What Happened To Skipping?

[Khandro]

When I was a boy all the girls - very seldom the lads - were always skipping with ropes, they were very good at it and had lots of songs; I remember one that went
My mother said
I never should
play with the gypsies
in the wood
If I did ........

I don't want to sound a boring old .... , but we used to make bows and arrows and catapults and all kind of things, now they all seem to do is look at mobile phones and have headphones in their ears.

[Toorak]

French ropes - made out of elastic bands

[RandyMarsh]

remember when chicken tasted like chicken?

Mams, you are way too young for this thread, skip away before you need a blanket and your food chewed.

[jennyjoan]

My twin brothers made me a guider - God I loved it.

A plank of wood with two small pram wheels at the front and one ball-bearing at the back. A string (like reins) was put on to front and wheeeeee I went down a hill. Unfortunately those days I always wore a dress but it didn't matter to me. Also my lovely skates and scooter. Boy I was so fit as in energy.

[Mamyalynne]

;-)

[paddywak]

In the summer,if we weren't out roaming the woods, we'd play cricket in the street. The wicket would be a dustbin propped up by a brick and there was that little traffic we could play for hours on end an not have to move.After the men came home from the day shift they'd often gather on which ever street the game being played and sit on the lawns cheering on their particular street.We played with an old tennis ball (too many windows close by to use a corkie) and if you hit it into a garden you were out and had to fetch it back.Simple pleasures but happy days.

[hereIam]

Oh I remember that song whilst skipping very well! Us girls loved skipping back in the day and chalking out a hopscotch grid as well and riding on our home made 'trolleys' that em talks about - happy, happy childhood days.

[emmie]

we made an improvised skateboard from two old style skates, lengthened and then put an old beano or dandy annual across the skates, sit on and go flying down the hill. exhilarating and dangerous as hell.

[hereIam]

Health & Safety wouldn't allow it today em ......

[emmie]

this was down to kings cross road, which is a hell hole now for traffic.

[Khandro]

Obesity in children wasn't an issue I recall

[Georgiesmum]

Well done. Have you introduced them to pick-a-sticks?

[zebo]

In July we had our very own Wimbledon against the gable end of the house at the top of my aunt's street, we also played 'two balls' either against the same wall or between ourselves.