Tuesday 10 January 2023

My childhood friend.

 I look out of the window this morning; dark and miserable and pouring with rain and set to do that all day  to 4.   What to write about.

I start thinking about 'the old days' - and I mean old days - my childhood which lasted from about 1940 to 48 (born 1932 but can't remember the early days.)

These were the days when things which I still remember happened.

I have spoken before about my schoolfriend J - we are still friendly now (both in our nineties and she still living in the village where we were born) - we speak regularly on the phone although our lives have been so different.  we still have village life to chat about, how we spent hours playing with her farm with its sheep, cows, hens, pigs, goats, toy farm implements, fences. (little did I know then that I would end up marrying a farmer when \I was almost sixty.)

I have had to get the AA road atlas out to look at the route we took to the farm where her grandparents lived in the Lincolnshire village of Fiskerton.   We lived in Washingborough - quite near but separated by the River Witham (little more than a wide stream until it arrives at the Brayford Pool in Lincoln when it encounters the water flowing in from the Fossdyke navigation (built I think by the Romans to link the Witham with the River Trent) when it becomes a 'proper' river until it flows into the Wash around Boston.

So although Washingborough and Fiskerton are quite close together 'as the crow flies' they are a long bike ride apart (and in those days bikes were all we had; none  of out dads had cars.   We would set off when her dad finished work on Saturday lunchtime, riding our bikes as though they were horses (!) along the road as though going to Bardney (where my mother was born, and when we got to Branston Booths we would turn down the lane.   At the bottom of the lane was the ferry!We were forbidden ever to work it ourselves - this was Dads' Work.  (I wonder if it is still there).

It was made of wood and worked with a handle and a chain.  We (and our bikes) would get on and my friend's Dad would wind us across (it was possible to pull the ferry back if the next 'customer'  was on the other bank but don't ask me how.)

Five minutes ride and we were at the farm and a whole afternoon with real animals.   Fun but nothing like the fun setting up her play farm.   But riding there on our 'horses', crossing the river on the ferry and her grandmother's tea after an afternoon with the animals was great fun and still remembered to this day.

28 comments:

Ellen D. said...

What a great story! I love the fact that you are still friends after all these years and speak often on the phone.

Susan said...

If children had the wonderful experiences of your childhood, they would benefit greatly. No longer do children go outside to play with their friends. Very sad. Some parents feel it is unsafe. Sad to think going out to play is no longer possible for many.

Melinda from Ontario said...

I grew up in a small town with a river running through it. We were also surrounded by a marsh that flooded with water every day. Because we were blessed with so many acres of crown land, there was no one to shoo us off this outdoor play land. My friend Mary and I spent most of our after school play time exploring these acres. Like you, I still maintain a friendship with Mary, (although mostly through email), and we still love to reminisce about our childhood.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

It was fun to hear about your adventures when you were a child. It sounds like you and your friend had wonderful times together. What fun that you can reminisce with each other about those times.

Times have changed now. Kids in our local neighborhoods don't play out in their yards and ride bikes on their streets now in groups of kids.

Barbara Rogers said...

In the 50s I was allowed to ride my bike just around the big circle of our subdivision roads...no further. It was lonely most of the time, as nobody else was outside usually. This was the time most homes had a TV already. I loved reading about your "horses" going to the farm and how you "played at farmer" and then surprisingly you married a farmer many years later!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I really enjoyed reading your reminiscences, not so very different from when I grew up during the 1950s and 60s. Almost everybody in our village seemed to have some kind of livestock - pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits - to help them eke out a living.

Cro Magnon said...

When I was at school I rowed 'eights'. Our boathouse was on the other side of The Great Ouze, and there was a similar ferry to cross over. One turned a handle and the 'raft' went slowly over to the opposite bank amongst much clattering of chains. I loved it.

Librarian said...

My friends and I often pretended that our bikes were horses, too - I guess most kids do at some stage.
I love it that you are still in touch with your childhood friend, and that you played with a toy farm and many years later married a farmer.

Before I was six, we lived in a village and my best friend at kindergarden lived on a farm. I loved playing there with her in the afternoons and learnt a lot about the animals.
Then, in 1974, we moved into the town where I was born and still live. We weren't in the town centre but had a busy road through our neighbourhood. But our parents made sure we knew how to cross the road safely, and we often went to ride our bikes on the lanes in the fields. We also had a small back garden where we often played, on our own or with our friends, and at each other's places as well as just out and about roaming the streets of our neighbourhood.
And I am pleased to say that I observe that still going on here, although traffic has by no means become any safer or any less. Not all children are cooped up indoors all the time - some still have sensible parents who let them be kids and play outdoors.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Farm life as a child is wonderful. Many of my childhood memories involve my uncle's farm. I really enjoyed reading about your memories! -Jenn

the veg artist said...

I too have very happy farm memories. Small, mixed farms in West Wales had a few of everything, small calves to feed, chicks to coo over, eggs to collect, sometimes from the hedgerows! My grandmother usually had a pig so that was a daily chat - and I'd happily eat slices of bacon for my tea. I was allowed to walk the lanes from relative to relative. Not many neighbours that we weren't related to, and they knew us all anyway.

Barbara Anne said...

What a wonderful account of summer fun when you and your friend were children! I can almost see it in my imagination. Thank you for painting such a delightful word picture, Pat.

Hugs!

Anonymous said...

We didn't have a lot of attractive play areas as kids, in a dry, newly established suburban area. There was certainly nothing as interesting as a farm, although across the main road, the State Department of Agriculture had dusty sheep grazing in big tracts of land fenced off with barbed wire.
Unfortunately a lot of interesting old houses were being demolished in the way of modernization (still happening), and our favourite play area was where there had been such a demolition. Huge weeds grew - great for hiding if you avoided the stinging nettles, and there was the heightened smell of wormwood, dill or fennel on the block and huge marshmallow plants. It took most of our childhood years for a hotel to be built on the site.
I loved to stay with my grandparents 'in the bush' - a different environment completely, lots of birdlife, especially at magical sunrise and sunsets, and brother and I would sit near trees where canoes shapes had been cut out by the Indigenous peoples for the bark and look around, explore, and imagine what it would feel like to live that sort of life.- Pam, Sth Aust.

Debby said...

What a nice story! When I was a child, the bulk of our playing was done in the creek that ran behind out house. We played 'beach' (it wasn't deep enough to swim in but we assigned a life guard and pretendied to drown on a regular basis. We caught minnows and crayfish and went rock hunting. We built haunted houses beneath the bridge. Ever notice how much longer the days were back then?

Country Cottage said...

What a lovely account of childhood.

gmv said...

Oh those are wonderful memories. Love that you share them with us.

I had a childhood friend whose father had a house moving business so he had all his massive wood beams and other wood stored in their back acre. My friend and I spent hours among the wood playing all sorts of make believe games. Her mother ran a "rest home" for elderly women right there in the family home. My mother was hired to be an assistant in cleaning and caring for the ladies. Oh those were wonderful carefree times.

Brenda said...

Love this memory. I have so many best friends from various places, but the best ever is from the year we were born. I lived in town; she lived in the country...we text daily and send each other cards often. We do not live in the same state anymore.
My grandsons are outside all of the time. They run races, so they train...they ride bikes almost 20 miles...they swim in their pool and at the YMCA to do laps...they play Lacrosse...they skateboard outside...they go to the park. They have always done this and will continue. One is 10 and the other 8...there are many parents who make sure their kids are outside, eat healthy, read books, and do well in school. I love your blog...it is always so UP...

Tom Stephenson said...

Lovely.

Red said...

Great memories for kids. You had an active childhood.

marlane said...

It brings back memories of my own childhood in the Herefordshire Countryside. Sadly now living in the US I left behind and lost contact with every friend that I had from school. That is what happens when a person moves a long way from home.

Granny Sue said...

I never heard of a ferry like that. How ingenious. I am still long distance friends with a few people from my chdhood. With some, it seems as if each time we talk the years just melt away.

Carol said...

Hello Pat, using your directions I used Google Maps and the lane you refer to is called Five Mile Lane I think. Unfortunately the ferry is no longer there. A footbridge, called Five Mike Bridge is now used to traverse the river to Fiskerton. You could definitely walk your bike across the footbridge. From the satellite image on Google Maps I can see that there is now a system of ramps up and over and down the other side, similar to a train station. Perhaps one of your other readers with more local knowledge can confirm this.
Lovely childhood memories. They are imprinted in your heart. Carol in Australia.

Carol said...

Of course that should read Five Mile Bridge .. should have proofread before I hit the button.

bristol limey said...

Like you Pat I grew up in the 40,s and 50's. We used to roam far and wide as children and some times we would cross the river Don to get to other areas to explore. But we had to call a ferryman by ringing a bell and pay him a small fee to take us across. We did not always have the fee but he was very understanding most of the time and would give us a free ride. My grandfather operated a ferry on the river Ouse, which is tidal and ferry crossings had to be aware of the Iger which was a wave that raced up the river at a tide change. It was believed then that if you had a lung problem and you could walk down river when the Iger was coming it would help cure you.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful memories you have; and that know the names of places so well.
I can remember only the main streets and where I lived.

Heather said...

Such a lovely post full of happy memories. It is strange how one can remember an event from the past with total clarity, but forget why one went from one room to another!
I can still remember my grandfather keeping me entertained when I was 4. He was not in good health but so patient and kind.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Bristol Limey - I remember the Eiger on the Trent - quite spectacular at some times of the year.

Thanks for the info Carol

Lovely memories from you all.

Terra said...

You have some nice memories of childhood, me too. Riding bicycles in to the country, spending time with farm animals and a toy farm, good times. Bicycles were one speed of course and no bike locks needed or even heard of. Good times and you have been friends for a long time.

Traveller said...

Would have restored it.

I have a glass fronted secretary by grandfather made. It was given to a woman who left it to me in her will. When she died I was living in Canada and so paid a fortune to have it packed and shipped out to me. I am now in the UK and loving about 20 mins from where the woman used to live. The furniture has some miles on it.