Where do we come from - What are our backgrounds?

[Broch]

I was 7!

 

[Woody girl]

It's taken most of the day, but I've just remembered the "little red flower" I mentioned earlier. Something I've not seen for many years. Scarlet pimpernel.
I miss it.

 

[Siberian Mongoose]

My earliest memory that I can accurately place by age is when I was nearly 4 years old and we were travelling in East Anglia somewhere. Sleeping in the wagon at night and being woken by a great droning noise that seemed to shake the Bow Top and made my dog Trix, who used to sleep under the wagon, bark. The sound seemed to last for ages and it was only many years later that I found out it was flights of aircraft carrying food and supplies on the Berlin Airlift for the German people because the Russians had blocked the City.
For many nights (it always seemed to be at night) the aircraft flew over the farm where we were in a Paddock. Dad was working there for a few weeks. The aircraft came from somewhere over by Liverpool I believe.

I got used to the regular flights after a time. When I got to 4 Mum allowed me to sleep in the straw under the wagon with Trix and we used to lay awake and hear the planes going over on the warm nights and look up and try to spot all the tiny lights in the sky.

I have quite an interest in living waggons, having drawings and books on them including on how to build bowtops—was in contact some time ago with a wheelwright in England who sent me extra stuff. Maternally i have an ancestor, who was in the west Northants area near Eyedon, called Mary Rawlins whom i think was a Romany (Rawlin(g)s is a Southern England Gypsy surname), nothing about her in parish records except for her death, she being in a common law marriage; her two sons used her surname not their father’s (a common Romany practise), and her eldest son of whom i’m decended from was itinerant. T’aven baxtale!

Otherwise…i’m a savage LOL.

 

[Siberian Mongoose]

I’m surprised at how early some folks here remember, as in my experience most don‘t remember before going to school. Should i have grown up with them i like to embarrass them with what they forget doing as children!

I used to think someone was lying when they couldn‘t remember what they said (for example) a fortnight earlier, when they simply didn‘t remember it.

 

[Siberian Mongoose]

I was 7!

Some start early!

 

[HereBeDragons]

Wolf Cub

 

[LRS121]

I grew up with Absent parents like most kids in my area, we played in the woods and build forts and battled Injuns, German and Japanese or what ever bad guy we could make up ( Before Zombies lol ). 7th and 8th grades I stayed in the woods to keep from going home, High school was where my love for Hiking, Camping and just being in nature really came from. went into the military and was taught tactical survival and thought i knew it all. Became a scout leader with my oldest son and got interested in taking Classes at the Pathfinder school and Randall's Adventure and Training and Learned a Lot, Found Bushcraft USA and Learned so much more doing their online Skills and the Hardwoodsman course Humbled me real quick. I'm hoping to learn even more here on this site.

 

[HorseGuy]

Despite growing up in a concrete housing estate on the outskirts of Manchester I was lucky enough to live a stones throw away from Reddish Vale. A huge preserved countryside area consisting of several hundred acres of woodland, meadows and a golf course all with a good sized river winding through it.

As a kid my mates and myself spent much of our free time playing there getting up to all sorts of childhood adventures. The usual stuff. Bike rides, rope swings, dens, camp fires, catapults and air rifles. We also used to make rafts and sail them along the length of the river as far as the waterfall then take the shortest route back overland (much to the irritation of the golfers) across the narrow parts of the river horseshoe bends and do it all again.

Many years later in life my girlfriend decided to get horses and I inevitably ended up spending much of my spare time with her out in the countryside helping out and now spend many of my days with the horses, doing field maintenance, making camp fires, foraging wild food, watching wildlife and growing a few vegetables. Not quite bushcraft but I seem to have more in common with the people on here than I do 'normal' people in towns. I came here to the forum to ask a quick question about ponchos and ended up staying for the interesting people, their stories and the useful advice regarding all things outdoor related.

 

[demented dale]

Despite growing up in a concrete housing estate on the outskirts of Manchester I was lucky enough to live a stones throw away from Reddish Vale. A huge preserved countryside area consisting of several hundred acres of woodland, meadows and a golf course all with a good sized river winding through it.

As a kid my mates and myself spent much of our free time playing there getting up to all sorts of childhood adventures. The usual stuff. Bike rides, rope swings, dens, camp fires, catapults and air rifles. We also used to make rafts and sail them along the length of the river as far as the waterfall then take the shortest route back overland (much to the irritation of the golfers) across the narrow parts of the river horseshoe bends and do it all again.

Many years later in life my girlfriend decided to get horses and I inevitably ended up spending much of my spare time with her out in the countryside helping out and now spend many of my days with the horses, doing field maintenance, making camp fires, foraging wild food, watching wildlife and growing a few vegetables. Not quite bushcraft but I seem to have more in common with the people on here than I do 'normal' people in towns. I came here to the forum to ask a quick question about ponchos and ended up staying for the interesting people, their stories and the useful advice regarding all things outdoor related.

Did you mean Brinnington housing estate? dd xxx

 

[demented dale]

Brilliant. I really enjoyed reading all these for a second time and thank you for reigniting my interest. There have been some very interesting stories and others delightful in their simplicity and life affirming. I am hoping that some of us who don't know about this thread will share their stories also. We would never have known all that if someone hadn't asked. DD xxxx

 

[HorseGuy]

Did you mean Brinnington housing estate? dd xxx

No I was from the over other side in Reddish but I know Brinny well and have a lifelong friend who lives there.

 

[demented dale]

I lived in Brinny as a child and went all the places you mentioned. I lived on Lenham close which was right on the green belt. I could probably see your house from mine x

 

[HorseGuy]

I lived in Brinny as a child and went all the places you mentioned. I lived on Lenham close which was right on the green belt. I could probably see your house from mine x

That's amazing! I would have seen your house every day from my primary school, St Mary's which was right on the edge of Reddish at the top of the steep hill overlooking the Vale and Brinnington.

You might have known one of my mates who lived just round the corner from you on The Clough opposite the blocks of flats there.

 

[demented dale]

That's amazing! I would have seen your house every day from my primary school, St Mary's which was right on the edge of Reddish at the top of the steep hill overlooking the Vale and Brinnington.

You might have known one of my mates who lived just round the corner from you on The Clough opposite the blocks of flats there.

my nan lived a t number 1 clough walk which looked out over reddish vale. I left there in 1973 did your mates live there then?

 

[HorseGuy]

my nan lived a t number 1 clough walk which looked out over reddish vale. I left there in 1973 did your mates live there then?

No he would have be born a few years later but you might have known his dad though.