leading JIM, astray..little sod!!!

This memory has just sprung to mind after the episode with the scrumping. I was being a really good lad, when one of my older cousins Dave, came to stay. He was three years older than me and was supposed to be staying for two weeks. As it turned out, he was sent packing after five days (I will explain).

On the first day, it was not a problem. Dave and I went to play in our local woods, looking for grass snakes and playing, being Tarzan: swinging over a stream by a rope which we had tied to a sturdy tree branch. We then went home, had our dinner then off to bed. That's when I knew things were not going to be good. As soon as we got in my bedroom, Dave said "you're on the floor. Your bed's too small for two and I am the oldest" (oh bugger I thought).

THE START OF LIFE'S JOURNEY

Let's Begin 

Hi my name is Jim. I was born in the UK in 1954 into a very big family. like most in my era  I did not appreciate just how blessed I was to have been born in time when you could leave your door unlocked  and all your neighbours knew each  other. Unlike today when kids get home from school and go to their bedrooms to watch TV,  play games on their xbox or text friends and mum brings them some junk food nuked in a microwave oven (I know that is not the case in all house holds). In most cases, both  parents have to work which leaves little time for family bonding. 

I came from a single parent family but was lucky to be surrounded by aunts and uncles. My mother's mum, my grandmother, had seventeen sons and daughters and although my mum had to work full time my grandma and granddad helped raise me (we lived with them in the family house). Also, we lived in in the country side in Cheshunt , Hertfordshire. At that time, it had the biggest nursery industry in Europe which is where my mum worked growing fruit and veg.