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Hi everybody or at least those still looking at the site! Here it is again, same as ever. Time for reflection and memories of Christmas (Oh sorry!) past. Remembering when we were young at Weymouth House, "ice-slides" in the play ground and somebody being taken to hospital with a broken arm. No expectations of a x-box, ipod, iphone or any other technoligical wonders. A slide rule or compass set in a box with a purple velvet lining would have been welcome (Sad bugger!). Woolworths for multi-coloured lights and paper trimmings,Remember the bell that would fold flat for storage? There were no Christmas hits between 1959 and 1964 with the theme of Christmas, only Mary's Boy Child in 1957 and then a wait to Slade in 1973! I had to wait until Christmas 1963 to get my first record player, the beloved Dansette. I would love to hear your memories of Christmas especially at the Tech. Merry Christmas everybody, hope you all enjoy the best of times with your families. Cheers Steve

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Hi Steve and Everyone. I can't recall much about my Christmas's during my time at the Tech but I do remember my first Dansette Junior bought for £1 10s from Wookey and Jones next to the Forum. I nagged Mum to get it and , bless her she did, only for us to get it home to let Dad tell us there was no innards in it. To be fair, he got an old amp from somewhere and shoved it in but one of the valves was too tall and he had to cut out a slot for the thing to stick through. It was such a good job I couldn't afford LP's (remember them ) because they wouldn't fit. Happy days and enjoyment of the 6s 8p single. 8 of them stacked up or just one with the arm up so that it repeated until Dad pulled the fuse to the socket and silence once again reigned. Can I return your Christmas wishes Steve and also wish everyone on the site Good Health and Happiness for Christmas and 2012. Rich.

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Hi All, I do remember the ice slides and snowballs and the fact that our country boys did not always make it to school or we had any early mark on a few occasions to ensure they got their trains home. Being tone deaf, I only listened to music or blew through a paper-covered comb and I got D for that. And of course the one-third pint of milks we had were sometimes frozen on the top, but still good stuff. I have not visited this site much in the last year. So busy don't know how I found the time for work. We are off on our journey to Melbourne tomorrow (462K or just over 300 miles) to spend Christmas with our daughters and their husbands plus one grand daughter. Then on the 27th we under take a similar trip from Melbourne to Adelaide for my father-in-laws 90th. We then come back the same way getting home on 6th Jan. In Eastern Aust we have had our coldest start to summer for 40 odd years and some good regular rain. I am going away not worrying about my garden needing daily water or my neighbour leaving on my irrigation and getting me a $600 water bill like last year. Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year to all. Ken

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Hi Guys. Nice to know that at least some of us have sussed the site and found out the necessary to be able to read the latest posts. Yep, I remember Weymouth House in the winter time, but actual Christmas time do not ring any bells in particular. I was one of the 'Country boys' that sometimes got off early in the snow, just as well too as a couple of times it was a close run thing as to whether the bus actually made it! I recall a couple of occasions when the snow was so bad that the buses were cancelled and we went sledging instead of going to school. Happy days............ Love the story about the Dansette with no innards. I must admit that one new year we had a party at Tom Ralph's, complete with record player. We decided that the output of this was quite dilatory so we lashed in an amp that I had and strung around some extra speakers. The amp had a pair of 6V6s for the output stage so was regarded as more adequate. All went well during the evening and it was not until we got round to packing everything away in the early hours that we noticed that the wax impregnation had melted out of the mains transformer all over Mrs R's carpet. Disaster!!!!!! Good job she didn't find out about the coal bunker full of empty bottles. Mr R knew, but we'd already bribed him to keep quiet with a crate of beer. As I recall it half Bath Convent were at these parties, fancy, good catholic girls getting mixed up in such goings on!!!!!!!!!!!! Well guys I must refrain from rambling any longer, so all that remains is to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and everything you would wish yourselves for the New Year. Sticky.

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Hi Guys, Just put one daughter on the train in Bath to Leeds. Baby due on 22nd Jan so I hope she makes it to son-in-law before the event! Sat in the middle of wreckage from five days of wild celebration (mainly by 2 year old grandson) although perhaps the wine & beer bottles are not his! Actually had a great time with all the family in one place for once. Judy & I slept in the summer house! Quieter out there and it has all mod cons. Sonic blaster and beeping tipper truck now in Cambridge but everything up to about 4 feet is covered in sugary finger marks. Will need a new back! Why did I ever toss him in the air in the summer? "Grandpa do more!" seems to be on the repeat button. I cannot ever remember missing a day at Weymouth House due to snow. Only change for me was having a school dinner in the basement at Kingsmead Square. Emergency rations of tinned soup and fresh baked bread. Lovely! (I normally went home) Dimly think there was a play or concert in the hall at Weymouth House, but not certain. In 1961/62 winter the snow was piled shoulder high along the streets but the two mile walk each way to B.H. went on as usual. Recall the few cyclists who tried slid over at the first bend. Each householder used ashes from fire to grit pavements. Rugby was cancelled though. Jimmy Edwards etc. would just supervise whilst homework was finished. Belated Happy Christmas to all. May 2012 be a good one for everyone. (Just don't mention those b****y games!!) Graham

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Hi Graham What b****y games is that!!!! Hoping I can stay awake tomorrow to see the New Year in! Cheers Steve

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May I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a Happy ,Healthy New Year. Rich.

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Feel a bit the same, but then neighbours have just left and there are a few more bottles to clear up! Games? Think London is the place to avoid in the summer! Darn me if I don't have a talk to do at the Imperial War Museum in June!! Hope I can afford a hotel. Whether you are dozing or brushing off the winkle-pickers and threads for a wild night out tomorrow have a good time. All best wishes for 2012. Graham

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Someone said the other day that someone has organised these games in London to coincide with our show!!!! Dashed inconsiderate I call it. I think they should alter the dates so as not to clash with us. Perhaps we should advertise around London as the thinking man's Olympics, or perhaps that should be drinking instead of thinking!!!!!!! Happy and prosperous new year to all. Sticky.

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Hi Guys, and a Happy New Year to all. Apologies for having been silent recently, had so much to do in the run up to Christmas, picked up a chest infection in India, which then developed into a nasty cold, and what with everything else left me feeling knackered, improving now though, must be the alcohol destroying germs.

India was great, by the time we left we couldn't wait to get away, had enough of the noise, pollution et.al, funny thing was within two days we began planning a return visit, I think Steve would agree that it's a country that gets under your skin.

Dansette recollections, never had a record player until I started work, necessity of having to buy it oneself and other things came first, did have a big old valve radio in my bedroom though, which was often tuned to the continental stations such as AFN and Luxembourg, no wonder I didn't get any homework done, always fiddling around with the tuning to get the best reception.

Don't mention the games! I'm fed up with it already, I wish our athletes well but am personally appalled at the vast amounts of cash being injected into it when other services, and peoples in this country are having resources cut. As far as I'm concerned it's just to make the government look good. OK rant over.

Once again guys have a Happy and Prosperous New Year, may the force be with you. Stu

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