My Childhood

A Memory of Llandaff North.

Born in 137,Station rd in 1948. One of four children. Went to hawthorn junior and then cathays high .cannot remember name of infants school, but I do remember my nana picking me up one day one as we walked home a dog ran out from a garden and gave me a nasty bite on my hand, my father was furious and I know he went to see the owners. I had to identify the poor dog and to this day I hope he wasn't put to sleep. I wish I had asked dad before he passed away. But anyway. . . Llandaff North was one big playground! Roller skating around the pavements and then over to Hailley park play area, to get up to mischief and wax the slide so we would fly down , keeping a wary eye out for the par keeper. We were all scared of him, we would also climb over the river fence and swing out over the river, thinking about it now , we were only about 12yrs old , mind you ,mum and dad were oblivious to all this because despite their warnings we carried on regardless as you do at that age. But boy o boy WE. had FUN!!!!! The many back lanes were great. For hide and seek etc. we were never in!!! . . . . . . . .hailley park had loads of 4&5leaf clovers on the bank where the car park is now , we always picked them. . . . . . Hailley park seemed huge ,but visiting it recently I was surprised at how small and neat it seemed. The taf trail is brilliant. But lost my bearings. Going back to forest farm. Used to go with my pal to see a farmhand called hookey .sure that was not his real name ,but I had a huge crush on him., . . . . Had trouble finding my way back down memory lane to farm as so much has changed. . . . . . . . Got there in the end. . . . . . After Sunday school in All saints church dad would take us for sweets in Abies sweet shop . Think it was called that, not sure. . . But what a treat!!!! And the fun at the dances at glantaff school . . . . .sloppy joes and slacks , big net petticoats and toe crunching winkle pickers. That's all for now folks . . I could write a book . . . Cheers from Christine .nee Bayley.