Thanks TD,
It is easier to relate to if you have been born in and bred in Sheffield.A lot of what he did in his childhood I can relate to.We were quite a poor family,although not as poor as Fred and his family.
Up to being 16 and my sister 11 we lived in a 2 up 2 down terraced house with no bathroom and an outside toilet.
I still look back on those times with great fondness and often go back to the area we use to live in,sadly the houses are no longer there and the area is not the same.
Here's a little story from my own childhood......
It was the summer holidays(a Friday).I remember this because it was what women use to call a 'pulling out day'(the day when the living room got a thorough clean and all the furniture moved to clean at the back of it)hence 'pulling out'
I was off to play football with my pals,my mum said go and get your hair cut while you are out,here's two bob.
So off I went,called at the barbers.How do you want it the barber said,just a trim please.( I always had to have short back and sides,which I hated).
Then off I went to play footy.
On my return home my mum was on her hands and knee's in front of the hearth cleaning.She turned her head and said,"I thought I told you to get your hair cut"
I've been mam was my reply.With that she sprung to her feet,twisted my head round and said "he hasn't taken any off".I said he has.She then said in a very loud voice,"well you can get yourself back and tell him to take some more off,I'm not paying two bob for that"
There was no arguing(unless you wanted your head to leave your body)
So I had to go back and say to the barber,"me mam said can you take some more off please"
I was totally embarrassed,but dare not come home without my usual 'short back and please don't laugh' ........
My mum died in 1990 aged 61.
