Long Time Ago.

A Memory of Hartlepool.

Born in Hardwick Hall Sedgefield During the war '42. Brought up in old West before Owton Manor est etc.
Remember walking the streets during war with Mum after air raid sirens etc. and standing in queues with our ration coupons for food etc. With the cold creeping up my ankle bones and legs. That and the bombs are my only recollections of my childhood.
Later. lived in one downstairs room in 2 up/2 down terraced alongside Camerons yard wall.

Mum, self and brother got a new house in Owton Manor.(Calder Grove)
A couple of wooden crates and one mattress on the floor. She drove overhead crane in North Durham Steel works to keep us, 3 shifts - so never saw her much.
St Aidans Primary School. First year of Tech College (Engineering), then gone.
I went as a Deckie on Suttons at 13? yrs. on the old Longscar. (last steam trawler there), then left for forever in '58 into Army to get me a Trade. Visited a couple of times (mum). Back to work on crane when they were building Nuclear Power Station on Cooling tower pits. After coming out of Army in '63.
Last 45 yrs. Queensland Australia. Best thing I ever did.

England is the one place it's a good idea to depart from at first chance you get. Believe me.
Visit. Yes. Reminisce. Yes.
Good memory's. Hmm. Not so much.
Mine are just cold. dirt and poverty pretty much. Till I left the North East with a Trade from Army.
and went onto the Original Motorways Construction round the Country (They didn't exist then)
then on the Main line Gas supply pipes (36in) round the country. Also didn't exist.

That set me up for a cash paid home. good lifestyle. and removing 3 kids to somewhere there was a future for them.. Australia in '73.
We were very financial by then around $185 plus cash bonuses per week.
Money in bank, Paid for new home. 42 ft Yacht,

If you have any drive and intelligence in you.

GET OUT... It's a Dead end there. Great place to look and leave.
I've been back and seen. Twice. '73 and '90.

Addendum.
77Yrs. retired 11grandkids all working. Live on side of hill looking over Islands on Great Barrier reef. Sub Tropics.
we go on a 2 to 3 month world tour every yr. (Just pick an area and look around) Last yr.
Singapore. (UK Canada USA Family) Mexico. Peru, Lima Machu Pichu. Chili NZ Home.
11 weeks.
This yr. MED. North Africa. Thailand. home. 12 weeks.
and remember. I was just a glorified Shit shoveller (labourer)..
With drive.
95% of Poms I saw when there. were in a large mental hole. Stuck.
It's exactly the same as it was when I left West in '59 then UK in '73.


Added 11 October 2018

#669251

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