Penny Winkles Roasted Spuds

                                    Faggots and mushy Peas

                                    Fish and Chips on a Friday night

                                    Free school dinners if you please

 

                                    Holes in your socks, holes in your shoes

                                    A liberty bodice to keep you warm

                                    And a pixie hood to sit on your head

                                    And wellington’s to wear for a storm

 

                                     Mitts for your fingers

                                     A scarf for your neck

                                     Malt and cod liver oil for your chest

                                     Derbac soap and a nit comb

                                     To make you look your best

 

                                      If the elastic broke in one leg of your draws

                                     We would then tie it in a knot

                                     Or used a half penny to guarantee

                                     Yes, it would hold it up a lot

 

                                     Stockings arrived as older you got

                                     And suspender belts to wear

                                     Two suspender clips at the front

                                     And two at the back

                                     And they felt wonderful to be there

 

                                     Make up ‘Max Factor’ foundation

                                     Was plastered on nice and thick

                                     Thick eye brows and yes

                                     Thick ‘Max Factor’ red lipstick

 

                                      Lacquer to squeeze on your 

                                     ‘BIRDS NEST’ hair style

                                      And borax to wash it all out

                                      And when Saturday arrived

                                      Did it all again, for another great night out 

 

                                      So old days still sit in my head

                                      And give me a smile upon my face
                 
                                      Old end, old ways, old fashions

                                      Went along at a very good pace

                                      And yes they are repeated by

                                      Today’s youth it seems

                                      And they go out feeling wonderful

                                      But, they now look like I used to look it seems…………

Take a look at the sky line best seen every night

Tall buildings and chimneys and yes old gas lights

Some days the fog entered and stayed there all night

Pea soup we all called it and no stars shone through it

The smell of the gas works and of course HP

Told us were we lived and yes gave us all glee

 

Each evening the ‘Gas Man’ came around

With ladders and a stick

He’d light the wick climb up his ladder

And light the gas lamp very quick

Must have been a long long job

As there were lots and lots of Streets

And lots and lots of lamp posts

Must have run him off his feet

 

Each morning another gent appeared

As a man who knocked you up

An extra long pole which he held

Gave your window a very loud knock

I do realize he was wanted of course

Because not many of us had a clock

 

Every night the paper men called

Tommy Tickelmouse bought the Dispatch

The taller one was called ‘Blackbat’

And he called out loud to sell us the Mail

And then on a Saturday night the ‘ARGUS’ followed the trail

 

The ice cream man sat on half a bike

And had to peddle it hard

The front part was the ice cream box

And he always came up our yard

Shouting ‘Come on now boys girls and folks

Come and buy my wares

I have ice cream and lollies too

Buy them enjoy them and share

 

‘Any old rags’ yes ‘any old rags’

The call that came from the rag man

Sometimes they called with a horse and cart

Or just pushed along a barrow

But we didn’t mind nor did we care

The thought was already in our head

What’s he giving us to-day

For the rags we had long shed

 

Every person was accepted those days as part of all our life

Never moaned about them as they never gave us any strife

Remember having wonderful days in school in Church whatever

Having friends and neighbours all about

And thought it would last forever

But moved forward and yes put my memories

Into the back of my head but hey

Remember them now and yes do love to share

So do be happy don’t be glum because

NECHELLS, DUDDESTON, VAUXHALL and ASHTED

To me where never a SLUM……….

The thoughts in my head,

They will always remain

Big thoughts for my Mother

Again and again

No matter how old I am

Feelings will always be

For my Mother most people called

           ‘Mrs P’

 

Jobs done for us all like

A Queen bee busy all the time

Looked after us specially

Kept us cosy and warm

Cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed

There were no complaints,

Just hard work, sweat and toil

 

Loved us and hugged us

And clouted our heads

Smacked our bums

Then sent us to bed

Yes tears were shed

But quickly went cuz

Mother was the best Mother to us

 

Hard up days often came around

But Mom always sorted it out

Scrapped bits and pieces together

And boiled them together in a pot

‘Sit and eat you three

Dip bread in if you can

Fill yourselves up and fingers crossed

There is more bread to cut

Not just an old stale crust’

 

Will never know how my Mother coped

And bought us all up on her own

Loved us and kept us

Worked hard to protect us

But sadly we lost her

When her 51st year came around

 

Mother hope you can hear me

Will’ shout it out loud’ if I can

Love you and loved you

For the life that you gave

For the protection and manners

And lessons on how good to behave

 

The love that you gave us

You said was issued to you

To give to the three of us

Until we all grew

To adult age and sense

Proving to Mom

She had followed the instruction

So Mother, job finished and well done

 

Mom will always keep you

In my heart and in my head

As my marvellous Mother and yes,

A brilliant and wonderful friend

                                                  For Mother Ivy Beatrice Pickering nee Allen

                                                              With love from Daughter Betty Ann xx

Playing on the railway

By the bridge in Saltley Road

Playing on parked rail coaches

Three of us having fun setting

Up our tea with bits of rubbish

Oh boy filled us with glee and fun

 

Dorothy Sheene my friend,

Took a look around the billboard

Standing along the bridge

Then a big ‘Betty come here’

Was sounded so, went to my friend

 Dorothy at a fast pace

And what we were about to do,

 Would be a big yes big disgrace

 

Standing by a bus stop

The 14 one off course

Was Miss Jones our Bible teacher

Getting transport going home

But we were about to give her a frightener

Make her scared and make her frown

 

‘MISS JONES MISS JONES BIBLE PUNCHER’

Came rolling loudly from our mouths

We then hid behind the board

Giggling and laughing out loud

‘MISS JONES BEST FRIEND OF JESUS’

Out it came again, poor Miss Jones was

Twisting, turning and spinning round and round

 

The 14 bus at last turned up and,

Our Teacher left a space

So back to the coaches the three of us

The thought even left our head

That we had upset Miss Jones

With what we had shouted and yes

What we all had rejoicingly said

 

School the next morning

And yes in Miss Jones class

But the ruddy door flew open

Hit the back wall with a crash

Miss Hasting senior teacher

Hands on her hips at the back

Her mouth it never opened

There was no good reason for that

 

Dragged by the scruff of our necks

Out into the junior yard

And she wopped us with a wooden ruler

And yes it was blooming hard

Then Miss Hasting told us on the spot

‘Know you shouted at Miss Jones

I saw you both do your trick but,

 

 

Thank me that I have only slapped you

Instead of doing you all a

     ‘JESUS CRUCIFIX’

            

 

Now who was shivering and shaking

No not our Miss Jones

Just me and my friend Dorothy

The tale had now been told

 

Each time I go under the bridge

To visit ‘Heartlands’ in Melvina Road

The bad thing we did to Miss Jones

Still enters my grown up old head

Left school and decided

Boys were on me list

Would creep around

And look for them

And yes maybe give am a kiss

 

Many just as friends

Going out for a walk and a talk

Or going to the pictures it seems

Love would get around one day

Well that’s what filled my dreams

 

Kisses and cuddles up the entries

Giggles in the dark

And sometimes on a Sunday

Would go for a quiet walk in the park

 

Met three chaps one Tuesday night

Went to the Ashted cinema to watch a film

Walk you home they told us

But we will stick to the rules

 

When we arrived at Weston street corner

My bladder was ready to pop as it was

Full right to the top

So made excuse to pop home for a tick

But said I’d be right back

But wow I wet me knickers

So went into the brew house quick

 

Changed the draws wiped me legs

And strolled happily down the road

But then what occurred, made me turn out red

Johnny took me hanky and ran it past his nose

‘Betty that’s a lovely perfume

 What’s it name my dear

 

‘Oh, oh, oh It’s called French WE WE

 Was my stuttering reply to him

But, made sure that day

It would never happen like that again

If I needed the toilet

Would look and make an early job

Wanted to be a lady friend

Not a smelly little wet blob

 

Often have a thought

And yes a great big smile

Wonder if that night John Smith

Had a puzzle thought enter his head

Was it really the French WE WE perfume

 Like…… Betty P had said ??????

‘Let’s go for a mooch’

My brothers would say

‘At BLOOMSBURY STREET LIBRARY’

Come on let’s make it a day’

 

Lovely red brick building with,

A very big black and white clock

With brass handles and

Big wooden doors to let you in wooden

But once inside the library,

‘Hush’ no talking just a broad grin

 

Keeping quiet was the order

And please walk quietly at the start

As men sat reading papers

But we always after leaving

Had a loud giggle and a laugh

 

 

Books in book racks to be looked through

Old and used that was true

And a children’s corner with lots of

Colourful books from which to choose

Assistants keeping out their good eye

To make sure we obeyed the rules

 

If we kept borrowed books over the date

When they should have been returned

Around would come a librarian

Peddling his bike to the door

And we had to pay the fine

Or if we didn’t as Mother said,

We’d be ‘prosecuted’ for sure

 

The library was altered but,

Was really only slightly changed

Somewhere in the 90’s

So lots of people came

To have a look around again

 

Carl Chinn was our celebrity

Who chatted to us all but,

The thing that sat in my mind that day

That there were no old gent readers

Sitting in the hall

No podiums no papers no quiet if you please

The old days had left us

Just like a breeze 

 

Also gone was our old school

The’ Bloomsbury Street’ one if you please

The fire station facing the library

That too hit the floor

So some of old Nechells…….

Just wasn’t there any more but,

 

The ‘LIBRARY’ is still standing

Scrubbed and looking clean

The clock still ticking

The tower of course is, supreme

 

Glad she is still standing

And one more tale I have to tell

     ‘Heartlands’

Have now adopted her

On the front of the magi she stays

So read it and take a look as she

Brings back memories of old days…………………………………..

‘Is the TUTU frock going up my bum

Making it itch and rubbing it some’

Maybe a new idea has entered my head

Back to my ‘DRAIN PIPE’ trousers instead

Seeing myself dressed up to the nines

Being a ‘TEDDY BOY’ the Edwardian kind

 

My hair it was quiffed and it looked great

My modern clothes left me in a good state

Loved my self from head to toe

Looked at myself in the shop window you know

And thought, ‘THIS TEDDY BOY IS SEX ON LEGS’

‘Anyone offering’ was what the ‘TEDDIES’ said

 

Oh well, a good thought had raced through my head

About what used to be

But, today am back in my frilly TUTU you see

As I now have to calm myself down

For my ballet lessons are due

Be good mannered and polite

And gently sway from left to right

Wave my wand and get the steps correct

And I will land up on a stage

(Fingers crossed)

Very soon I expect

 

What occurs over the years

Things that come and do go

But stuck in my head

Thoughts that I loved

So would still like to be

An’ EDWARDIAN TEDDY BOY’ you know

 

This small poem is about and for John Kirby. 

 

Love to you KIRB….Betty P

Aunty Nellie was our friend, my Mother used to say

We would visit her and Brian, with whom I used to play

They lived just around the corner, it wasn't far to go

But I always looked forward to it as when as a kid you do you know

Auntie Nellie was so nice, she made us feel at home

She had the broadest smile of anyone I'd every known

Brian was her little chap and he hung on her every word

And Nellie loved him so dearly, Brian was Auntie Nellie's world

Cups of tea! they drank plenty, me and Brian we had pop and we sat and listened to the chatter, we thought they'd never stop

One day Auntie Nellie left us, it made us all so sad

But what became of Brian, Auntie Nellie's little lad?

Angry I'd lost my little playmate, all of a sudden he was gone

But a long time after I remembered: my friend Brian had lost his MOM

She loved him oh so dearly, never really meant to go away

And feel sure now, Brian, Auntie Nellie wanted to stay

But you were always in my thoughts young Brian

Why did they take you away? we'd lost our Auntie Nellie and

I thought they would let you stay

Brian never left my thoughts those fifty years ago

Always thinking where he might be, would I see him soon???? don't know

I always kept his picture, one of Auntie Nellie too, always asking the same question

BRIAN, WHAT DID BECOME OF YOU?

Now my questions are all answered I'm so very glad to say Cuz Brian and I are back in touch as he wasn't so far away