Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[OhNoAPacer]

Fentimans make a decent Dandelion and Burdock.

Edited to correct the autocorrect of Fentimans to Festivals.

 

[Trackman]

Fentimans make a decent Dandelion and Burdock.

Edited to correct the autocorrect of Fentimans to Festivals.

Most Asdas sell them.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ideal for those like me who need reading glasses to read music scores in bad light but not for watching the conductor.

That is so weird. I had never heard or thought of the problem with reading music / watching a conductor until about an hour ago when I heard a woman in Specsavers describing exactly this issue! And now you mention it too!

 

[D6130]

That is so weird. I had never heard or thought of the problem with reading music / watching a conductor until about an hour ago when I heard a woman in Specsavers describing exactly this issue! And now you mention it too!

Barnard Castle branch? (Sorry: wrong thread!)

 

[The exile]

That is so weird. I had never heard or thought of the problem with reading music / watching a conductor until about an hour ago when I heard a woman in Specsavers describing exactly this issue! And now you mention it too!

I’m getting more used to it now - but when I first had glasses, trying to watch the conductor through them really made me feel quite seasick!

 

[GordonT]

Traditional loudspeakers/megaphones/bullhorns must surely be knocking on the door of becoming anachronistic with the modern portable audio gadgetry now available?

 

[AM9]

Traditional loudspeakers/megaphones/bullhorns must surely be knocking on the door of becoming anachronistic with the modern portable audio gadgetry now available?

In a portable environment maybe, but somehow room filling sound will still be wanted in home situations. 'traditional' loudspeakers are still required to do that unless every home is like a silent disco.

 

[PeterC]

I’m getting more used to it now - but when I first had glasses, trying to watch the conductor through them really made me feel quite seasick!

When I first wore varifocals I felt seasick just walking across the room. Luckily it wears off very quickly.

 

[Killingworth]

Traditional loudspeakers/megaphones/bullhorns must surely be knocking on the door of becoming anachronistic with the modern portable audio gadgetry now available?

At a recent meeting we were kept waiting because the sound system wasn't working. There was a small audience who were all happy to proceed without it and the speaker was more than happy to do so.

However today's world says we have to record everything and in this case broadcast it on Zoom, Teams or whatever. Quarter of an hour of the meeting time wasted and as far as I could tell nobody was taking part on the video link!

I was taught to speak clearly and aim remarks to different people at both sides of the audience and particularly at the back. A specific question helps to keep them awake!

 

[GordonT]

The pre "A" sizes of paper which included foolscap and quarto.

 

[Harpo]

The pre "A" sizes of paper which included foolscap and quarto.

‘A’ sizes only used to describe sheets of paper, now it’s used for stuff such as the maximum bag size (e.g. A4) allowed in a sports venue.

 

[GordonT]

Pre-1974 at which year England, Wales and Northern Ireland "caught up" with Scotland in officially designating New Year's Day as a bank holiday which Scotland had already done in 1871.

 

[gg1]

Pre-1974 at which year England, Wales and Northern Ireland "caught up" with Scotland in officially designating New Year's Day as a bank holiday which Scotland had already done in 1871.

Also:

Pre-1974 at which year Scotland "caught up" with England, Wales and Northern Ireland in officially designating Boxing Day as a bank holiday which England, Wales and Ireland had already done in 1871.

 

[Killingworth]

Also:

Pre-1974 at which year Scotland "caught up" with England, Wales and Northern Ireland in officially designating Boxing Day as a bank holiday which England, Wales and Ireland had already done in 1871.

Most living in Northumberland traditionally observed both as if they were Bank Holidays. Banks in Newcastle unlocked their front door on New Year's day but locked them again at 12.00. Very few came to check if the staff had made it in that morning.

 

[EdinRH]

Also:

Pre-1974 at which year Scotland "caught up" with England, Wales and Northern Ireland in officially designating Boxing Day as a bank holiday which England, Wales and Ireland had already done in 1871.

Pre-1996 when Scottish banks started observing Easter Monday as a holiday and taking the last Monday in August as a holiday instead of the first Monday in August. This is in spite of the holiday dates for Scotland having never having being officially changed by Parliament. Prior to the abolition of peak fares in Scotland this caused confusion for rail travellers as ScotRail still applied peak timing restrictions on Easter Monday and the last Monday in August stating that they are normal working days in Scotland (which they officially are, in spite of banks choosing to close)

 

[Killingworth]

I have a fading memory of test soundings of the old air raid warning sirens in Newcastle, probably late 1940s.

I wonder if any are being made ready to warn of drone attacks!

 

[Rob F]

I can remember the air raid siren being tested semi regularly in West Bridgford, Nottingham in the early to mid 1970s.

 

[GordonT]

The days c.1970s when even quite lowly eating establishments on their printed (or often typewritten) menus still used expressions such as "Luncheon Menu" and "High Tea Menu". Also the price of set menus would often be expressed in terms such as 65p PLUS V.A.T.

 

[gg1]

On the subject of air raid sirens, when I was a young child in the early 80s, there was a factory not far from where we lived which used the all clear signal on an air raid siren to indicate a shift change.

 

[Howardh]

I'm sat in a pub in Bolton, opposite me a group of women are enjoying champagne. In the 80s the men drank mild or bitter and the ladies half a lager or a Babycham.

Nowadays there is zero alcohol beer available!

 

[75A]

I can remember the Air Raid Siren outside our Doctors Surgery in North Bersted (Bognor Regis) still being tested in he mid 1970's.

 

[GordonT]

Anyone remember participating in Cubs/Scouts "Bob-A-Job" week where, dressed in your Cub/Scout uniform, you "touted" to be allowed to complete a helpful task for folk in the locality? The task provider was then issued with a yellow sticker for display on a prominent window of their house to show that they had already funded a "job" thereby ensuring that another Cub/Scout would not come to their door in the hope of gainful employment.

 

[Howardh]

Anyone remember participating in Cubs/Scouts "Bob-A-Job" week where, dressed in your Cub/Scout uniform, you "touted" to be allowed to complete a helpful task for folk in the locality? The task provider was then issued with a yellow sticker for display on a prominent window of their house to show that they had already funded a "job" thereby ensuring that another Cub/Scout would not come to their door in the hope of gainful employment.

I used to sell the stickers so neighbours wouldn't be mithered.

 

[Altrincham]

There’s an area of Altrincham called Broadheath, and this was once an area of heavy manufacturing and engineering. Lots of long-established factories existed in the area, and one of the factories would ring (what was known locally as) a dinnertime buzzer at 1 o’clock. It sounded like an air-raid siren, but with a much shorter burst and slightly higher pitched.

The sound drifted for a good 2-3 miles across the town. It was certainly still rung in the mid 1980’s, and I think it stopped around 1990.

Where there was once engineering and manufacturing, the area has now been largely replaced with retail park units, residential apartment blocks, and small industrial estates.

 

[GordonT]

When the police criteria for fitness to drive after consuming alcohol tended to be the ability (or otherwise) to walk in a straight line.

 

[Tester]

When the police criteria for fitness to drive after consuming alcohol tended to be the ability (or otherwise) to walk in a straight line.

Or (allegedly in Edinburgh) repeating, "The Leith police dismisseth us with six thick thistle sticks".

 

[bspahh]

Or (allegedly in Edinburgh) repeating, "The Leith police dismisseth us with six thick thistle sticks".

When my parents were at University in Edinburgh in the early 60s, you were fit to drive if you could fit the key into the door lock

 

[Steddenm]

Something that cropped up in my memory bank earlier on whilst in Booths looking for loo roll.

What happened to the pastel coloured loo rolls you used to get? Like the pink, blue, off white, orange, yellow, lavender etc. In Booths they have white, white or, ooh, white.

Poundland have some black loo roll (for Hallowe'en) and some printed with Christmas thingies on them.

And who in their right mind would market "Cinnamon flavoured" loo roll - yes, Tesco I'm looking at you. Flavoured?!

 

[The exile]

What happened to the pastel coloured loo rolls you used to get? Like the pink, blue, off white, orange, yellow, lavender etc. In Booths they have white, white or, ooh, white.

Cost in part, I would imagine; not to mention the fact that the dye is likely to have a negative environmental impact. In similar vein - what happened to the grey unbleached recycled stuff you used to get here for a while (still available abroad) - not the most aesthetically pleasing, but considering where it’s going - who cares? (Presumably the answer is “enough people to make it unviable!)

 

[swt_passenger]

Something that cropped up in my memory bank earlier on whilst in Booths looking for loo roll.

What happened to the pastel coloured loo rolls you used to get? Like the pink, blue, off white, orange, yellow, lavender etc. In Booths they have white, white or, ooh, white.

I think the paper went the way of multi coloured sanitary ware. When did you last see a newly built house with a green or pink bathroom suite?