A teenage neighbour is going to Uni in September. To Lancaster here in the North of England, just over the Pennines.
The mention of Lancaster got me remembering how I used to love going there to watch rock bands in the 70's. Not sure if bands play Uni's or Poly's anymore but back then they did all the time. I saw my beloved Budgie, the greatest heavy rock band ever; the superb Joan Armatrading; the quite gorgeous Judie Tzuke and I even saw Lynyrd Skynyrd before half of them perished in a plane crash. I was glad I'd seen them live.
My neighbour's excitement at going in September - leaving home basically - reminded me how everything was indeed more exciting when we were young. It is understandable as most things we haven't tried before - leaving home, relationships, driving, being part of causes, drinking, studying and so on. Its all new to a teenager and I suppose its that sheer unadulterated excitement that carries them out of the parental nest, otherwise they may never leave!
This blog is often about an even earlier time in our lives, when toys and kids TV shows and mates and playing excited us.
I suppose nostalgia is basically remembering that feeling - or at least trying to. I wonder if its possible to feel like we did 55 years ago? Do we even get close?
But its nice to try. Do you agree?
A collector's fair, a flea market/car boot sale, or a shop that still carries second-hand models - digging through the mountains, in search of treasure. What lies buried beneath the everyday models, something rare, something you have never seen before, perhaps you did not even know it existed ? Plenty of excitement there, at least for me. Just as it was visiting a toy shop 50 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThere have been times, when I've been taking part in events that used some of my props, in a full, convincing set of a moonbase or space station, when it felt like I was really in the worlds of my childhood imagination. That was even more than nostalgia and it was great!
ReplyDeleteGoing to Cape Kennedy with my wife and son in 2013 brought back that childhood excitement I had during the 60s for all things space.
ReplyDeleteMore recently a trip to Metropolis Toys, a vintage toy shop in Warwick, also did it.
Seeing all those 60s space toys in one shop. I wanted them all again. Fantastic !
Great insights guys. More than nostalgia, thats a great phrase Kevin. I sometimes see Metropolis Toys at large toyfairs here in the North Mish. I'd like to visit his shop too. Oh, and Cape Kennedy, it must have been wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Stones playing at the Pembroke Hall in Walkden. Others included Bay City Rollers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, The Searchers, Lulu, Acker Bilk, Edwin Starr and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Not sure about the Beatles. The Stones aren't listed as far as I can see but I'm sure my memory is correct. Not that I wanted to see them, not that interested in music until, Bowie and Hawkwind came along.
ReplyDeleteYou've seen some band Khusru! Wow! I managed to see Bowie in 1974 in Preston and Hawkwind at Glastonbury 1981. Great acts. Great artists.
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