It's strange what stays in your mind from childhood. I can't explain it. Sights, smells and sounds and not to mention the feel of things. My memories are like quick bursts of action interspersed with still-life, sort of like a dreamy cinema filled with lobby cards and showing short films on different screens. My films! Just the other day I was vacating my antiques cabinet when I cam across a pile of SHOOT comics from 1969 in the next aisle. I can remember so clearly buying Shoot at the local newsagents, which seems unusual now as I'm completely indifferent to sport. One year my Dad won a few quid on the pools and gave me and my mate a couple of shillings each, which amzingly we spent on Shoots and toffees! I'm sure that there were free gifts with Shoot but I can't remember any. As for toys it's often the smallest of things I can recollect like the grenade throwing German Infantryman from Airfix and come to mention it the Stick Grenade from the same in Action Man along with his Australian Jungle Fighting machete. Then there's the purple string-blaster of the green-brained Callisto, enemy of Major Matt Mason, whose small silver radio sticks in my mind too.
But probably more than any object, it's a particular sound, which I associate above all with my 'spaced-out' childhood, whiling away the hours messing with my Billy Blastoff, Major Matt, Action Man and Project Sword in my bedroom or the front room, a sound so unusual that it's imprinted on my brain yet virtually impossible to describe. The best I can say is that it's a sort of rattling. But then I don't really need to describe it because with the wonder of You Tube you can hear it yourself at around the 39th second in this clip:
You hear it? The unique juddering of Captain Laser's backpack! Aahhh, Happy Days!
My selection would be completely different, but I know precisely what you mean. Those memories, touch, sight and sound (good grief, I'm starting to sound like the beginning of the Twilight Zone) which now send a shiver of pleasure down my spine.
ReplyDeleteO.K. I'll throw in wood grain Action Man packaging, the music played in Captain Scarlet when a hidden SPV was revealed, the smell of American comics, the taste of a FAB ice lolly and holding kit parts together as they dried...that should cover all five senses! and for that matter Woodsy your choices reveal you to be a man after my own heart.....I still Have a box of German infantry in the hall cupboard (and more besides!).
ReplyDeleteI recently had a blast from the past with a 1970's favourite of my teenage menu, Vesta Chow Mein with yes, CRISPY noodles! Couldn't believe they were still on sale! It was just cool watching those flat strips puff up and curl in the fat! Super tastey too! Happy Days! Now, all I need to find is Instant Whip and Birds Dream Topping!
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