I know will receive many raised eyebrows. 1930' suburbia has been ferociously criticised for ruining acres of countryside and for its unimaginative architecture.
However, our road ran parallel to a single-track railway line so, no side turnings on our side of the road. This meant we could ride our orange-carts on pramwheels for a mile with no dips or humps. Bliss for an eigh-year old.
It was lined on both sides with alternate double-flowering cherry trees and a dark-red leafed tree whose name I don't know, but in spring the road looked so pretty. There were also grass strips bordering the road (so the dogs were happy too). At the top of the road was a roundabout with all the shops we could need. Also a Woolworth's, a pub, a community hall and a cinema. The bus stopped there to take us into the nearest large town and the mainline station for London.
The gardens were pocket handkerchief sized but all carefully tended and all different, as were the colours of the front doors. The houses were all semi-detached and pebble-dashed. Some daring people sprayed their pebbles white.
We had little wooden front gates. The milkman in his float and the baker in his van passed every day and left our orders under our tiny porches.
All the roads around were very similar. We walked safely to school with no adults to accompany us (it wouldn't have occured to them to do so!). We walked through a pretty park to reach our school and this park was manned by "Jock", with his Army medals and his pointed stick to pick up any rubbish and a sharp eye out for any bad behaviour from us children.
There was a jolly Lollypop man to help those children who needed to cross the main road to grt to school.
Our school had wooden huts built in the playground to house the classes for us Baby Boom children and the discipline was military as, indeed, several of our teachers were ex-military: punishments were pressups and runs around the school field, if not the plimsoll smack on the backside.
All in all, I think I grew up in very pleasant surroundings. We were none of us well-off but we had what we needed.
Anyone agree with me?
Ps: have seen on Google Maps that the area has now sadly deteriorated. Such a shame.
July 23 Limerick (continuation of July 21)
apple trees not flowering this year. Anyone else?