CBC headline
What is the modern world coming to.
When our family arrived in London in 1953, I was 9. By January 1954, we were living in our own home. On arrival, we shared a 3 bedroom house with friends who had 3 children also. Four adults, 5 children, one small bathroom and a small kitchen.
Imagine the joy of our own 3 bedroom home with a garden.
However, my parents decided to let me continue attending the Elementary school I had begun in July 1953;It was in another school district, but the people in charge agreed to let me stay on.
It was not only in another district, it was two bus rides away. I made both bus journeys un-escorted; Well, usually. If we got our acts together, my 13 year old sister, who also attended a school in that district, took the first bus journey with me. However, the second bus journey as well as the return home journeys, I did on my own. Each leg of the bus journey cost one penny. No such thing as transfers back then.
Often, on the second leg of the return journey, the bus conductress would say to me: "Keep it sweetie, buy yourself a lolly." That is what I usually did. Right where I got off was the newsagent/confectionery shop and I would go in and buy a 'penny lolly!' I would then walk around the corner to our house and let myself in with my own key.
I never had any problems; never got lost, never lost my key nor was I ever accosted by strangers.
My memories are sweet and of a happy, quite safe, world.
