- Joined
- Aug 11, 2001
- Messages
- 28,501
Amazing how the smallest thing can bring back memories isn't it..... i've just seen a photo posted by a mate on facebook of him and his brother at xmas back in the 80's and they were playing with a big trak....anybody remember them?
It brought back a few memories for me as well, because i'd always wanted one and when i eventually bought one (at 27 lol) i couldn't understand why i was so fascinated with them...it was cack
I guess in a way i'm glad i didn't get one back then, i had a mum i rarely saw due to her 3 jobs, cleaning in the morning (waking us up as she left), bar work in the afternoon and taxi driving in the evening just to keep me and my 2 brothers going.
Most of my xmas presents were second hand, i didn't have birthday presents very often because i prefered to have a birthday cake that we could all enjoy instead of something that was only any good to me.
My usual xmas present consisted of things like a pair of jeans, only mine would have flowers on the back pockets and flares that were so big dumbo would have been jealous.....while all the other kids were getting the latest pinstripe wranglers....they'd get a pair of brand new sparkly adidas i'd get a pair of well washed and cleaned puma trainers, of course i'd also get pants, socks and vests.
My two brothers would be the same although my elder brother would normally end up with the new stuff so it could be handed down to me the following year.
I remember the year i got a computer, a 3 year old zx80, all the other kids were boasting about their brand new zx spectrums but me, i'd got a zx 80 and i loved it even though i couldn't play any games on it because we didn't have a tape recorder to load them
2nd or 3rd week back after xmas Mr Green the science teacher, (nasty evil git with arms and beard Bluto would have been jealous of) heard me talking to Bod, my best mate, (he was even worse off than us because his mum was a drunk and his dad had vanished)...Bod asked me what it was like and i told him to keep it a secret because i couldn't take anymore pish taking..but i hadn't got a tape player to load the games.
At the end of school as we were heading past Greenies classroom i heard his booming voice "Fawcett..in here NOW" i still remember the feeling of dread as i walked in..he looked at me, then past me and said "did i call your name..no i didn't now sod off outside and wait for him" Bod had walked in behind me...he didn't take long to scurry away when Greenie stood up.
He walked to the door and closed it, my knees are now starting to go weak with fear...then he says "got a computer for xmas then did you?"
"yes sir"
"ahuh, can't use it without a tape recorder then"
"how did yo...."
"answer the damned question child"
"sorry sir, no sir we haven't got one so i can't play any games"
"hmmm"
he then goes to his big green metal cabinet and reaches in, he turns around and gives me...an ancient old binatone "diarrhea brown" tape recorder and power lead..
"well, get it in your bag lad, don't let anybody see it and if you ever tell anybody i gave you that i'll make sure you can't sit down for a month......get out"
after stuttering a thank you and seeing a sort of smile on his face i ran out of the room and out the school gates...Bod was waiting and i told him to come round that night and we'd have a go on my computer...... after 40 minutes of stopping and reqinding the tape we eventually got a game loaded then realised..... no joystick so we had to use the keys.
For my birthday my mum and grandparents bought me some more games, 99p each on a 15 minute tape (anybody remember them?) ...... and i got a cake as well
The following xmas i had to share my xmas present with my kid brother..but it was worth it, we were given a second hand B&W Walter TV with the big twisty dial to tune it in......can you imagine what it was like for us two waking up on boxing day and getting to lay in bed and watch cartoons!!
It brought back a few memories for me as well, because i'd always wanted one and when i eventually bought one (at 27 lol) i couldn't understand why i was so fascinated with them...it was cack
I guess in a way i'm glad i didn't get one back then, i had a mum i rarely saw due to her 3 jobs, cleaning in the morning (waking us up as she left), bar work in the afternoon and taxi driving in the evening just to keep me and my 2 brothers going.
Most of my xmas presents were second hand, i didn't have birthday presents very often because i prefered to have a birthday cake that we could all enjoy instead of something that was only any good to me.
My usual xmas present consisted of things like a pair of jeans, only mine would have flowers on the back pockets and flares that were so big dumbo would have been jealous.....while all the other kids were getting the latest pinstripe wranglers....they'd get a pair of brand new sparkly adidas i'd get a pair of well washed and cleaned puma trainers, of course i'd also get pants, socks and vests.
My two brothers would be the same although my elder brother would normally end up with the new stuff so it could be handed down to me the following year.
I remember the year i got a computer, a 3 year old zx80, all the other kids were boasting about their brand new zx spectrums but me, i'd got a zx 80 and i loved it even though i couldn't play any games on it because we didn't have a tape recorder to load them
2nd or 3rd week back after xmas Mr Green the science teacher, (nasty evil git with arms and beard Bluto would have been jealous of) heard me talking to Bod, my best mate, (he was even worse off than us because his mum was a drunk and his dad had vanished)...Bod asked me what it was like and i told him to keep it a secret because i couldn't take anymore pish taking..but i hadn't got a tape player to load the games.
At the end of school as we were heading past Greenies classroom i heard his booming voice "Fawcett..in here NOW" i still remember the feeling of dread as i walked in..he looked at me, then past me and said "did i call your name..no i didn't now sod off outside and wait for him" Bod had walked in behind me...he didn't take long to scurry away when Greenie stood up.
He walked to the door and closed it, my knees are now starting to go weak with fear...then he says "got a computer for xmas then did you?"
"yes sir"
"ahuh, can't use it without a tape recorder then"
"how did yo...."
"answer the damned question child"
"sorry sir, no sir we haven't got one so i can't play any games"
"hmmm"
he then goes to his big green metal cabinet and reaches in, he turns around and gives me...an ancient old binatone "diarrhea brown" tape recorder and power lead..
"well, get it in your bag lad, don't let anybody see it and if you ever tell anybody i gave you that i'll make sure you can't sit down for a month......get out"
after stuttering a thank you and seeing a sort of smile on his face i ran out of the room and out the school gates...Bod was waiting and i told him to come round that night and we'd have a go on my computer...... after 40 minutes of stopping and reqinding the tape we eventually got a game loaded then realised..... no joystick so we had to use the keys.
For my birthday my mum and grandparents bought me some more games, 99p each on a 15 minute tape (anybody remember them?) ...... and i got a cake as well
The following xmas i had to share my xmas present with my kid brother..but it was worth it, we were given a second hand B&W Walter TV with the big twisty dial to tune it in......can you imagine what it was like for us two waking up on boxing day and getting to lay in bed and watch cartoons!!
