Sunday lunch, Reigate, Summer 1956. Grandma & Granpa are coming to lunch. Mum is in the kitchen, after breakfast, starting to prepare the meal. (Dad bought the beef joint from the butchers, (Allisons?), in Park lane, on Saturday). Dad, (very generously), offers to take me & my brother out for a walk, so that we don’t get under my Mum’s feet. The three of us, and “Foxy”, the dog, set off. We climb over our back garden fence into the Priory. We reach Park Lane, at the far side of the Lake, and cross over, into the allotments. (My brother, Steve, and I, keep our heads down, fearful that we might be mistakenly recognized by the gardeners as members of a group of young hooligans who frequently make raids to obtain root vegetables to ensure their 5 a day). Following the footpath through to Reigate Heath, we arrive, (much to Dad’s surprise & delight), at the Skimmington Castle. Steve and I are not allowed in, but with a glass of lemonade, and a packet of crisps, (together with the wrap of salt enclosed), we play outside, whilst Dad enjoys his pint. Lots of horse riders, and we learn not to be afraid of the horses, (which stand us in good stead, when, at a later date, we help out the man who gives pony rides, at the Earlswood Lakes). After Dad has quenched his thirst, we return the same way we came, and get back just in time for lunch. It;s a happy, family affair, with my Grandparents playing with us. Its a nice meal, but slightly spoiled when Dad makes me eat the fat on the beef, (which I hate), otherwise I’ll get no pudding. After lunch Dad does the washing up, Steve dries, and I put away. All the grown-ups want to sit and doze, an we have to keep quiet. Later on, Dad give us some money, to get him, and the others some chocolate, and 6d each for our own sweets. From our house in Sandhills Rd, We have to cross the main Cockshott Hill Road. I’ll be allowed to cross by myself, next year, when I am seven, but until then I have to go with my brother. We go down to Mrs Smith’s sweet shop, in Lesbourne Rd, opposite the bus garage. With my sixpence I get a quarter of Mint Imperials, (a choice of quantity over quality). Steve normally gets sherbet stuff, which I don’t much like. (I think he gets it for that reason, so he doesn’t have to give me any. I, on the other hand, have to give him some of mine. It’s not fair being the younger brother. Overall, a good Sunday.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:43:30 +0000
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