During my childhood, I often found myself on the receiving end of a well-deserved smacked bottom. The most unforgettable instance occurred just days before my birthday. My parents always hired a babysitter whenever they went out or hosted gatherings. We were always dressed in our pajamas before the sitter arrived. My brother, the sitter, and […]

In the early 1970s, a time when corporal punishment was commonplace in both homes and schools, and ‘Six of the best’ was a frequent phrase, many believed it did no harm. During this period, I was under the care of my Aunty Margaret at my house on the council estate while my parents vacationed in […]

Growing up in 1973, my family was all about those camping trips. One trip stands out vividly. As a kid, I was obsessed with Beano characters, especially Dennis the Menace. I even dressed like him, with my black, spikey hair, red and black jersey, black shorts, and somewhat questionable black sandals. I always got a […]

When I was growing up in the 50s, a family lived above us who we were very close to. Me and my three brothers called the mother ‘Aunt Agatha’ and I even called her only daughter ‘sis’ – . So there were three boys downstairs and one girl upstairs. Aunt Agatha often babysat for us […]

Nanny was a woman of stern demeanor, often reinforcing parental punishments with her own. She was always impeccably dressed in her crisp, white apron over a dark, modest dress. Her hair was always neatly pinned up, and she wore sensible shoes that clicked softly on the wooden floors. She carried herself with an air of […]

My Father’s sister had two daughters, one six months older than me and the other three years older. The younger girl, Caroline, and I were like peas in a pod – she was a real tomboy and between us, we terrorised the neighbourhood. We would take turns going to visit and stay at each other’s […]

A mother reached out to me, concerned that her children were being overly indulged by their grandmother. She feared that the children were receiving too much leniency and not enough structure. In today’s world, where many mothers are working, it’s crucial that grandparents provide the same level of care and guidance as parents do at […]

It was the start of the Christmas holidays in 1974. The weather was foul and I was bored because my friends weren’t able to ‘play out’ that day. My sister, was ‘in charge’, as my mother would put it. Usually I took no notice of this authority, instead just keeping out of her way. I […]

I grew up in the 1950s, when Britain’s canal network was still a place of work rather than a holiday destination. A canal ran close to the back of my home and I would often play next to ‘the cut’, watching the barges go past with loads of coal, ceramics and steel. To make things […]

One summer when I was nine, I met up with my friend Jesse to play at her grandparents’ summer home, which was close to my grandmother’s place. Between our properties was a vast apple orchard owned by the Allen family, who were locals. Mr. Allen was a boat builder and lobster fisherman, and he had […]