I was born in 1950 and feel really blessed for that, because I was born 'after' the war but still in the period where most families struggled to get by because rationing was still in the air and toast and jam for dinner seemed like a treat.
I grew up in a little (then) village called Wargrave in Berkshire (UK) where literally 'everyone' knew one another, their names, their occupations, whether they were C of E, Catholic or Jew, and whether they were the very-very rich or the very-very poor, and some in the middle. Not that we realised that at the time. It wasn't until you got to 'secondary school' that you were really aware of the contrast.
Now while I later found out, our family tied for equal billing with another family in the village as the poorest of the poor, it never affected my outlook on life or my place in it. I thought I was invincible and lived my childhood as though that was fact. Because of the rich families Wargrave always had a regular influx of visitors from other counties and other countries with varied ethnicities, and me being 'Mr Over-confident' used to make it my purpose to befriend these families before anyone else got a look in. (Though at the time I didn't realise that 'that' was what was happening, it kept me very busy and very fulfilled during school holidays).
Although I certainly had many friends in my own 'social group', most of my friends were the rich kids from the 'bottom end', (probably because my Mum did housework and my Dad was the gardener for several of the families down there). It wasn't until I got to secondary school and mixed with kids from other schools that I soon found out I was a little different. I was the scruffy kid, in the top stream, who spoke with a plum in his mouth. I used to get ragged about it frequently and had to put people in their place, usually in the middle of the playground with all the other kids in a big crowd around us chanting 'fight' - 'fight' - 'fight' until I either won or a teacher managed to seperate us. Rich kids are usually pretty tough and are taught from an early age 'how' to fight and 'how' to defend themselves at Prep' and Boarding School so it was only natural that they passed these skills on to me. (And very grateful I was too).
Back in the day life was certainly a lot more simple than it is today. Children these days are really suffering emotionally and psychologically because of the enormous pressures placed on them via Social Media, the Political Correctness lobby, the Thought Police, and the Anti-Homophobia brigade. When we were kids, the only thing we needed to worry about was being caught scrumping, bunking off school and whether we got back home in time for dinner and tea. Other than that, life was generally a breeze and a real-life adventure every day for most of us.
Also, there were 'no' pressures at school. We were taught to a generally good level from the age of five up until the age of fifteen. Most people born in my era are well educated, competent at spelling and maths, (usually in our head as well), and as we know, most Baby-Boomers have never had it so good, (according to the Media) If we wanted GCE's or CSE exam passes we stayed on an extra year or sometimes another two, but the choice was always 'ours' not the Nanny-State as it is NOW!
I can't possibly imagine how kids must feel these days being told they 'have' to remain in education until at 'least' the age of eighteen and 'then' to be told that if they don't get to go to University afterwards that somehow - they are Social-Failures? Perhaps someone should have told Alan Sugar and Richard Branson (to name just two) that!
Another complete and utter failure in society these days is the fact that our children are being denied a childhood and parents are being denied the 'special bonding' that we, the Baby-Boomers were able to enjoy, because now 'both' parents are expected to go out to work leaving the children in the care of total strangers, whether that be play-school, nursery or child-minders who are never going to be able to show these children any 'love' or 'affection' because Child Abuse charges will made against them if they do.
The UK government are now preparing to make it 'enforceable' to place children into nurseries/schools from the age of TWO! .... How is THAT! ever a good idea? At the time of writing 2018, we are still being governed by a thoroughly heartless Tory government who have ruled with an iron-fist called 'Austerity' - the tool that is bringing the vast majority of the population down to the level of 'servitude' to this cruel regime where homelessness has become so normal that the general public are becoming blind to it. (Until it affects them).
But at the back of everyones mind is the thought that if interest rates rise too much, or they lose their under-paid, insecure Zero-Contract job that they too will be homeless, so they comply without complaint and feel they daren't speak up or protest about putting their child in the care of another person/institute at the age of JUST TWO because they fear losing the 'only' security left for them - their HOME!
Some might call me cynical, a conspiracy theorist tin-foil-hat-wearing nutter, but please ... sit in a dark room on your own. Start to doodle with a pen and paper, allow your mind to empty for a few minutes and then ask yourself the simple question - WHY? .... I can assure you that Jiminy-Cricket will be sitting on your shoulder and he'll explain to you 'exactly' what's going on. You won't like it. The truth is often the most painful thing to hear, but when he tells you your children are being 'groomed' by the STATE to be dumbed-down and brain-washed so that the STATE can programme 'your children' to obey their commands and instructions fed to them via Social Media, please take him seriously as he'll never lie to you. HE is your conscience, the only thing you have left (at present) that you can really TRUST! and call your OWN!
If you're not already there - I'll catch You over at venbunce.com
All the very best .... Ven Bunce.
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