Asterix the Gaul

Posted on December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 Posted in Uncategorized, Sketching, MemoriesTagged 1960's, Asterix the Gaul, Cartoon, Characters, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2147, Drawing, Humour, Life1 Comment

What’s your favorite cartoon?

I loved the Asterix books when I was a child. I think I read most of them. All the characters were so funny, getafix, obelix. The chieftain who walks around under a shield because he’s afraid the sky will fall on his head. The tiny dog.. The magic strength potion.

They live in the North West of Gaul and are constantly fighting the Romans or the British. The artwork is tremendous. The books by Goscinny and Uderso were translated into English from French I think. It was the first time I had seen swearwords depicted as symbols. Like. X&@#!? £X! For example. I didn’t know about swearing at the time so I assumed it was a coded language!

I learned to draw cartoons by copying the characters. I think that helped develop my hand eye coordination, I was happy.

Growing up…

Posted on October 14, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, facilities, History, Memories, programmes, Question, Radio, telephone, Thoughts, Time, TV1 Comment

Someone asked if I grew up with 3 TV channels and no smartphone? My answer:

We watched 1 channel, on black and white TV. God save the queen played when the station closed and then a high tone would play to get you to switch off your TV.

We listened to Radio 1 and the light programme, with Jimmy Clitheroe on at the weekends. My mom got the thunderbird theme tune played on the radio for our birthday.

We had rotary phone (eventually) after we moved house. Then we had spin dryer, boiler/top loading washer with a ringer.

In the old house we had a toilet at the end of the yard but we had one downstairs in the new house. In the old house we had a tin bath. In the new house we had a brand new bathroom. And my parents bought an electric shower. Shall I go on… Memories.

Interesting question?

Posted on April 7, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, Character, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1901, Dr Who, female, Fun, Hero, Memory, Thinking, TVLeave a comment

If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?

Now that a woman has played Dr Who on TV I would love to play the character. I’ve watched the television series over decades, from the 1960’s. The doctor was always my hero and was one of the things that got me into science fiction.

Suddenly when the doctor regenerated as a female I think it gave young girls the opportunity to imagine themselves fighting daleks and cyber men, having to tackle technical problems and fix mechanical issues. It made her a choice of hero to play as they are growing up. And that makes the show greater than it was although there was a lot of antagonism from some fans. Life changes and why should characters stay the same?

I know I would have fun!

A complete unknown

Posted on February 27, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, a complete unknown, biopic, blowing in the wind, Bob Dylan, Film, Life, Music, Songs, Time3 Comments

I just went to see “A complete unknown”, a biopic of Bob Dylan early career up until he started using electric guitar at the Newport folk festival in 1965.

It showed his collaboration and love of Joan Baez and his other girlfriend Suze Rotolo. There was wonderful singing in the film by all the cast. A lot of songs that I only vaguely remember from the 1960’s because I was only a young child. But certain songs like “Blowing in the wind” are strong memories. I also remember Joan Baez songs as my hubby used to play them a lot. Time plays tricks with memories but so much came sweeping back into my mind as I watched the film.

Music is a wonderful form of communication. This was a brilliant film. If you can go and see it. X

Old TV

Posted on December 31, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, 1970's, Childhood, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2166, programmes nostalgia, Television2 Comments

What makes you feel nostalgic?

The WordPress image library is hard to use to find British pictures. I was looking for an image of “Robin Hood” but I could only find the bird, or a coat hood or the hood (bonnet) of a car.

I want to share some of the 1960’s TV shows I remember from childhood. Some of them are being shown again.

They include ‘the Avengers’, not the marvel ones, but John Steed and his various female companions. For example Mrs Emma Peel and Tara King. They were secret agents.

Then there is the Champions, three investigators, starring Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastido and William Gaunt. They were transformed into people with superpowers after a plane crash in Tibet.

Also, Randall and Hopkirk (deceased). Marty Hopkirk is killed in the first episode and returns as a ghost to help his friend to undertake Private Investigations. Marty’s wife Jeanie is often involved.

There are so many more, Dr Who, the Tomorrow People, Space 1999, Jason King, Department S. The Saint, the Persuaders and The adventures of Robin Hood…. So many, some from the 1970’s. And not forgetting Gerry Anderson shows like Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and Joe 90. They give me a warm glow if I see the programmes, although some of them haven’t been on for decades. I get drawn back to sitting infront of the TV watching my favourite shows. Getting excited about their adventures. Life was so much simpler then.

Bright lights over Bentilee

Posted on September 27, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, Bentilee, Comedy, England, Fun, Life, Local, Play, Romance, Science, Stoke-on trent, UFOLeave a comment

I’ve just got back from the local theatre, Claybody Theatre at The Dipping house, Spode Works, Church Street, Stoke upon Trent, Stoke-on-Trent.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance. It was set in 1967 on the Bentilee housing estate, on the edge of the city of Stoke on Trent. A city of potteries and coal mines and steel works that had since suffered industrial decline.

It’s late summer on the estate when several people see a bright glowing light in the sky that goes from red, to slightly greenish to a blue hue. It ended up on TV with locals talking about what they had seen, but no real explanation. (this was the era of science fiction programmes on TV, like The Invaders, or Space family Robinson and even Fireball XL5.)

What I enjoyed was the local knowledge. The speech was real Stoke on Trent accents, with a smidge of Durham and a twang of American or Irish.

I won’t go into detail with spoilers, but there is a mixture of 1960s memories, a touch of romance, a lot of local in jokes. It was useful knowing Bentilee estate, I have worked there. The comedy made the audience chuckle and laughter out loud. I do enjoy Deborah McAndrews writing. The play got a loud round of applause at the end. Good to see local friends who had come out to see it!

A film called “Yesterday”

Posted on July 21, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, 1970's, Fun, Happy, Life, Music, pop group, Singing, The beatles, Time, yesterdayLeave a comment

I’m watching a film called Yesterday starring Himesh Patel, Lily James and Ed Sheeran. The premise is that a failing musician has a bike accident when all the power goes off in the world for 12 seconds. He wakes up in hospital and when he gets out he finds out that none of his friends have heard of the Beatles (a 1960’s and 70’s pop group).

The story continues to tell the tale of his life and integrates Beatles songs into it. I don’t want to say much more, but it’s great to hear those old songs again. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up as I watched the film.

If you want to see something funny and life affirming on a wet Sunday night this is one worth watching.

Exterminate!?

Posted on April 7, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, Cheddleton, Dalek, Dr Who, Froghall, Leek, Memory, Railway, Sci fi, Tardis, Time, Track, Trains2 Comments

One day a few years ago we visited the Churnet valley railway. We got on at Cheddleton and traveled to Froghall wharf. We didn’t realise but there was a Dr Who dalek at the station, plus a tardis! We stopped for coffee and cake and watched as the remote control dalek trundled up and down the platform while people took photos and videos.

I’ve been watching Dr Who on TV since it started in the 1960’s. I used to hide behind the settee when the cyber men came on. I still watch when it’s on now.

The Churnet Valley railway is based on a line which runs between Cheddleton and Froghall, also running towards Leek in the Staffordshire moorlands. Plans are being worked on to extend the line towards Leek and possibly Stoke as the track bed is mainly still in situ except where they built a supermarket in Leek on top pf the track.

Esther’s prompt, Nostalgia

Posted on March 20, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, 1970's, Esther Chilton, happiness, Life, Memory, Nostalgia, Prompt, Thinking, WritingLeave a comment

I really like writing to prompts.

Here’s a short response to the word Nostalgia:

Nostalgia hits me all the time now. I long to be back in simpler times. Old TV shows from the 60s and 70s remind me of past times when I thought adventure was real. Hero’s could do anything. Irony did not exist and no one suffered real hardship. Nostalgia is sneaky, comfy, mostly happy. If I could make life better I would create nostalgic bliss.

Old tv

Posted on August 2, 2023 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, 1970's, Fun, Memory, Programme, Randall and Hopkirk (deceased), TV2 Comments

I’ve started watching a TV channel that shows old 1960’s and 1970’s programmes. A favourite is Randall and Hopkirk (deceased). There’s usually an old house like this one in it.

There are classic mini cars in it, and fashions from the 60’s. There are car chases and mysterious disappearances. It’s intruiging and funny. Part of the joy is the memory and excitement of watching again.

I can remember it from childhood. The characters were a private detective (Randall) and his late partner (Hopkirk). It’s always some strange case. The detective tries to investigate but struggles. His partner, Hopkirk, who is a ghost, helps solve the cases. He can move through walls, transport himself by thought from place to place and move objects without touching them. It’s humourous and a classic mystery series. They might be a bit un PC these days, but I love it.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: 1960’s