Tuesday 5 June 2012

Then and Now

Aren't we gathering up a wonderful collection of stories for Storytelling Sunday this month? I had expected it to be a little quiet this month, over the holiday, but it's shaping up very nicely! And, of course, by the end of today, we will all have gathered a tale about watching the boats go down that rainy Thames, or seeing Madness play on the roof of Buckingham Palace, or observing from another  country..there is still plenty of time to join in and share your link here or check out the Pinterest Board here.

I'm only sorry I didn't collect up my stories from the Silver Jubilee at the time. I know some of you were there - I've seen the photos! What has changed, do you think?

- then we coloured in our own paper flags and stuck them together with sticky tape. Now we shopped for retro toned prints and sewed yards of fabric bunting.


- then we watched the Jubilee clustered round our black and white television (and rented a colour one after the event because we realised what we had been missing). Now we have tv's all over the house, all shapes and sizes

- then our Dad bought us a kitten (who lived until way after I'd left home). Now we talk about getting a dog when the kids leave home.

- then we sent off Stamped Addressed Envelopes so that Blue Peter would post us instruction leaflets for the "Makes" they had featured. Now we browse Pinterest.

- then we watched Abba on Top of the Pops and hoped for something new. Now we watched the history of "Punk Britannia" and the next day went trawling charity shops for old albums.

- then we ate corned beef hash and drank watery orange squash. Now we BBQ'd chicken kebabs and drank G&T with plenty of ice.

- then we pestered our Mum for cheap souvenir tshirts from the bargain shop in town. Now we wonder if buying a 1950's "New Look" inspired dress with a splashy navy print and a full skirt is a good idea..

..but some things do stay the same. .

- then I scrapbooked. A book of newspaper cuttings for a Girl Guide project. Now I - you know the rest!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday!


22 comments:

scrappyjacky said...

One thing at least has stayed the same for me.....I still made my own paper bunting.....though I doubt laminating machines were around back then......and with the rain we've had the past couple of days....I'm sure glad I laminated it!!!!

Alana said...

Awww, memories:) I remember our silver jubilee street party, sitting on an assortment of borrowed stools and chairs. It's nice to see that kids still want to join in the street parties and the community still want to organise them. Community spirit is still there amongst the strife. I'm sewing today...wish me luck. Btw the glasses are my MIL s, I know!!!

Lizzie said...

Hey, that's great - a bookful of newspaper cuttings. Now you can scrap the "Then & Now" stories, using scanned "Real" images!! Don't forget to collect some cuttings from the current Jubilee too...

I loved your "then & now" Sian - things really have changed so much in the last 35 years (including us!)

Jennifer Grace said...

This is a nice post, it's fun to think of the changes that have taken place. Though I wasn't around for the silver jubilee a lot of these things remind me of my early childhood. x

humel said...

This is a really interesting post, Sian! For me, THEN the whole thing passed me by because I was too young to notice it - NOW I really enjoyed following the whole thing, and hope those memories will stay!

Gem's Crafts said...

I wasn't around then for the Silver Jubilee, but I'm enjoying the celebrations this year :) we caught the tail end of the concert last night, and we've had the BBC coverage on all day today. It just makes me sad that we haven't had a street party or anything.

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a fantastic post today Sian! I didn't even notice the silver jubilee I'm afraid. ON Sunday, Paul and I really enjoyed the TV broadcast while drinking coffee and eating breakfast. My favorite part was when they sang "God Save the Queen," and I could see the grandsons singing along. The Queen seemed to tear up!
Rinda

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

Love this Sian :o) Like Jacky, my bunting was paper on both occasions. Courtesy of Rob Ryan this time though and not my box of crayons!
I was only thinking yesterday, that I have lots of great memories from the Silver Jubilee, but the Golden one seemed to have passed me by!
PS I have one of those badges too.

Ruth said...

A most excellent post!
And you've got me thinking ...
And is that the postcard I sent?

Rhona said...

I was in South Africa in 1977 but have loved being here for the Diamond Jubilee :) xx

Carmen said...

I was but a bubba then :) Born in the february! In some ways it's absolutely amazing how things have changed so quickly and yet in other ways stayed the same.

Alison said...

I was just saying to mum that I vaguely remember the Silver Jubilee (I was in my last year at High School, so I reckon it wasn't high on my list of interests at the time!) , but the Golden one I have no memories of at all.
Alison xx

Barbara Eads said...

Sian,
I enjoyed your "then and now" post. I remember the neighbors across the street were the first ones to have a color tv. They let all of us kids crowd in on Friday nights to watch The Flintstones. I'd almost forgotten. That gives me an idea for a scrapbook page. Thanks!

Wanda said...

What a fun post! It sounds to me as if most of the "now" things are an improvement but it is good to know that some things don't change, most especially your passion for scrapbooking!

Sue Althouse said...

Wonderful contrasts between then and now! Even across the pond, I am totally caught up in this. Love the history and pageantry.

Karen said...

This was the perfect opportunity for a "then and now" post. Makes me wonder what I might do with the same idea.

Nathalie said...

Loved this!!! I love it as much as I love Then and Now scrapbook pages! (and that's a lot!) :D

Melissa said...

What wonderful recollections and comparisons of the two celebrations.

Sandra said...

How do you always make me smile with your posts :) ooohhhh how I remember all those things

Lou said...

This is a lovely post Sian - and will there be a Then and Now layout to go with it?:) x

Ginger said...

Yes - I did watch the boats and the Queen looked like she was quite enjoying the celebrations. Too bad Prince Phillip was hospitalized, but happy to hear he is on the mend :)

Anonymous said...

What an interesting post Sian - how neat to see the comparisons of then and now. Sorry I'm late.

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