“Where are you kids off to?”
“We’re going over to the O’Reagan’s” I shouted as I headed for my bike.
“We’re gonna jol arlies!” my brother shouted as his bike swung into the road. (Translation: We’re gonna play marbles!)
“Listen for my whistle!” That was how we knew when it was time to head for home. We could be a whole block away but as soon as we heard my Mother’s clear whistle echoing over the roof tops that meant one thing – home! My brother and I both knew how to whistle back and we would whistle, mutter: “Damn it!” and head for home.
The O’Reagan’s lived four houses away and they had a great garden. Countless afternoons were spent playing marbles and cricket there. I wasn’t much good at cricket and grew sick of fielding that damned ball from every bush in sight. But I was ace at marbles! My legs would be open in a vee and a pile of ten marbles would have been expertly built in this conical structure in the front. “Shymapadda ten man!” I would call out, “C’mon, any takers? Nikkie anything under the sun.” That was a way of ensuring that everyone stood at the correct distance and there was no cheating! I was great at marbles but my brother, Patch, was inevitably in a class of his own. I managed to rake in only four marbles before his marble smashed into my conical ten with an accuracy and ease that was startling.
“Ohhh man,” I muttered handing the ten marbles over to him.
I look back at my childhood memories and I smile. Our childhood was filled with expeditions with the neighbourhood kids: on our bikes into the veld; building a fort in a old sewage pipe; playing tok-tokkie; games of cricket on the front lawn; roller skating up and down the road sans helmet and knee pads. We had such fun together.
I now live in a street in George that would have been a perfect playground for us children of forty-four years ago. Today, where are the bicycles? Where are the laughing, chattering, bantering groups of children? Nowhere in sight. Today’s children seem to have a different mind set.
Children don’t roam the streets as we used to. As soon as they have a break from their studies, they are on their cell-phones, X-Box or other computer games. I have watched these computer games. They are incredibly violent and blood thirsty. The child will sit there, his eyes glued to the screen as he is sprayed with bullets and he, in turn, kills man after man either through his machine gun or he could change his weapon to an axe or a wieldy knife! For goodness sakes, I too played games inside as a child. But these games seemed more constructive somehow. We played Monopoly which taught us about money, lending, buying properties, cash flow! I really do believe that violence begets violence. Why don’t computer game designers come up with a less horrifying form of entertainment? Oh glory, I sound like a know it all, disagreeable grand-mother, don’t I?
I was sitting at a restaurant the other day. At the table next to me were a couple of teenagers. They were not behaving in the way I would expect a dating couple to behave: shyly making conversation and laughing at one another’s jokes. No, this couple were facing one another but with their eyes glued to their I-Phones while their fingers tapped furiously away in conversation with whoever was on line with them. Great date, huh? Scintillating conversation! Yeah, yeah, yeah…..
John Breyault, the vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, said:
“Today about 80 percent of teens between 10 and 17 own a cell phone, and about half of those own a smart phone. That’s about twice the rate from just two years ago.”
I am frightened that the youth of today are missing out. They are losing out on the art of conversation. There is the wonderful world of fantasy and imagination that is put into gear when children play with each other. That child spending his free hours glued to his X-Box is interacting with a machine rather than gooning around with friends. The children that I do see on the street walking home from school are all chatting – to their cell phones!
Nowadays most children from the age of ten upwards own a cell phone. We live in South Africa which is a crime infested country. People are mugged and murdered. As a result, children don’t play in the neighbourhood as I used to. Parents drive their children to and from school and take them on play dates. They are only too aware that the cell phones they have given their children to ensure their safety, are prime targets for thieves! Ironic, isn’t it?
In South Africa, children living in locations don’t have this problem. They play outside in the streets without the fear that the middle and upper classes carry with them. The majority of location children don’t own cell phones!
Also, the only muscles that are involved in working a computer game are the muscles in your thumbs! While in England I noticed a preponderance of chubby children. Guaranteed that over there the weather is often not conducive to going outside and exercising. But a large amount of chubbiness comes from sitting in front of a computer screen, a packet of crisps in hand!
I wonder if this a case of simply having to move with the times! Is this similar to how our grandparents thought when television was invented? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for technology. I am a hearing person as a result of my wonderfully constructed Cochlear Implants. But at the same time, I do wish that the children of today could know the pleasure of running from one neighbour to the other and playing in the road until Mum’ whistle drew them inside for their baths.
But don’t we all long for times that have disappeared?
Looking at today’s youngsters I am grateful we grew up when we used our imagination, played with what we found on the beach or in the garden, climbed and sometimes fell from trees, and experienced family love, closeness and communication face to face!
As children, our parents took us to the Wild Coast as it was then known, where we thrived at places like Bashee River Mouth. Unspoilt beaches and simple rondavels. One holiday my brother, 4 years older than me, and his pals collected crabs and put them in their sisters beds! Apple-pieing our beds was another favourite of the boys.
I have photographs taken by my parents of some of these memorable times and they, together with your memories you have shared with us, are real treasures.
Thanks for the memory …
Aahhhhh, Ingride, how wonderful that I managed to stir up such memories. You had a childhood rich in memory that deserved to remembered with joy. Bless your Uncle!
With a smile I kiss your eyes
Gaynor
Oh yes Gaynor, our parents knew the way to bring out the best in us, thanks to their being no ‘modern technology’ as we know it today.
When we were children, our parents would take us to the Wild Coast for the December holidays where we stayed in bungalows at places like Bashee River Mouth. These were ideal family holidays and there were always plenty of other youngsters around of Ken’s and my age. I remember collecting shells and using them in various games, and one time my brother and his friends collected small crabs and having ‘apple-pied’ the girls beds they slipped the crabs into them! If it rained there was always a games room where one could play Ping-pong, or sit and read. At the end of the holiday we would fill up empty bottles with Sea Water to take home for our beloved Elizabeth who helped Mom with the housework.
My Granddad made my friend Mignon and I each a set of stilts by attaching tins onto the sides of planks, which we used to walk on, while screeching with delight. During other holidays, the adults were polite enough to sit through a ‘concert’ we children choreographed for them. Unfortunately they had been subjected to our numerous practice sessions for weeks beforehand, but we still got an encore at the end.
Despite our lack of TV, Cell phones, computers etc. we all grew up healthy, happy and a lot less stressed than modern youngsters are. I am grateful that our 2 granddaughters have been brought up in the old-fashioned way and although they both have cellphones they use correct grammar and spelling when sms-ing, they both love reading books and prefer non-fiction, the younger one excels in sport and the older one loves nature.
Gaynor, remind me to describe some of my mis spent youth’s games…kennikie, bok bok staan styf, and tou trek ( not tug o war), riding a bike seated on handle bars and pedalling backwards, dryfentjies, Klei lat gooi ….most banned eventually…considered dangerous!!! I survived!! We also made our own kites, built and flew model aeroplanes, plaster of paris models and figurines which we painted, and oh yes I was the only girl in this crowd.
Oh yes, Gaynor our childhood days were far less complicated and there were always plenty of friends to interact and play with.
Amongst other things, my Grandfather attached tins to the side of two long boards, and my friend Mignon and I, walked with these contraptions all around her back garden screaming with delight! We gave concerts at the end of the year in the holidays, to the adults who had had to put up with our practising for many weeks before, but they always gave us an encore!
My Mom was born in the Transkei and for the December holidays we would drive from Pretoria to Kei River Mouth, or Bashee River Mouth and stay in bungalows. The days were spent collecting shells, swimming, laughing and playing. One holiday my brother Ken who is 4 years older than me, and his friends collected small crabs from the beach and put them into the girls beds which had been ‘apple-pied’ by the boys.
We grew up with a knowing how to share, imaginative minds, a love of books and reading, being independent and could actually talk to people of any age.
I am very grateful that our daughter and son-in-law have brought up their two girls with these principals. The outdoor life is something they all love, whether it is in their own garden, the sports field or going for walks and outings as a family. Although both girls have cell phones their use is restricted by themselves as are movies.
Unfortunately today’s children grow up far too quickly.
Our children grew up in the ‘old’ Llandudno valley and you could hear Moms’ whistles echo right across the valley down to the beach – they still a.acknowledge what a privilege it was to have the beach as their playground. Thanks for helping me reminisce..
Their “old” Llandudno valley childhood must have been something else, Margo!
With a smile I kiss your eyes
Gaynor
Aha Gaynor you have touched a chord that resonates with me having 4 grandsons aged 13 and under. I too am concerned about their ability to interact socially and directly with their peers due to these modern trends. Fortunately they have sensible parents who ensure that free time is not absorbed with tech toys to the extent that my son has cancelled TV subscriptions and they may only watch what he selects via another medium… no smartphones…and they play cricket, monopoly, skate board and golf, amongst other things! There is hope…if parents participate in their lives and don’t surrender them to technology and are fearless about peer pressure by making them secure and loved. As you so correctly allude to..the gap between the haves and have nots creates other issues as well.
Ahhhh, sweet Jan! Your children sound divine parents. Cricket, Momopoly, skateboarding…..You are right – there is hope!!!
With a smile I kiss your eyes
Gaynor
Hi Gaynor,
I loved your descrtiption of marbles…I used to play marbels but son’t remember the words you used…perhpas the game of marbles and its language evolved……..but like you we used to play in the neighborhoood…and like you i used to play cricket……a story here…
Many years ago a show i was in toured to port Elizabeth – city of my birth and I met up with my cousin and his good friend at a bar over the show. Suddenly his friend turned to me and said “I have to get something off my chest.” I looked at him…mystified…I hadn’t seen him in years. He went on, ” We were playing cricket when we were kids, you were bowling, I went into bat and you got me out first ball and you stood with your hands on your hips and shouted, “Next!” I laughed…I told him i had to play the best I could because I was the only girl in my cousin’s cricket team./…I was an absolute tomboy. Thanks to my cousin’s father. Whatever he taught his son, he taught me, how to swim on a rimpie stoel…how to hit a golf ball (can’t do that anymore.) how to play cricket and how to shoot an air gun and how to behave around firearms. We used to go on holidays to a sheep farm …bird hunting..2.2. rifles were all part of exciting happy lholidays.
I borrowed skates…and loved the noise of the steel on the pavement. I learnt to ride a boy’s bike (never had one – ) but children shared and were happy to lend if you didn’t have. We also uyed to go to Happy Valley on bikes…i would be given a ride….can’t remember how…but we managed…..and there was joy!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were always children around……………
But today it is a different world………
Not only in South Africa…..but in all major cities. I think that in the small villages you will still find that comeraderie. Here in Israel there is a great emphasis on Youth Movements – especially in the smaller towns…those lying outside Tel Aviv….,.but you are right about the cell phone…but perhaps some teenagers will start a movment about not spending so much time glued to their cell phones.
Thank you for stirring memroes of a childlhood…in a city I loved. Port Elizabeth.
take care
Love Ingride
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