Nostalgia........Great chat with my Uncle today.

[mattydski 560]

Just spent an hour on the phone to an Elderly uncle (86).... Its always great to chat with him.. He was more of a father to me when I was growing up. He started me fishing, and engineering and other things Dads normally do. We shared the same hobbies, we share the same career, and now it appears that we have more in common that we have never really discussed.

 

He was telling me about my grandfather, who also kept ferrets..... and now........he tells me..........whippet crosses that he used for ferreting.

 

He was telling me about all my grandfather's brothers as well, that had their own lines of rabbit catching dogs, bred from generations etc...

 

Now I don't know how much of this is artistic license, but he was telling tales of 300 rabbit days, and my grandfather sat in front of the fire knitting his nets. Apparently they alsospent Boxing days shooting rabbits with a 'Double Barrelled Gun' of some description...

 

He was also telling me tales of how he had to go out and sell Rabbits at folks doorsteps for a shilling a piece, before he went to school. And having to skin and gut them on the doorsteps for people.

 

Apparently my grandfather was also a renowned local ferret breeder ..whose ferrets were always in great demand..

 

I only had my grandfather till I was 4, but I really wish I could have spent more time with him..

 

 

 

Not much has changed through the generations then

 

Must be in the blood..

[mackem 27,574]

Met an old guy on Gib day a few weeks ago,dodgy legs,rheumy eyes(him,not me)and a little bit hard of hearing,could have kept an audience spellbound for hours with tales of the korean war,a self effacing quite old guy but what a pleasure to meet him,age brings wisdom,experience,and character to many,your grandad was probably the same Matty,lots to learn from these sort of people,sadly they are often gone by the time we realise this.

[gnasher16 30,470]

Met an old guy on Gib day a few weeks ago,dodgy legs,rheumy eyes(him,not me)and a little bit hard of hearing,could have kept an audience spellbound for hours with tales of the korean war,a self effacing quite old guy but what a pleasure to meet him,age brings wisdom,experience,and character to many,your grandad was probably the same Matty,lots to learn from these sort of people,sadly they are often gone by the time we realise this.

 

Absolutely right.....im not big on pubs but often go in a chosen few just to sit nattering ( mostly listening ) to the ol boys in their 70,s and ,s i find them fascinating.....great source of learning as well ......They are a generation who will be sorely missed by our society.......our society just dont know it yet !

Edited October 11, 2011 by gnasher16

[mattydski 560]

Met an old guy on Gib day a few weeks ago,dodgy legs,rheumy eyes(him,not me)and a little bit hard of hearing,could have kept an audience spellbound for hours with tales of the korean war,a self effacing quite old guy but what a pleasure to meet him,age brings wisdom,experience,and character to many,your grandad was probably the same Matty,lots to learn from these sort of people,sadly they are often gone by the time we realise this.

thats a fact mate....too many folk in too much of a rush these days.....life just seems to travel so much faster than it used too...

[NEWKID 27,545]

I got agree with all of you, I'd much rather listen to an old boy's stories than the shit most of the lads spout.

I always had older friends growing up and was taken rabbiting, fishing ect with older blokes I loved the stories, snaring salmon or poaching rabbits ect

My grandfather was born in Black rock near Dundalk in Ireland and brought the house he was born in later in life, once my old man and him settled their differences we would visit when I was a Teen. My grandad was a boy for sure he netted the estuary for salmon or set long lines for "flukes" ( flatfish), he spent a couple of months in nick at 71 for non payment of fines for salmon netting, he told me there was no way he was paying for something his Dad and his Grandad had done before so went to nick and done his time, came out and was back at it.

He would sit at the table looking out of the window accross the estuary, with just a burning ember which started as a roll up sat on his lip and tell me stories, I was spell bound, I don't know if they were all true but I'd like to think most were. I carried the coffin when he died although he was far from the perfect Dad or grandad I miss his stories and dry sense of humour.

[mattydski 560]

I got agree with all of you, I'd much rather listen to an old boy's stories than the shit most of the lads spout.

I always had older friends growing up and was taken rabbiting, fishing ect with older blokes I loved the stories, snaring salmon or poaching rabbits ect

My grandfather was born in Black rock near Dundalk in Ireland and brought the house he was born in later in life, once my old man and him settled their differences we would visit when I was a Teen. My grandad was a boy for sure he netted the estuary for salmon or set long lines for "flukes" ( flatfish), he spent a couple of months in nick at 71 for non payment of fines for salmon netting, he told me there was no way he was paying for something his Dad and his Grandad had done before so went to nick and done his time, came out and was back at it.

He would sit at the table looking out of the window accross the estuary, with just a burning ember which started as a roll up sat on his lip and tell me stories, I was spell bound, I don't know if they were all true but I'd like to think most were. I carried the coffin when he died although he was far from the perfect Dad or grandad I miss his stories and dry sense of humour.

[poacher3161 1,766]

Listening to the tales from the older generation makes you realise how much the countrys changed and not for the better.

[staffs riffraff 1,068]

I have huge respect for MOST of the old folk always love hearing about what it was like in 40s 50s etc and you are too right gnasher they will be sorely missed when there gone my generation n the ones bit younger than me treat them badly which should not be allowed

[mackem 27,574]

he spent a couple of months in nick at 71 for non payment of fines for salmon netting, he told me there was no way he was paying for something his Dad and his Grandad had done before so went to nick and done his time, came out and was back at it.

Some of the most interesting people have spent a little time inside,he sounds a character,as we become more civilised such individuals are becoming rarer.

[NEWKID 27,545]

Met an old guy on Gib day a few weeks ago,dodgy legs,rheumy eyes(him,not me)and a little bit hard of hearing,could have kept an audience spellbound for hours with tales of the korean war,a self effacing quite old guy but what a pleasure to meet him,age brings wisdom,experience,and character to many,your grandad was probably the same Matty,lots to learn from these sort of people,sadly they are often gone by the time we realise this.

 

Absolutely right.....im not big on pubs but often go in a chosen few just to sit nattering ( mostly listening ) to the ol boys in their 70,s and ,s i find them fascinating.....great source of learning as well ......They are a generation who will be sorely missed by our society.......our society just dont know it yet !

 

100% spot on mate...... I'd give pretty much anything to spend some more time with the people who helped shape my future, the problem is you think they're gonna be here forever then one day bang! they're gone.

[mattydski 560]

Listening to the tales from the older generation makes you realise how much the countrys changed and not for the better.

for some reason, its not considered 'HIP' 'COOL' '[bANNED TEXT] THE STREETS' to spend time with old folk................Bollocks in my opinion...

Youngsters can learn alot... these folk HAD to be self sufficient.....and were missing out....

[NEWKID 27,545]

he spent a couple of months in nick at 71 for non payment of fines for salmon netting, he told me there was no way he was paying for something his Dad and his Grandad had done before so went to nick and done his time, came out and was back at it.

Some of the most interesting people have spent a little time inside,he sounds a character,as we become more civilised such individuals are becoming rarer.

 

He was a character for sure mate, pretty much all of black rock was smoking baccy or cigs that he had brought in on his little orkney fishing boat after late night rendevous at sea

[poacher3161 1,766]

I also think nowadays a lot of the older generation carnt be arsed to converse with the younger generation due to the lack of respect from the younger generation.

[mattydski 560]

I also think nowadays a lot of the older generation carnt be arsed to converse with the younger generation due to the lack of respect from the younger generation.

probably true as well.....

[NEWKID 27,545]

I also think nowadays a lot of the older generation carnt be arsed to converse with the younger generation due to the lack of respect from the younger generation.

probably true as well.....

 

I can't be arsed to converse with most of the younger generation and I'm only 35