Julia Hankin and I wanted to write an Old Wives' Tales book together and couldn't settle on the subject.Ìý
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We thought about it while listening to the radio, but couldn't decide on what to write.ÌýWe discussed a television programme we had watched the previous evening and gave up in despair. We mused on the problem as we answered a pop quiz and couldn't settle on anything.ÌýWe thought long and hard while enjoying a discussion about shopping but drew a blank. We talked about it in the pub and ordered another glass of wine. We were on the point of giving up and were playing one last game of hopscotch – just kidding - when we came up with the perfect project - write something about entertainment and how we amuse ourselves.Ìý After all, today we listen to the radio, watch TV, go to pub quizzes and take time out to go shopping, whereas once people played outdoor games with odd titles like 'Pineaway',Ìýgathered round the piano and sang songs, listened breathlessly to radio series such as 'Paul Temple' and squabbled over board games like Ludo. It's all fun and games
 | | Julia's still got the hoolahoop skill |
We were away.ÌýWe'd write about entertainment, how it has changed, what has stayed the same, what's behind it and what leisure activities do for you.ÌýIt makes such perfect sense – Julia presents the afternoon show on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Newcastle, which is all about entertainment, and I like to enjoy myself! We would love to hear from you about the games you played (outside and in the parlour); the radio shows you enjoyed; your memories of making wonderful music (or an awful noise) with friends and family. Who knows, your contributions could be included in our book! At the very least, it could re-awaken your inner child. Please send your thoughts, stories and memories to Julia. The more detail the better as we'll probably want to try the games for ourselves! Yours entertainingly,
Carol Cooke What you remember You've been sending in loads of memories of the games you used to play. Here are some. Dave sent these memories: Eeee .brings it all back. Well. there was 'British bulldog' which I hated, 'Kick the can' which was a form of hidey where one kid was 'man' and he looked after the 'can ' (an old baked bean tin) If a kid sneaked back and kicked the can , he could automatically get the other captured kids free.
One I distinctly remember was 'best man falls'. Bit of a post war vibe here as one kid lay on the grass with a pretend belt fed machine gun while the que of kids each took turns to run towrds the hail of bullets. The best one to die a tortured agonising death was the winner.. horrific but true. Theresa Fenn in Staffordshire writes: ÌýJust listened to your show and you mentioned kerby.Ìý We played "Split the Kipper".Ìý 2 people facing each other and each takes turns to throw Mam's potato knife about 6" from opponents foot and they would then have to move their foot to the place where the knife went in.Ìý Each taking a turn - the aim of the game was to get your mate to end up stretching so far that they would topple over.Ìý I can't remember if we "borrowed" the knife without Mam seeing, or if she knew what we were up to.Ìý But how dangerous was that!Ìý It's nearly as bad as kerby!Ìý Didn't we have any fear or were we just oblivious to danger!Ìý Jean in Ontario, Canada remembers: On SaturdayÌýnight we listened to In Town Tonight. The games we played wereÌý Kick the block And multi kitty or knocky door danger. The card game was snap my great grandchildren still play the game Kenny in Blyth emailed this: we used to play a game called knocky doon tins--you each got a empty tin(dog food,beans) ect and stood it against the wall-and took turns with a tennis ball to hit each others tins--happy days--we had nowt-if you wanted to go to the pictures you had to take empty pop bottles back to the shops till you got the magic figure of 9d(3p) From Susan: I used to put a tennis ball in an old nylon stocking and stand against a wall and bounce the ball right to left and up and down off the wall and chant songs, my mum made me horse from an old sock and broom shank embroidered eyes ,nose and mouth and wool for the maine, I galloped around for days on my "horse".
From Bernadette, Coxhoe: We used to put a tennis ball in old tights / stocking, fastened to our ankle and then sort of skip whilst the ball went whizzing under your your legs!Ìý Also French skips with loads of elastic bands fastened to the garden gate; itchydabber (hopscotch) and knockynine doors. From Karol, Heaton: Eeee this is going back years, I used to like playing jaks, there would be four or five of us sitting in a ring. This was a game involving picking up little pieces of metal, stones, or plastic cubes...in a particular sequence between bouncing and catching a small ball.Ìý WeÌý also liked walking up and down our road on stilts.Ìý And of course we used to ring door bells and run away... can't remember what we used to call this game maybe someone else does. From Maggie Murray: When I was little in the 50's everyone's mum had a button box and we used to play 'Buttons'.Ìý You would draw a chalk line about 2 ft away from a wall then you'd get down on your knees and flick the button and whoever got nearest to the wall in the least flicks won!Ìý A bit like shove halfpenny really but as no-one had any money you used buttons. We also used to make yo yos with buttons.Ìý You would sew or tie, two round backed buttons together leaving a long piece of thread which you wrapped round the middle and hey presto you had a yo yo.
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