderful - I'm guessing he was an actor and it had been a costume as it fitted perfectly and he had a lovely patterned silk shirt and matching clothes. It had a look of Adam and the Ants.

I smiled at the scrolling back to birth year.I always think it will dissappear before I reach it.1936 for me.Where oh where do all the years go.

Went to the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm on Monday to watch Cam….realised that I first went there in 1974….

I was thinking about this yesterday, in particular about how fast time goes by now. My oldest daughter is 47, my youngest is several years older than I was when she was born.
When people talk about the 1990's I think if it as just a few years ago but it is 30!

I remember being 14 and discussing how old we would be in 2000. I don't think anyone imagined being 52 let alone 75. But I've had some fun on the way.

It is frightening just how the years fly, friends are celebrating Ruby and Golden Wedding anniversaries and I can remember attending my grandparents' Golden Wedding where everyone seemed so old......mind you, they were old then, all perms and frocks.

An interesting point; nobody born this century voted for Brexit. Or against it of course.

My grandson last week said 'do you remember in the old days when there were feet everywhere and lines and no one had faces outside. I was confused. Turns out he meant during lockdown🤣 I suppose 2020 is yesterday to me but 1/3 of his life ago to him. On the same note my 12 year old granddaughter told me the radio was playing ancient music. It was 1970's hour. I laughed thinking it over the top. Then realised it was like me at 12 in 1973 listening music from the 1920's.

Apparently my #2 son will be 28 next week

My son is a grandfather! It seems like yesterday that this dear little blond boy stole my heart!
He’s 57 now, and I’m 81. How did that happen?

I can remember my mother saying, “20 years ago …” and thinking how old she must be. Now that I can remember 60 years ago 20 seems like yesterday!

When I hear people say “that was way back in the ‘80s” I get a shock! I would say way back in the ‘50s.

My youngest of three will be 40 this week! When did that scruffy teenager turn into the responsible dad he is now?

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened! (I think that was by Terry Pratchett.)

Going to visit an exhibition in our Town Hall, the medieval charter for the town, original, was fascinating. As I walked around, things became more familiar, why, because lived much of it. Scary. So us older generation, living history.