大象传媒

I started school in 1943. I lived about 1/2 mile from the school gates.
We had been told that if we were on the way to school when the Air Raid Siren went we should go onto school or home, whichever was the nearer.
I would dawdle to school, especially after a home 'dinner', hoping that the Air Raid Siren would sound, so that I could 'legitematly' miss school.
One day, when about to cross the threshold of the school gates, my wishes were granted... The Siren!
Although only 2 steps short of the gate, I turned tale and scooted off home, joyful to miss the afternoon school!
I loved the Saturday Morning Flicks. Every Saturday, clutching my 6d, off I went to the Odeon, South Harrow.
Then my wickedness in hoping for an Air Raid Siren revisited me.... the Doodle Bugs started and Saturday Morning Flicks were suspended for about 9 months, only to be resumed in 1945.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing 'War'at my friend Broderick's house, with my mates Mick and
Brod(erick). Then one day, whilst hiding behind an armchair I made a wonderful discovery... a real 'Tommy' Gun!
Brod's Dad was in the Home Guard and had hidden his weapon there.
Brod was mortified, 'cos he knew that was a definite 'No! No!'
I wasn't invited again!
Sometimes Mick & I would go and fetch Mick's Sister, Jen, from the Day Nursery, near the school. Then these two 6 year olds would push Jen in the pushchair to my house, where we'd all play on the kitchen floor (the only warm room in the house at 4-15pm!) Imagine that today!
I was a very philosophical 5 year old! I felt that, as the term 'Germans' or 'Gerrys' was almost a swear word, they probably called us 'Germans'in retaliation.
Even late on in the War we would be woken by an Air Raid Siren in the middle of the night, we'd all troop downstairs.
When the drone of an aircraft overhead was heard, my Father would listen and then pronounce: 'It's one of ours!' or occasionally: 'Sounds like a Gerry!' (All to do with the synchronisation of the engines I realise now)
To this day, if awake in the early hours as a Mail 'plane drones over, I'll say to myself: 'Sounds like one of ours!'

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