Generation changes

[Happy Lady]

The evolution of the mobile

First we were told there was a mobile, looked like the size of a brick, that was wire-less. Only the rich and companies used them. Then we laughed as they reduced in size.

Then we could send texts. Store contacts too, and even load our emails AND use the internet - on our phones.

Before long they introduced phones that could take pictures! No way, we thought. But it wasn't long before they also took videos. Then ... We could face time. Blimey how things progressed.

Hey, they told us we could order our groceries on line, and use our mobiles for on-line banking. A company called Amazon would store and deliver just about anything we ordered on line.

Then ... We had COVID and bar codes became the norm - only way to order drinks and food as we couldn't go to the bar. . Now bar codes are everywhere.

Where will it end? I love my mobile and don't know what I'd do without it, but I didn't have one until 2003.

 

[Ilovemusic]

"Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end...

Tenement living, grandparents lived above us (granny was one of nine, grandad one of five), other relatives lived few closes down, rest of family nearby. No bathroom but we had an inside toilet, kids washed in sink, adults went to the "baths". No appliances, mothers went to the "steamie" (wash house) to do the weekly laundry, I remember going with my mum and sitting on the bench waiting.
We moved to a "New Town" when my dad was promoted, brand new house, front/back gardens, bathroom, kitchen, living room, three bedrooms, heating! My new build school had so many windows I thought it was made entirely from glass. Unfortunately the downside was moving away from relatives, only thirty miles but felt like a hundred back then.

 

[Ineedmorecoffee]

I think it's noticeable how our consumption of media has changed. Waiting each week for the next episode of a series, even going to the cinema isn't so much of a thing now as films are streaming at nearly the same time as they were at the cinema. Especially since Covid. Watching the 6 o'clock news.

I made my work colleague laugh the other day as we are watching Trigger Point on itv every Sunday. She and her husband binged it over 3 nights! I love being old school with shows like this, makes it more exciting to have it to look forward to.

 

[Ilovemusic]

I miss the vending machines with little sweets on the streets and chocolate bar vending machines in bus stations.

You would love Japan then, vending machines galore, even in countryside/forests!

 

[Happy Lady]

@Millie Moo you are so right about doctors appointments. I always remember the days when appointments to see a GP weren't needed. We just turned up. Patients needing surgery only waited a few weeks during which time they'd been referred to the hospital, attended an initial consultation and had any tests carried out that were required.

 

[Kim Mild]

I was born in the early 80s.
We didn't have central heating. We had a raeburn in the kitchen, but in the late 80s it was changed to a smokeless /coke fire. We had calor gas fires in the bedroom. Also had a twin tub ,and a b/w portable when I was tiny. We had a landlines, a rotary phone. Our kitchen was fairly large and had a big table but the bench was tiny and we didn't have a fitted kitchen, just a pantry , a cupboard next to the chimney breast and a sideboard.

My dad always had a car when I was young. When I was born , he had a 1960as car
I got my first mobile phone in 2000. I didn't have a home computer til 2006 ,it was my partners and I rarely used it. All my gcse and a level work was handwritten.

 

[Piff paff puff]

When we were young, there seemed to be only a few dogs roaming the street. I didn't know anyone who owned one. By the 70s and 80s there were loads of dogs, but there were no rules then about always having them on leads so they just wandered about - like cats do now. And dog poo was everywhere!

Now they must be registered, chipped, walked on leads (in some places), neutered if rescued, and if we see a dog on its own we report it. I can't remember XL dogs back in the day. Mind you a Rocky can frighten the life out of me.

I don't know if dogs are now happier but they are definitely safer, and at least owners know what they've been fed. As years ago dogs would wander into other people's gardens and homes, and receive treats from all over the place.

My neighbour seemed to have a new dog every few months back in the day. I'm sure she ran out of money to feed them and took them to the vet to be put to sleep and a while later when she had money again you'd see a different one!

 

[Rosie glow]

When my husband was small his family lived in an old farmhouse with an outside toilet and no bath he remembers having an old tin bath in the front room in front of an open fire that was topped up with a kettle

 

[Happy Lady]

When we were young, there seemed to be only a few dogs roaming the street. I didn't know anyone who owned one. By the 70s and 80s there were loads of dogs, but there were no rules then about always having them on leads so they just wandered about - like cats do now. And dog poo was everywhere!

Now they must be registered, chipped, walked on leads (in some places), neutered if rescued, and if we see a dog on its own we report it. I can't remember XL dogs back in the day. Mind you a Rocky can frighten the life out of me.

I don't know if dogs are now happier but they are definitely safer, and at least owners know what they've been fed. As years ago dogs would wander into other people's gardens and homes, and receive treats from all over the place.