Welcome...

Go back in time....

Before the Internet and DVDs.

Before shootings, stabbings, joy-riders and crystal meth...

Before SEGA or Super Nintendo. Way back...

I'm talking about hide and seek in the park. The corner dairy, hopscotch, go-carts, cricket in front of the rubbish bin, skipping, handstands, footy on the best lawn in the street, bullrush, go home stay home, slipnslide, the trampoline with water on it, hula hoops, pogo sticks, jumping in enormous puddles, mud pies and building dams in the gutter.

Summer lasted all holidays, and it hardly rained, and when it did you would see half your class at the pictures. The smell of fresh cut grass and making birds nests on the school field. 'Big bubbles no troubles' with hubba bubba bubblegum. A choc-top Mr Whippy cone on a warm summer night after you've chased him 'round the block. When 20 cents worth of mixed lollies was a meal and smoking fags was really cool.

Watching cartoons...short commercials, the Thunderbirds, Scooby-do, Captain Caveman, Hong Kong Phooey, The Mickey Mouse Club and heeeey heeeeey heeeeeeey it's Faaaaaaat Albert. And staying up late on a long weekend and watching the Sunday Horrors.

When around the corner seemed far away, and going into town seemed like going somewhere. A million mozzie bites, wasp and bee stings. Sticky fingers. Cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, riding bikes and catching tadpoles. Swimming in the neighbours' pool, drawing all over the road with chalk. Climbing trees. Walking to school, no matter what the weather. Running till you were out of breath. Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt. Jumping on the bed. Pillow fights, spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for the giggles.

Being tired from playing... Remember that? The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. Choppers, ape hangers and banana seats and long fluorescent flags... eating raw jelly, making homemade lemonade.

Remember when... There were two types of sneakers - girls and boys, and the only time you wore them at school, was for "sports day." You knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents! You would rollerskate everywhere all day.

It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas eve. When nobody owned a pure-bred dog. When 20c was decent pocket money and 50c was rich. When nearly everyone's mum was at home when the kids got there from school. It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb. When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at Cobb and Co with your parents.

When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or use him to carry groceries and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to that which awaited a misbehaving student at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of them!!! When you spoke to adults by calling them Mr or Mrs whoever, and Auntie or Uncle rather than their first names.

Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, Yeah, I remember that! Remember when.... Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo. "Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly". The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was boy/girl germs, and the worst thing in your day was having to sit next to one.

Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot. Nobody was prettier than your Mum. Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better. Taking drugs meant orange-flavoured chewable vitamin C. Ice cream was considered a basic food group. Going to the beach and catching a wave was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dare". Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!!