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Category: So many hobbies. | Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2023 10:17 am

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Hi,

My first blog so I'll start at the beginning. Kids these days think 40 is old age; I must be regarded as a dinosaur now aged 75 going on 76.

I was born to a coal mining family in 1947 knowing real poverty and hardship. No electricity in our one bedroomed miners cottage until I was five years old. I suffered severe asthma until I grew out of it at 11 years old; lots of early schooling was missed and often I was too ill to play out with school chums.

I hated sport because I had such a rough time of it with asthma and even now I dislike sport with a passion. I don't see the point of kicking a ball around or paying to watch someone kick a ball around when I can be doing something much more interesting like watching paint dry.

Aged 11 I finally had a school eye exam and with new glasses and my asthma gone my life turned around; we moved to a brand new three bedroomed council house and also a new school. We lived there for 11 years then moved to a private three bedroomed detached house.

When I could play out my childhood was wonderful building tree dens; caving our girlfriends initials onto trees and doing what kids did in those days; lads carried big sheave knives and we had air pistols but no one was ever attacked unlike now when knife crime is rife. The only time I ever got six of the best from the headmaster was when he entered the classroom and I was too busy to notice whilst carving my girl friends initials on the inside of my desk top. Happy days.

I left school aged 15 and went straight down a deep coal mine as an apprentice mechanical engineer; I caught up so much with schooling in my last four years at school I passed the mining exam and even passed their medical.

Now in the adult world my life really changed; the engineers were highly skilled teaching me not only their skills but about life in general; if I cheeked the engineers I was treated very roughly; if I was near the blacksmiths forge and I was caught they would thrust me head first up to shoulders into the 45 gallon water butt; it could have been worse because there was also a 45 gallon whale oil butt.

I don't like sport; politics or religion but I do like learning many new skills.

My current hobby is learning to play my violins. In 1976 when I married my lovely wife we were strapped for money having a huge mortgage; one day we visited a second hand furniture store it being on two levels; as we climbed the stairs to the second level there was a very old violin attached to the wall; this intrigued me but I didn't ask the price knowing we had so little money.

The thought of this violin has remained with me for many years until in 2021 when my wife generously offered to buy me anything at all I'd like for my birthday in August; there wasn't anything I could think of then the violin popped into my head and I gratefully accepted a brand new Hidersine Vivente violin complete with case and bow; enough for now but I've a lifetimes stories to tell.

Kind regards, Colin.


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Frank wrote on Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:13 pm:

I enjoyed reading this Colin!

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Retired wrote on Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:02 pm:

Hi,

Many thanks Frank; much appreciated.

March last year I felled 15 very tall assorted trees between 50' & 70'. I felled and logged them then shredded the brash all done in two weeks working in dire conditions up our very steep valley side rear garden at times in sleet. Three storms in five days with high wind split our huge "Crack Willow" making it unsafe on our boundary and it could have blown into the neighbours garden so I removed the damaged section it being one of three big trunks then securely roped the other two trunks until the wind dropped.

This March I dug up eight of the huge stumps located to the garden middle then created a second meadow. Two weeks ago I felled a 40' huge oak tree but this took a couple of weeks to log and dispose of it overhanging the roof and patio. I must be barking mad; 75 years old still climbing big trees and doing all this very heavy work entirely on my own. It keeps me out of mischief.

Kind regards, Colin.

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Logan wrote on Tue Jul 04, 2023 7:04 pm:

Hi Colin
Glad to see you on here,it must have been difficult to fell those hazardous trees by yourself. Also clearing them and the stumps must have been very heavy. You must be very strong removing the stumps.
The 2 meadows that you planted must be looking good at the moment. Good that you enjoy your violin playing and all of the music that you have collected.
Logan

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Retired wrote on Fri Jul 07, 2023 10:10 am:

Hi,

Many thanks Logan. Yes it was incredibly hard work felling and disposing of the trees working on my on on such a steep valley slope we call our garden. I'm doing well at 75 still climbing such tall trees I hope I never grow up; all the heavy work I do though must be good for me keeping me fit and very active.

Yes the meadows are in full bloom looking beautiful attracting many amazing stares from walkers along the lane at the top of the garden; pity I can't post pictures here on my blog but perhaps when I become more used to this forum I'll find where I can post the pictures; as usual though I'm very busy. I visited three supermarkets first thing this morning and I've just polished our Skoda Yeti car it gleaming like new. I've had to knock off it's too hot to be working with the sun beating down.

Thanks also about my violin playing; when I first started in Aug 2021 I only practiced playing a couple of violin music scores.

Kind regards, Colin.

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MIKE ALLEN wrote on Mon Aug 21, 2023 11:52 pm:

Hi Colin.

You young-uns never had it so good.
No disrespects. I have a bit more history than you. Me. Born 28.12.1939. No. The war had already started, so I can't be blamed for that. WOW! how memories stay with you. Over the years. I have realised that I have basically what is called a photographic memory. Believe me. There are many things I'd prefer not to remember. We must get together, even on here and educate our juniors. Take care Colin.

Mike.

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Retired wrote on Tue Aug 22, 2023 1:26 pm:

Hi,

Thanks Mike. You'll have known real poverty not the £26,000 rated poverty these days when those in poverty have wall to wall TV; mobile phones and computers etc complaining they can't feed their kids or go on holiday mostly one parent families. In our day crime was still there but not at all like now; mother's remained home bringing up kids to be decent whilst the father struggled to feed everyone; now they have kids but responsibility appears to be everyone else's.

I can remember my childhood but struggle to remember what I did five minutes ago; I'm having to learn to read sheet music because I can't remember violin notes to play but I'm winning and I'll stick with it.

I've got very little spare time so am unable to post often on here.

Good to hear from you again Mike I hope you're keeping well.

Kind regards, Colin.

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