Quirks from a poorer childhood that have followed you through life.

[Motorwayview]

Inspired by the tight people thread.
No matter how much underwear I have I am always slightly panicked that I'll run out of clean underwear so have been known to handwash and leave overnight to dry. Ive got draws and draws of the stuff now - BUT growing up for a while I had just enough to get by on but only if DM washed them every night. ( 3 pairs knickers) Sometimes we didn't have the 50p for the meter to use the emersion heater or boil a kettle (this was the '70's).
The one that drives DH mad is that I have to use every last drop out of a bottle even if Ive got 3 more of the same in the cupboard ( shampoo ect) .
Anyone else ?

All those people above talking about the clothes they were forced to wear to school reminds me. I had the worst of both worlds too. My clothes didn't satisfy the teachers as regards school uniform and the other kids thought them gross and unfashionable too. So I got abuse all round!

When I was about 16 I discovered Goth fashions and I've never looked back. I'm still that way in my early 40s. Even all these years later I still wake up grateful that I don't have to go to school. And that I can get dressed in clothes I actually like and make me feel good.

I was a young teacher in the early 90’s. The girls had a very distinct style. I taught in a village but was from the nearest, big city and I was fashion mad so it was something they talked to me about.
I had one girl in Year 8. She was adopted, her parents seemed old at the time, and she dreaded non-uniform days.
We had one day out and her mum had knitted her a pink angora tracksuit. Thick elastic in the waist and legs. She had a very angular face, wavy hair and huge pink specs.
She was sat at the front of the bus with her friend and I could hear other girls sniggering.
So I turned around and went into a whole story about how my friend* Kate Moss only wore knitted tracksuits away from
the catwalk, and went into a whole spiel about their similarities. I asked if her mum would knit me one as well?
Apart from the fact that they all believed I knew Kate Moss, other girls started asking about knitted tracksuits and I kept saying well when I go home, everyone wants one, didn’t you know?
Thank God it didn’t rain.
*I have never met Kate Moss!
The student in question grew up, got asked to model in Japan and kept in touch and she told everyone that story. She was fabulous!

That's a very heartening story. Well done. It shows how there's a very fine line sometimes between being the butt of everyone's humour and being a fashion leader.

Now I've landed myself a half decent professional job and have money to spend, it's not unheard of for younger women to say they love my outfit/coat/shoes etc. and ask where I got them from. If you're a bit higher up the status gradient you can get away with a lot more! My goodness me how times have changed . . .

So was I! Wall Park Pontins