A 1950's Childhood Moss Side (Bloody Cold Lino) By David Hulson
1
Do You know what it's like to be woken up by the cold. Back in the 50's it was a regular winter event . My brother Roger and I shared the back bed room ,which we lost when my sister got old enough to require her own room ,ours . Mum ,Dad and baby Christine "Tilly Bud" who was in her cot were in the front bedroom. Diving into our metal frame double bed ,you slipped down into the grove your Body made in the feather mattress. And then mum tucked us in so tight we couldn't move , the last thing she did was give us a hot stone water bottle to share, lit the night candle in it saucer of water and place dad's great army coat on top of the eiderdown to keep us warm ,It didn't work , oh ! and I nearly forgot a kiss. The next morning at 7 am ,we heard the wind up alarm clock ringing in Mums bedroom room. And in the morning light we woke up to find that there was ice on the inside of the window. It was a school day and mum was shouting come on you two it's time to get up,
2
By heck it's cold said Roger As he breathed out and looked at his exhaled breath in the cold morning air ,you could almost write your name in it he said, But That's nowt ,the worst part is going to be walking over the freezing cold Lino flooring , "You know that feeling when you have to get out of bed ,but you don't want too" Come on I'll not tell you again shouted Mum, Move it lads said Dad as he left the bathroom. "Technically it wasn't a bathroom ,as it had no bathtub , the tin bath was hung on the back yard wall, and all the bathroom consisted of was a hand bowl and a loo, oh ! and a net curtain" We won't be hanging about today not in this cold, Said Roger under his breath , go said Roger hitting my shoulder, it's your turn to get up first, I'll keep the bed warm till you return. I've dived out of bed and stubbed my toe against the now cold stone water bottle ,that had been kicked out of the bed during the night . 3
I opened the bathroom door ,and turned the taps on Hands and face washed in cold water ,teeth cleaned a quick piddle ,and back into the bedroom and dived back into bed for a mo . Go on Roger I said like it was a relay event for the Olympics, he jumped out of the bed and ran across the room doing the same angel tiptoe trip to the bathroom that I did. Turning the taps ,Cold hot water and even colder cold water ,and then he realised that paraffin heater is not on , it's bloody freezing up here he shouts. Roger shouts Dad , and who was supposed to back up the fire last night. Dad really didn't expect an answer . We both got dressed and before we went down stairs we scraped a portion of the bedroom widow free of ice and looked outside at a white world of frost. Downstairs the big black fire place in the kitchen was cold . And Mum had just finished raking out the ashes, and was about to reset the fire. Sorry Mum said Roger ! I forgot to back it up with slack last night. 4
The porridge is on said mum at least that will warm you up before you go to school. Jean said Dad I'll get it lit ,you sort out the kids. Normally I'd sit down at the table and the room would be starting to warm up , that's the best thing about being the last one out of bed, but the worst thing is that your brother got all the warmest clothing on by being the first dressed, " like the old saying first up best dressed" Dad lit the paper under the wood in the fire place ,then positioned the coal shovel on the grate, he then placing a news paper over the shovel to draw the flames that would burn the coal. Soon the fire was roaring ,heck said dad as the paper that was drawing the fire started to burn , pulling the newspapers off the shovel he screwed it up in his hands extinguishing the flames. One day you'll burn yourself doing that Arthur, Mum said as she returned to the room with a big pan of porridge, sugar or syrup she said and there milk on the table ,as she placed the bowls on the table the family sat down to eat . I'll do Tilly's in a mo ,I've got the formula in a pan to warm it up she said . 5
Well I'm off ,got to go up to Mrs Kirbys to day and finish of that job said dad getting up from the table. Buy love said mum , now take care and I'll see you tonight. Dad donned his motorbike gear and his sandwiches that were made last night and kept in the cool box. "Just a quick note, Do you remember the early cool boxes ,they were just big enough for a couple of bottles of milk, and on the top of the box you poured water on to an absorbent material that sucked up the liquid and kept the box cool" Back to the story. Right you two get wrapped up warm ,balaclavas ,gloves ,it's time for school ,yes mum we said. Oh ! and when I come home I'll whip round to Wrights and get a wick for that bloody paraffin heater on the landing said dad as he left the house. I hate balaclavas they just get soggy said Roger . But it's better than getting cold ears said I. Soon we were outside exhaling as hard as we could just to see who could make the most steam from our breath , Roger stopped on the 6 door step to break an icicle off the iron fence.
Why is it as a kid ,wet iron fences tasted funny when you liked the water off them, but the icicles they made were okay ,just a thought ! Anyway ,The streets were covered in a heavy frost ,and that made sliding down Bishop Street on the icy pavement fun. St Maggies was just across the road on Great Western street ,But first the corner shop for some penny Arrow bars .as we looked across the road at the school we could see that Outside the main doors there was a teacher waiting which was not uncommon, today it was the turn of the headmaster Mr Wetton or as we would call him Mr Wetpants. ( and what a What a happy little soul he was ) 7