THIS poem, entitled The Good Old Days, was passed to me by a reader. It appeared in the Examiner in the 1980s.

We met and we married a long time ago,

We worked for long hours, wages were low.

No TV, no wireless, no bath, times were hard,

Just a cold water tap, and a walk in the yard.

No holiday abroad, no carpets on the floor,

We had coal on the fire, no locks on the door.

Our children arrived, no pill in those days,

And we brought them up without state aid.

They were safe going out to play in the park,

And old folk could go for a walk in the dark.

No valium, no drugs, no LSD

We cured our ills with a good cup of tea.

No vandals, no muggings, there was nothing to rob.

We felt we were rich with a couple of bob.

People were happier in those far off days,

Kinder and caring in so many ways.

Milkmen and paper-boys would whistle and sing,

A night at the pictures was our one mad fling.

We all got our share of trouble and strife,

We all had to face it, that’s the pattern of life.

Now I’m alone, I look back through the years,

I don’t think of the bad times, troubles and tears.

I remember the blessings, our home and our love,

And that we shared them together, I thank God above.