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I had the pleasure of talking to 2 brilliant old codgers in Cardiff at the weekend who had fascinating stories to tell of their lives and even at 96 and 77 respectively, still had a wicked SOH and a twinkle in their presbyopic eyes.
Vernon, 96, recounted his school days with a young Dylan Thomas in Swansea. Sitting together at the back of the class making up naughty lymericks. He was then a Lay Preacher in Bermuda for 4 years, and despite his age was still making naughty innuendo, invited us in for either a cup of tea or a glass of Meths, and was on the top of a rickety stepladder cutting the top of his conifer hedge.
David, 77, recounted his days living it large with his artist brother on the Left Bank in Paris and then going on to marry a multi-lingual woman who worked for Secret Intelligence after the War.
Fantastic stories (and I have googled the facts they told me - & it all adds up & is true) and fantastic men. I would have loved to have known these men in their heydey.... I could have sat & listened to both of these old timers for hours.
Whoever thinks pensions are boring old farts have never met Vernon & Dave.
Vernon, 96, recounted his school days with a young Dylan Thomas in Swansea. Sitting together at the back of the class making up naughty lymericks. He was then a Lay Preacher in Bermuda for 4 years, and despite his age was still making naughty innuendo, invited us in for either a cup of tea or a glass of Meths, and was on the top of a rickety stepladder cutting the top of his conifer hedge.
David, 77, recounted his days living it large with his artist brother on the Left Bank in Paris and then going on to marry a multi-lingual woman who worked for Secret Intelligence after the War.
Fantastic stories (and I have googled the facts they told me - & it all adds up & is true) and fantastic men. I would have loved to have known these men in their heydey.... I could have sat & listened to both of these old timers for hours.
Whoever thinks pensions are boring old farts have never met Vernon & Dave.
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used to do a bit of reminiscence work with elderly patients always amazed me what I'd hear when it was a single sex group, some of the ladied had led 'interesting lives' especially while their husbands had been away with the forces... and they were often quite open about how they fed their families when times are hard. The men were funnier, all drinking exploits and adventures in far east brothels funny how so many of them agreed it was their wives waiting for them that kept them going...if only they knew..
Spot on red. I have listened to war stories and drank up every word. And to hear one old chap reminiscing about knowing Dylan Thomas so well during his literary years and drinking days was absolutely riveting. As was hearing about the Arist in Paris - and I then looked up all his art on wikipedia. Modern stuff, worth a hell of a lot of money these days (and David has a hallway adorned with them....)
Well said Redman. I am fast approaching the 'old timer' agegroup!!
I always feel so sad that in care homes the residents are often treated kindly but as if they are children by so many staff. My mother was in a wonderful care home, but she was such an intelligent and well travelled lady and given a chance had so much to talk about, but, dare I say it, the staff were not in her league intellectually or experience wise and she was so frustrated.
Most of those who are so rude about old people need to think very hard, it creeps up on all of us and we are still the same people inside that we always were and have much to offer.
Take time to chat and to listen.
I always feel so sad that in care homes the residents are often treated kindly but as if they are children by so many staff. My mother was in a wonderful care home, but she was such an intelligent and well travelled lady and given a chance had so much to talk about, but, dare I say it, the staff were not in her league intellectually or experience wise and she was so frustrated.
Most of those who are so rude about old people need to think very hard, it creeps up on all of us and we are still the same people inside that we always were and have much to offer.
Take time to chat and to listen.
Then that is a great pity, and their loss.
But - I have to disagree slightly. Plaid's niece was with us when talking to both of these chaps - she is 22. She also found them interesting & lovely. (Mind you, she hadn't a clue who Dylan Thomas is, even though she is Welsh, and had no interest in the art apart from it's worth and what it could mean to her....).
But - I have to disagree slightly. Plaid's niece was with us when talking to both of these chaps - she is 22. She also found them interesting & lovely. (Mind you, she hadn't a clue who Dylan Thomas is, even though she is Welsh, and had no interest in the art apart from it's worth and what it could mean to her....).
Agree with what LoftyLottie has just said. As we get older all we can hope for is good health physically and mentally. I feel sorry for those with dementia and similar ailments as they still have so much to offer if only they could. It's surprising how much of life's experiences lie dormant just waiting to find the right moment to let it all out to willing listeners......
Housemate is currently working on her mothers life story, She was in the russian labour camps as a child then after they were liberated spent a long time in the middle east and came back to the UK with her english husband, It is fascinating to hear her speak of Iran/Iraq(Persia as was) as places of such charm and pleasant memories, My mum had dreadful experiences as an evacuee, nothing special like Sallas chaps but everyone ought to get these living histories recorded, we know more about the lives of the rich and famous than the ordinary people so many of whom led extraordinary liives
I know rowan - and how sad is that?
My mum was an evacuee during the war - evacuated with her mum & siblings from Hull to Lincolnshire. Grandad stayed behind to work as a bus/tram driver. A few weeks after they were evacuated, Hull was bombed, Grandad came back from work to see their family home and everything in it bombed and flattened to the ground. Lost everying, apart from the lives of course.
How do stories such as all the above ones, compare to Cheryl's latest lover, Kerry's latest diet, Fergie's latest fall from grace eh?
My mum was an evacuee during the war - evacuated with her mum & siblings from Hull to Lincolnshire. Grandad stayed behind to work as a bus/tram driver. A few weeks after they were evacuated, Hull was bombed, Grandad came back from work to see their family home and everything in it bombed and flattened to the ground. Lost everying, apart from the lives of course.
How do stories such as all the above ones, compare to Cheryl's latest lover, Kerry's latest diet, Fergie's latest fall from grace eh?
I agree - there are some great stories, I love to listen to other peoples experiences.
My Mum & her brother were evacuated from the East End of London to Wales - she always said they arrived by train and all had to stand in a line and let the local residents take their pick of the children. My Mum and Uncle were chosen by a childless couple who treated them badly.
My Nan & Grandad would send parcels for them, but the wicked couple never gave it to them but made Mum write letters to my Nan & Grandad saying what a lovely time they were having. It all did eventually all come out, when Nan & Grandad made a surprise visit to Cairn (not sure if thats the spelling) Wales, my Mum & Uncle poured their hearts out as to how badly they were being treated. My Nan punched the woman and took her Mum & Uncle home. Sorted !
My Dad on the other hand were evacuated to a lovely family and never wanted to go home, as he was treated badly by his Mum & Dad. For some reason he was the runt of the family and my Grandad hated him - in fact my Dad said the other day, he has no photos of his army days in bomb disposal as my Grandad ripped them all up.
My Mum & her brother were evacuated from the East End of London to Wales - she always said they arrived by train and all had to stand in a line and let the local residents take their pick of the children. My Mum and Uncle were chosen by a childless couple who treated them badly.
My Nan & Grandad would send parcels for them, but the wicked couple never gave it to them but made Mum write letters to my Nan & Grandad saying what a lovely time they were having. It all did eventually all come out, when Nan & Grandad made a surprise visit to Cairn (not sure if thats the spelling) Wales, my Mum & Uncle poured their hearts out as to how badly they were being treated. My Nan punched the woman and took her Mum & Uncle home. Sorted !
My Dad on the other hand were evacuated to a lovely family and never wanted to go home, as he was treated badly by his Mum & Dad. For some reason he was the runt of the family and my Grandad hated him - in fact my Dad said the other day, he has no photos of his army days in bomb disposal as my Grandad ripped them all up.
I enjoyed reading everyone posts on this thread. The elderly always have the best stories to tell. Whenever I go to the park I always find a bench to sit on with older folk and then get into conversation with them, and ask them to tell me about 'long ago'. The stories they tell and the lives they led are amazing, and some unbelievable, and the hardship some of them experienced is heart-breaking. They are always so well-mannered, but feisty. lol
I tell you what society, the generation that went through the war are a lot tougher than the rest of us physically and mentally. They don't give in easily to illness or frailty either and have and are very stoic. They are the generation that are living on into their 100's. We, even with all our medical advances, just haven't got the strength of character and determination.
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