[BITList] I REMEMBER THE CHEESE OF MY CHILDHOOD

[John Feltham]

I REMEMBER THE CHEESE OF MY  CHILDHOOD

       And the bread that we cut with a knife,

       When the children helped with the housework,

        And the men went to work not the wife.  

      The cheese never needed a fridge,

        And the bread was so crusty and hot,

        The children were seldom unhappy

         And the wife was content with her lot.  

         I remember the milk from the Billy,

         With the yummy cream on the top,

         Our dinner came hot from the oven,

           And not from the fridge; in the shop.

         The kids were a lot more contented,

           They didn't need money for kicks,

           Just a game with our mates in the paddock,

            And sometimes the Saturday flicks.

          I remember the shop on the corner,

           Where a pen'orth of lollies was sold

           Do you think I'm a bit too nostalgic?

           Or is it....I'm just getting old?

          I remember when the ‘loo’ was the ‘dunny’,

           And the pan man came in the night,

           It wasn't the least bit funny

           Going out the back  with no light.

          The interesting items we perused,

           From the newspapers cut into squares,

           And hung on a peg in the outhouse,

           It took little to keep us amused.

          The clothes were boiled in the copper,

           With plenty of rich foamy suds

           But the ironing seemed never ending

           As Mum pressed everyone's ‘duds’.  

          I remember the slap on my backside,

           And the taste of soap if I swore

           Anorexia and diets weren't heard of

          And we hadn't much choice what we wore.

          Do you think that bruised our ego?

           Or our initiative was destroyed

           We ate what was put on the table

           And I think our life was better enjoyed.