Things your GC will never experience...

[ClytemnestraWasMisunderstood]

...or even your children may never experience...
I was reminiscing yesterday and realised that there are many things we've experienced that younger people won't. For example, living in a shared flat and having to work out how to split the (landline) telephone bill! Trying to be honest about the length of the call. Was it a long or short-distance call? Before 6pm or after? All such things affected the cost!
Then the washing-up rota (pre-dishwasher days), cleaning of communal areas rota, etc...

i was working in a supermarket in the 1980s when the 1/2p was removed, everyone went up to the nearest penny!

Sadly, very sadly, I remember the advert jingle! It was shown for months before the system changed.
My grandparents steadfastly believed they were being conned out of their money because 2s went from 12d to 10p!

Very true - though there are many other issues which cause problems amongst flat mates and always have. One I have often heard of is a person having their girlfriend or boyfriend stay over so often it's almost as if they live there but don't pay rent or towards expenses.

The cleaning of communal areas is the biggest issue for most people.

Using The phone by putting your finger into the number and having to turn the dial all the way. Then only being able to stand and speak next to the phone! Ours was in the hall.

This is a wonderful ( albeit a little sad) thread!

That it didn't matter if you didn't get any,or many, O'Levels (GCSE's). People who were quite bright didn't and boys still went into stockbroking/estate agency and girls did secretarial courses or cordon bleu cookery. There just wasn't the same emphasis on qualifications - Princess Diana was an example.

Whilst much of the escalation in child and adolescent mental health issues is related to social media, I'm pretty sure the pressure regarding academic achievement is equally culpable. In the 60s and 70s barely a child was diagnosed with dyslexia, discalculia, ADHD, ASD, dyspraxia, etc.

My grandchildren are unlikely to be able to get a job in a bank or become a nurse without a degree.

Recording TV programmes and then swapping VHS tapes with friends.

I remember farthings! There were actually sweets you could buy with a farthing.

I too remember decimalisation being introduced. I was about 10 and remember half crowns, ha'pennies, threepenny bits, sixpence, ten shilling notes and pound notes. Pound notes were still around in the 80s I think.

One thing I did, my children didn't, but my grandchildren (if I have some) might, was sort change, not just into denominations but into King and Queen categories. Sometimes there would be pennies with Queen Victoria, George V, George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. I don't recall Edward VII specifically.

Having 2p in my pocket to make a phonecall.
Only 3 channels on tv and coming home for lunch from primary school to watch a children’s programme.

The front door only being locked at night and being able to let myself in even if mum was out.
Going to the town library to use the books in the reference section and to study in a quiet booth.
Avoiding the smoking section on planes and in cinemas.

The GP making home visits for things like measles and chickenpox.
The buffet car on the train from Victoria to Brighton - chefs with white hats behind a long counter, cooking fryups on a gas stove, serving drinks in proper cups.
Real cutlery on planes and having drinks/ food as part of the ticket. Not worrying about what to put in hand luggage and how much we could carry.

Real cutlery on planes and having drinks/ food as part of the ticket.

And being given a menu on long-hau; flights! For each leg of the journey. Ate like a king going to NZ as a child!

In a similar vein, when everything wasn’t an “extra” when flying.

I definitely remember this.
It was so hard to read some of the hand writing you could be applying for a cat mangler or cow manager !

Using a rotary phone unless it is in a museum.

@LBFseBrom When I had to share a flat I persuaded the others and the landlady that we would pay a bit more rent but pay for a cleaner once a week for the communal areas.

Some things are making a comeback like milk rounds.

Collecting stamps. Even using stamps is getting rare.

Being allowed to stay up for special occasions on TV.

I have a vague memory of being got out of bed in the middle of the night to watch TV. I think it was the moon landing or the moonwalk. I asked my dad recently and he can't remember.

TV closing down for the night.

A car one....all the family piled into the family car to go on holiday, getting stuck onto the pleather seats when it was summer. No seatbelts!

Dad pulling into the petrol station and having an attendant put the petrol in - then giving him a pound to pay for said petrol!

I think somethings are very slowly going full circle.

Milk floats and the pop man driving electric vehicles > now electric cars.

Milk man delivering milk , bread , yoghurt, butter etc > gusto / veg box etc

Everyone took canvas / string bags shopping bags or trollies to the shop. > people are starting to do the same now.

Candles as a necessity > electric everywhere > candles been used more now ( but more for pleasure)

I wonder if in the next 3 or 4 generations we will be either 100% reliant on computers doing absolutely everything for us, or there will be some kind of melt down and we will revert to 60s life where convenience was a novelty.

Creme Eggs only being on sale for the week before Easter and a few days after.

Cigarette sweets

Buying cigarettes from a vending machine outside the shop when it was shut.

Advent calendars consisting of a picture behind a little cardboard door and not £1000 worth of obscure beauty products that sells out in September

They still exist and should be celebrated and shared
https://www.adventcalendarshop.co.uk/collections/childrens-paper-advent-calendars/products/santa-sleigh-christmas-advent-calendar-picture-advent-calendar-41x31-5cm