"Good Morning Listers!" Oh! How tickled I am to realise that yesterday's message to the list generated 3 new members! .... We now have 7 members, which is a great improvement on having to talk to myself! .... Don't want the folk in 'white coats to come and take me away!' .... Not yet! The newest member to join the list is someone whom I know well! My friend Bryan, from North Wales. "Hi! Bryan, .... and thanks for expanding the members list!" Bryan is a veritable fount of knowledge, who has a gift for the written word, and a wonderful sense of humour to boot. I'm certain that Bryan won't object to my copying and pasting his introductory message to the Wirral Memories List: ************************************************************************ From: BrynMtthws@a... Date: Fri Nov 2, 2001 7:57 am Subject: The poorer side of town Hi there, Well now, I have seen all these wonderful place names that I knew so well and where people lived. As I said, I was adopted, lived behind a shop in Bentink street, played "Kick the Can" and "Spin the Bottle" along with many other games in the street. Cricket was always in summer, while stealing the balls that the girls used to play "Two Balls" against every open brick wall that we wanted to use as the Wickets. The Park was always good for mischief and fun. Up on the rocks, down by the lake, lazing around watching the two cricket teams or playing on the "Swings". Bonfire night which draws closer by the hour was a wonderful time. Potatoes placed in the fire, dragged out after two hours or so, if they could be found, and they where either raw of burned. The Claughton Cinema and its 5d bug rush on Saturday mornings. Collecting Bus Tickets and stealing a ride from buses by "Jocking On" and leaping off as the conductor came tearing down the aisle. Beech nut chewing gum machines on the walls and Woodside Station, now that was a misnomer if ever there was one. Birkenhead buses to everywhere in town, at a reasonable price and the Crosville to Chester and points East. Harold Matthews, my dad, as he sat me, a hungry boy on his only knee and let me eat his tea. His pride in my abilities and achievments as I grew up. The good hidings that he gave me for not doing what I should have been doing. The warm bed on cold nights and the Christmas laughter. Birkenhead was a rough, dirty town where I lived but, it was a world that I knew and was made to feel part of, then the planners tore its heart out. Bryan The Celtic Laird ************************* ..... So, how many other folk are willing to join the Wirral Memories List? Let's swell the membership from 7 to maybe 17, .... or 27! Joining instructions: Subscribe: Wirral-Memories-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .... That's all! .... Easy! .... But should you have any problems in subscribing, then the contact address for Caryl is: List owner: Wirral-Memories-owner@yahoogroups.com Thanks for reading this message! I hope to speak to some of you soon, over on the Wirral Memories List! Vivien Blythe, Wirral Peninsula "Happiness is helping a stranger find their roots!"