FAMILY

    I'm the bright young thing on the right with the national health
    glasses,plastered hair and shiny snake belt. Dressed as usual the
    same as my twin brother who as you can see had all the pudding.
    As a family we always went to a small holding on the coast of Wales
    when Birmingham closed down for it's two week annual holiday.The
    journey always started at 3am.,took most of the day and for us was
    part of the holiday. We always,I mean ALWAYS broke down,even as a
    child I knew you had to have a spare pair of nylon stockings to
    replace the fan belt.Luckily we travelled in convoy with my two
    uncles and families,one of which Knew about cars,not it seems enough
    to ensure we did the journey without braking down.WE travelled in our
    Ty-hoo Tea trojan van,my uncle and family of four on an old motorbike
    combination [how he got the tent in as well I'll never know] and the
    uncle who Knew about cars in an old Daimlier or V8
    The highlights of the journey was having breakfast when the dawn
    broke the other side of Wolverhampton,that and passing through Horse
    Shoe pass without getting killed.
    To us inner city kids driving down the muddy path to see and smell
    John and Griffs farm was sheer heaven.

    Comments and faves

    1. stewpic (63 months ago | reply)

      I like the partings in yours and your brothers hair the same side as I had mine. I understand the bit about the van always breaking down as it remined me of going on holiday to Belfast on a motorbike and sidecar and my father kept getting punctures so it took us three days to get to the ferry in scotland. Thats very ingenious using a nylon stocking to replace a fan belt. Its great to go on annual hollidays just to get away from the familier plod and come back rebooted.
      Have you ever gone back to visit the small holding for a nostalgia trip??

    2. clifsnap (63 months ago | reply)

      I did go back as a young man in my held together with string austin healy frog eye.I seem to remember the exhaust falling off.Should have taken the nylon.
      I found it a very sentimental visit..you can never go back..

    3. tonyhall (63 months ago | reply)

      Your memory is good. The journey sounds more like a wonderful adventure .. for the kids.

    4. clifsnap (63 months ago | reply)

      Hi Tony. Epic journeys that now take a couple of hours.I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it quite so much on a moterway,plus it would have cost a fortune getting towed off.

    5. tonyhall (63 months ago | reply)

      Sometimes it feels like our society is obsessed by speed, getting things done quickly, going somewhere fast, being obsessed by targets and destinations; which leads to a disenchanting life. Maybe thinking about 'journeys', 'exploring', and 'discovering' could lead to a life of enchantment?

    6. reindeer rob (63 months ago | reply)

      F23Mar07-14.05gmt,WLDC downstairs - hi cliff - a good family photo. Is that your big sister? It sounds like quite an adventure for the kids. I do go back sometimes, and I've done it enough times not to be bothered any more - robert

    7. clifsnap (63 months ago | reply)

      Thanks robert,yes thats my 2 year older sister.When we grew up together I think we may have lived in two different universes

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