General Chat

I never went with the lorry Bob, as Nan went for 6 weeks or so I think, my Dad had a car, which was quite rare then, so we just used to go down for days, in fact I have a photo of the car, parked in the middle of London, with not another car in sight, how times have changed :-D

Times HAVE changed, indeed, I have some old photos of the street l lived in near west ham speedway stadium. only two vehicles parked at the kerb ,

1 delivering to a greengrocers,
and a short distance away, A motorbike!

Yes Lynda, the castle was one of my childhood play areas.

We lived opposite the local pub, they turned the village hall into a 'Hopper's Inn' and I remember watching out of my bedroom window as some, with a few too many hop's inside them, danced and sang on the village green.

We tracked our years by the work done, not the months

Hill pegging
Stringing & banding
Hop training Firsting
Hop training Seconding

Heading
Picking
Bine Cutting
In the Oast - mending the pokes returned from the brewery & blanket stitching the side that they had cut open.


If asked when my Birthday was, Dad's reply was always "The day the Hoppers went home 19**"

:-D

The castle is lovely Carole, lucky you for living so near. We have a hop museum not far away from me, I always intend to go, but never do. I'll make an effort this year as you never know I might find a photo of my Nan there, or the farm :-D