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Wednesday 8 May 2013

Memories are made of this ...

The other day I was driving through the main road of our little town, and glancing to the right, noticed an old building which used to house the 'Co-op' Cafe.  This was a place I used to go with my workmates on payday, but as a child, its doors were never entered ... except for the one time that I remember.

It was a hot sunny day in the middle of the summer holidays in the late sixties, and I would be about eight years old. My Dad said he had a surprise for us, so to make ourselves presentable ... my lovely Mam busied herself getting us ready (there were four of us, so no mean feat) and off we went in the car. Mam, Dad, Uncle Johnnie (my Godfather, and the kindest, most patient man you ever could meet) and the four of us.  Seat belts not required in those days, and overloading didn't seem to exist either ... we only ever had small cars, either Morris Minors or an Austin A40, certainly nothing like a people carrier! Three adults and 4 children crammed into a small car probably designed to contain four people comfortably; but no-one seemed to mind ... we were off on a jolly!


Our first stop was the Co-op Cafe.  We entered its hallowed portal and walked up the red carpeted stairway.  It was a lovely, old school cafe with white linen, polished silver and waitresses in black with starched pinnies.  Nowadays, children are used to eating out on a regular basis.  Then it was a very rare occurrence.  Holidays and high days were very special occasions, and this was completely out of the blue, I think that's why it's ingrained in my memory.

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We had a 3-course dinner, I remember the main course was a roast of some kind ... I won't lie and say that I remember every detail of the meal, only that it was delicious!

Fed and watered, we once again piled into the car to go home.  But we didn't go home.  With cries of "where are we going?" ... "are we nearly there yet?", we were told to just wait and see.  Our destination was Morecambe, across the bay from where we lived.  The afternoon was spent in amusement arcades and Louis Tussauds waxwork museum. Our Aunty lived in Blackpool, and we were lucky to holiday at her house every year, but Morecambe was not so familiar.


I never did find out what prompted this impromptu treat, we often went for runs out in the car, to the the beach, The Lakes, Chester Zoo, Blackpool of course ... but we always took a picnic, which was a treat in itself, and we were very fortunate that we had a car and could do these things.  It was the lunch out at a posh place that was so eventful! Children nowadays would probably roll their eyes as eating out is so commonplace, and hardly viewed as a treat at all ... how different it was then ... and how special.

After a late tea of fish and chips on the prom, we rolled home, tired but happy, storing away memories of A Grand Day Out.

Love Claire xxx




26 comments:

  1. those were the days, my treats were the same, a day out in the car was a huge treat for me! Lovely post!

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  2. this is so lovely Claire, such happy memories and yes we are spoilt for choice now, I remember going to London zoo with my Grandad it was such a treat, I think My too have been to the zoo more times than they can remember...how have we got it all so wrong I wonder???? xx :-) xx

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  3. Tithe highlight of our year was the local pub seaside trip! We would be beside ourselves with excitement, unable to sleep the night before! We'd all pile on to the coach, lots of songs were sung...then the best bit, a packet of crisps, bottle of fizzy pop and an envelope with a pound note inside! This was the only holiday I ever got to go on with my Mum...I have very happy memories of those days out! Thanks for the reminder! :) x

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  4. ~ I was with you all.... virtually of course, Mrs Thriftwood!~ because I not only remember the 'coop' cafe, but I worked in it in later years when it became Dixon's cafe! hehe....Ooh happy days....~ Grand ones too, we thought! ~ Lovely Nostalgia here in this post, Mrs, And Morecambe and Happy mount park... were just the place to visit!~ Leaving with a smile :) Maria x

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  5. What a lovely memory you have there Claire.

    It reminds me of my own childhood. There was four of us kids too and my parents didn't drive or afford to take us away really. But very occasionally about once a year we would all go out to a local restaurant for a evening meal. It was always a lovely and fun time for us all.

    It is true that my girls are more used to being taken out for meals though maybe not as often as some. It is still seen by us as very much a treat. And to be honest can be very dear in some of these places and the food not really up to the standard they are charging. Oh dear that makes me sound like a right snooty bat! lol. But its the treat element that we do it for and it does make such lovely memories!

    Thanks for sharing yours with us!


    P x

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  6. Oh Claire I really enjoyed reading about your Grand Day out. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Isn't it lovely when we can remember such great memories. I think your right we don't appreciate or enjoy things as much today. I was reminded of a time when I visited a tea shop in Preston as a child. All the waitresses had black and white uniforms with white frilly hats. It seemed very exciting then. Hope your having a lovely week.
    Ali x

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  7. My mum and I used to have lunch out, from when I was about eight to my mid-teens. Whenever we went out for the morning, it always included lunch in a coffee bar called The Moroccan, in Fleetwood. I can remember it to this day, wallpaper very kitsch nowadays, with palm trees and sand I vaguely remember. Coffee or tea in smoked brown coloured glass cups and saucers. Kunzle cakes... anyone remember those? A chocolate cup filled with sponge and buttercream, utterly sinful they would seem today, but nothing unusual back in the late 50s to mid 60s. And then when my father was home we always went out for an evening meal... once a month, again from my being about eight years old. I was allowed a small sip of wine with water added until I was about 13 then it was neat! Lobster thermidor my Dad used to love, I couldn't stand the sight of it personally.
    Brought back many memories this post...Morecambe I remember well, Blackpool of course, and the Lakes would be my choice of a second home.

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  8. What lovely memories for you. I remember going to a 'proper' restaurant for the first time on my 8th birthday. I felt so grown-up! M x

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  9. A lovely story from your childhood! We used to go to Morecombe sometimes (from Stockport), and Blackpool and Chester Zoo! It's no treat at all to go out for a meal now is it, for today's youngsters? - shame really. x

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  10. I love to reminisce about childhood days.Do you think our memories play tricks on us or were they much simpler pleasures? We got pleasure out of such things which were mostly the odd treat and as you say kids today take such outings for granted.I love going up to see my mum and dad because apart from anything else we inevitably end up saying 'do you remember.....?' Thanks for sharing the memory Claire XX

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  11. What a wonderful memory Claire, you all must have been so excited..
    I know what you mean, these days kids take it as a given that they will eat out...so sad that things have changed
    Thea x

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  12. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories.... Sarah x

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  13. Thanks for sharing that wonderful memory. A treat for me as a child was 'Chicken and Chips' in Woolworths Cafe with my lovely Nana. Boy oh boy that was good living! xxx

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  14. Super memory- our posh eat out was Rowntrees(now Debenhams) and Marshall and Snell grove, both in Scarborough.

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  15. What a lovely story of memories Claire! I too remember sitting in my grandads morris minor with no seatbelt. Oh how times have changed. Karen x

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  16. you would have been considered rich by the child Pam,to have a car what luxury!The car journey I remember was a lift home for us by my Uncle Ben and seeing all the yellow lights at nightime go whizzing past.As for the car,it had four wheels and was blue I think!!(ha ha!)Memories are the best photo album!'Bye for now Pam.

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  17. Your memories were lovely to read and your picture of the Austin A40 made me smile it was just like my husbands first car.
    Sarah x

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  18. What a wonderful memory of such a happy day for you! My parents didn't once take us out to a restaurant, and I believe my first actual restaurant visit was when I was a teenager with my girlfriends to a pizza place "Mother's Pizza". But my parents did enjoy taking us out for lots of trips around though (with packed sandwiches!), so can't complain. Wendy

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  19. What beautiful memories of youth,
    we had fun with nothing and was
    much better!
    Susy Love x

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  20. What a wonderful post, Claire! I feel happier just by reading it! Such memories to treasure. We didn't eat out that much when I was a child and I have such vivid memories of certain meals and restaurants, even down to the food I ate! x

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  21. What a super day out and so well told! We had days out to Blackpool when I was a child, I remember getting up to catch a coach in the early hours (probably 6am)from our home near Stoke. Great days though.

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  22. Reading this Claire makes me want to go holiday and eat fish and chips! Dxx

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  23. How lovely Claire ! I think I only ever went in the co-op cafe once for "afternoon tea" but what a fabulous building . Mmmm could just do with some fish and chips on the prom right now ! somehow it always seemed to be sunny when we went to Morecambe ..happy memories ! have a nice weekend...Gail x

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  24. that's lovely Claire. i'd love a day out like that right now actually, with a bit of sunshine! not so easy to have days like that when there's teenagers on board, but it would be lovely! Heather x

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  25. oh so glad you found me because it's meant I found you back! you are so right, do you know as a kid i only ever ate out once with my family...my mum was a cook and couldn't ever bear to pay for somebody else to feed us! needless to say i now don't cook and my favourite thing to do is eat out...rebellious childhood kickback lol! lovely blog, so excited to find you xxxxxx

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  26. Hi Claire,

    What a lovely memory! Now and then we had outings like this with the family as well. When I look back at them they fill me with joy.

    Thank you for your kind comment on my last post. It made me blush :-)

    Hope you had a lovely Mother's day!

    Happy new week,

    Madelief x

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I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx