Manchester

[tony38337]

One of the things I do from time to time is read through some of the postings that we have all made over the months. In many ways they make excellent reading. Here we are a lifetime later, all sons & daughters of Manchester. Some of us have lived far away for many years and in theory should have adopted customs and practices of where we live now but no. There is such a strong ethos that runs through every Mancunian I have ever met and no matter what part of Manchester we are from we all share the same sort of memories, like the "Chippy , the park, the Bakery" and so on. These are all things burned deep in our memory. What is it about Manchester?

Tony T

[roofingman]

Hi Tony and Tommy.....................Well you take people outa Manchester but you cant take the Manchester outa the people......My French-Canadian grandaughter and my Oklahoma Grandchildren all ask for a chip/jam butty and at nite go to "Bo-Bos".............Ian..vancouver...

[marie fernandes]

:)Hi roffingman, just watched a programme on UK TV HERE with scouser Paul O'Grady. He was talking about sugar butties, OH how I remember them. Also condensed milk butties too. HP sauce butties were a delicacy in the war years. Indeed anything you could find to put on bread, if you had any bread. The kids today would cringe if they had to eat half of what we had to eat. We had a shredded thing called icing glass (probably spelt wrong) that you had to mix in with your marg. to make it go twice as far. And it was SPAM SPAM AND SPAM if you were lucky.

I dont know how old you are but maybe you have heard tales of the shared food we handed round in the bomb shelters. I shouldnt say Happy Days, but it taught you to appreciate things when you received them.

marie. ;D

[Casso]

This could be a subject on its own Marie, I certainly remember sugar butties, and conny onny sarnies (although that could be a term picked up from scouse mates). I luvved fried spam, and also dried egg, must have been the way my Mam did 'em!

Whether it was a wartime thing, I don't know, but a couple of other favourites were an inner lettuce leaf, sprinkled with sugar and rolled up, it made sweet eating. As did a bit of newspaper twirled into a funnel, with cocoa and sugar mixed up. Eaten by licking your finger, sticking it into the mix and starting the routine once more by licking your finger ...

As you say, sauce butties were delicious as were dripping butties, with salt of course.

I think we also had coffee fairly regularly, but it was not given to kids, supposedly because "it wasn't good for you." When I finally got myself a cup of it, I didn't like it anyway. It was that bottled coffee "Camp Coffee and Chicory," (I wonder if our censorious system will print that particular trade name?).

There was the occasional ice cream available, but it was 1945 before I saw my first ice block or ice lolly. That was when Mr Taylor reopened his little ice cream factory, opposite our house in Gloucester Street, off Cross Street as was.

[linda]

Hi all well would you believe one of my residents brought me a bottle of camp coffee only last month I did try it ughhhhh but I mada iced coffee with icecream and that was lovely.
I would like to wish you all Amerry Christmas as I am going away for 4 days and won't be on.

linda

[clancy]

hi Casso, i was watching a show about New Zealand i think it is the most beautiful place i have seen yet it has everything anyone could want the people are so nice not a bit big headed its like a mixture of Canada, Hawaii, and some parts of England i could go on and on but you know all about it you live there if i was 40 years younger i would have loved to have seen it you are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place tommy

[marie fernandes]

Hi Casso, did you ever have Condensed Milk butties, I DID, during the forties and the war years. I loved them, don't know If I could eat them now though. In fact we were glad of almost anything to eat during that time. We had to queue up for two bannanas with coupons. But we did appreciate anything we got. By the way just received Christmas card and pressies for me and hubbie from his niece in Henderson, Auckland N.Z. They have been there for 3 or 4 years and love it they emigrated from India. The niece works as secretary for doctor at Auckland hospital. They are on our list of visits, first we must see our baby grand-daughter l year old on Jan.lst in Florida, then we can start saving for a trip to Auckland. HOPEFULLY.

Bye for now,
marie.

[Lisa]

Hi Marie, I remember sugar butties and a few years ago, in a moment of madness, I made myself one. It was delicious but I felt very guilty........I also remember my mum making me oats and sugar in a greaseproof cone. Also cocoa and sugar in a cone. Our only treat later on was on a Friday when my father called at the tobaconists for his pipe tobacco and chocolates. I dont know why but my father always bought me BOUNTY and I hated it, still do to this day. I asked him not to buy it for me but he always forgot. I used to love FRY's PEPPERMINT BAR and SMARTIES or CRUNCHIE, but never Bounty !!!! My mum always got 4ozs of Brazil Nuts in Chocolate and she used to save me the nuts........

[Casso]

Hi Tommy, you're full of it ... but NZ is an attractive place. I was supposed to end up in Canada with two mates out of the RAF. Number one, Pat Wakefield, from Pontefract, went in about 1959, and we lost touch some four years later.

I came to NZ in 1960 and never heard from Number Two, Dave Corbett, until three years ago when I discovered he was living in Perth WA.

I'm certainly glad I came to the land of the long white cloud, but also wish I had made it to your place, which is equally magnificent.

[eileenman]

Hi Marie, I remember sugar butties, couldn't eat on e now though. Mum also taught us to dip fresh tomatoes in sugar as well, also used to love waiting for the leg of lamb being cooked in the oven, when it was done we used to have rounds of bread waiting to dip in the juices. Doesn't taste the same now when I do lamb, although my son Ryan enjoys lamb after i introduced him to dip butties, my hubbie thinks it is disgusting. Doen't know what he is missing.

[Casso]

Hi Marie, you're a bit lucky having rellies spread around the globe, mainly because it helps the exchequer, and with a bit of luck you have a built-in tour guide as well ...

I should have explained that connie onnie sarnies were condensed milk butties, but like you say it'd be a bit tricky to eat 'em nowadays.

I remember shortly after the war ended, I saw crumpets in the cake shop window, by Siv's in Cross St. Never seen 'em before, but had read a lot about "crumpets for tea" etc - probably in Billy Bunter's Schooldays. They were a penny or tuppence each, so I went in and bought one. As soon as I was out of the shop it was into my mouth ... what a disappointment ... it was horrible.
Of course I subsequently find out that you toasted 'em first ...

[tony38337]

Eileen?

Let the old man think it's disgusting! (Leave it for the true gourmands.) No point in wasting it.

Tony T.

[vivien]

Reading through members memories of Manchester, it has only been a few weeks since I came across this site and I have remembered more about Manchester than I ever realised I forgot ! I have lived in the West Midlands for 27 years now and i suppose consider it my home. My Mum died in Nov 2005 so I dont come back to Manchester quite as often, although my youngest daughter is now at Salford University. My brother lives on Victoria Avenue so of course I do come home occasionally. I have lots of memories of Miles Platting where we grew up, my Mum worked in the "chippy" on Oldham Road owned and run by Rose and Jim Seymour. Bonfire night was an event, with us trying to "nick" the wood from the Collyhurst Street lot, but we were quite scared of them so would only take whenever they were not around. Again the bonfire was not allowed to be lit until Karen Waugh's Mum did it. I wonder if anyone knew any of my friends, Susan Pickup, Karen Waugh, Jane Jennings, Kenny Nurney, my Brother Norman Atkinson, Barbara Ford (my Sister-in-Law) her Mum owned the paper shop opposite the Playhouse Cinema (Franklins) and also Alan Lambert and Cath Harris. I love Manchester and will always do so - to come home and just talk to people make me realise how much I miss it. You never know maybe one day I will come back. Happy memories

[Lisa]

Hi Viv, Thanks for those lovely memories. I'm sure some of our members will reply and may even know some of your old friends. Sounds like we did the same thing in Clayton regarding Bonfire night......it was not allowed to be lit until a designated adult did it, usually one of the dads never the mums !!! and with quite a ritual of everyone gathering round. We also pinched bits of wood from other bonfires, usually in the dead of night BUT never me naturally.........oh yeah !!!! There was even a piano rolled out with a singsong around the huge fire. Mum would make Parkin and Treacle Toffee and potatoes were 'thrown' into the red-hot embers (by a dad, of course) to be eaten with gloved fingers with relish. We smelled of smoke for days but they were great community affairs shared by everyone and looked forward to for months. I would save up my 'spends' for boxes of fireworks but I was never allowed to let them off myself apart from the odd sparkler. I was allowed to stay up late on Bonfire night and remember going to bed around midnight very smelly but very contented......

[vivien]

Very similar to me Lisa - I always remember eating my favourite meal before one bonfire night which was "yellow fish, mashed potatoes and peas" I still like that meal and so does my younger daughter. It was great if you found an old seatee and then you had somewhere to sit for the night. I remember once telling our gang that I had found a really big piece of wood. It took loads of us to carry it only to realise sometime later that it was an actually piece of timber that was for the new building site on Oldham Road next to Miles Platting Mission. I was really scared that I might be found out for nicking it !!!

[bodzy3]

Oh there was , tater ash , pea soup ,treacle toffee, parkin drippin butties two penoth of scratchin's from the chippy, Two woodbines in a packet, shootin rats on the Cut (canal) wth capapults made from you neighbours privets, any body remember The Lord Street Arabs ,I remember stoppin a kid on the street and askin him was he an Arab ? God knows where that expression came from!! I remember a fight one day and this other fella was sayin that this guy was Gorton Hard and that was supposed to be tough

[Lisa]

Hi Bodzy, If you look through some of the old Threads you will see us mention all those foods. Babs has even put her recipe on for Tata Ash plus lots of other recipes. Our friends in Australia were drooling at the mention of some of the foods we loved and hated. It even got them cooking the foods that had long been forgotten.......Once a Mancunian, always a Mancunian.......

bodzy3 said:

Oh there was , tater ash , pea soup ,treacle toffee, parkin drippin butties two penoth of scratchin's from the chippy, Two woodbines in a packet, shootin rats on the Cut (canal) wth capapults made from you neighbours privets, any body remember The Lord Street Arabs ,I remember stoppin a kid on the street and askin him was he an Arab ? God knows where that expression came from!! I remember a fight one day and this other fella was sayin that this guy was Gorton Hard and that was supposed to be tough

[lin]

HEY LISA...DID YOU USED TO HAVE THE OLD CHICKEN BARLEY ? (BROTH) I LOVED THAT STUFF. IN FACT I STILL MAKE TATA ASH MYSELF, AND ALTHOUGH I LIKED DRIPPIN BUTTIES I STEER WELL CLEAR OF THEM NOW...LOL!
LIN

[Lisa]

Hi Lin, I still make Chicken Soup with Barley and my daughter always asks me to make it for her. In fact I think I posted my recipe on the Recipe Page. Also, do you remember Wimberry Pie that made your teeth go black? My mum used to bake every week and they never lasted very long.

lin said:

HEY LISA...DID YOU USED TO HAVE THE OLD CHICKEN BARLEY ? (BROTH) I LOVED THAT STUFF. IN FACT I STILL MAKE TATA ASH MYSELF, AND ALTHOUGH I LIKED DRIPPIN BUTTIES I STEER WELL CLEAR OF THEM NOW...LOL!
LIN

[lin]

HI LISA...I HAD ALMOST FORGOTTEN THE PIE, BUT YES IT DID MAKE YOUR TEETH GO BLACK....THINGS THAT WE REMEMBER AYE?

LIN

[tony38337]

Hi Vivien,

The name Karen Waugh rings a bell with me, I came from Newton Heath next door to you, the name Seymore and the chippy rings a bell too. Was the Miles Platting Mission on the Failsworth side of Newton Heath Town Hall or the Town side.

Tony T.

[frances]

Hi all
Reading all about the food has made me hungry. When you think of it we didn't ask for much those days did we? I used to like bread and butter with currants or raisins in a sandwich.
Fried bread with the bacon. I know it is almost taboo now but every now and then I will fry myself a small piece of bread....heaven..
What about a bacon pestel (think that is how it is spelt) boiled with white cabbage. I hated cabbage but loved the white cabbage. Bacon, cheese and onion done in the frying pan.
When I mention these to friends they think I am mad. Cold tripe with vinegar and tomatoes.
My mum used to make jam pies too. (like the apple pies but with jam in. We used to have jelly and hot custard also. You had to eat it quickly or the jelly melted. It tasted nicer with condensed milk......Are these just Manchester recipes???
Remember the cocoa power and sugar in a twist of paper. Great memories.

[southampton]

vivien said:

, I love Manchester and will always do so - to come home and just talk to people make me realise how much I miss it. You never know maybe one day I will come back. Happy memories

If you did come back you would be compleatly lost in the town centre and maybe everywhere else, the centre has changed a vast amount since the IRA bombing, I left Crumpsall in 1968 and spent 21 years in Southampton untill 1989, ( I now live in Lowton near Leigh) I return to Southampton every couple of years and that too has changed, towns do change over the years but the IRA bomb has meant that Manchester has changed a lot faster over the last ten or so years.

[OLLY]

HIYA ALL, ... 6-35AM, HERE IN MANCHESTER ENGLAND, AND ITS BELTING DOWN ... HAS BEEN MOST OF THE NIGHT

[lin]

HI OLLY..SO IT'S RAINING IN MANCHESTER, THAT'S COS I'M NOT THERE NO, IT WAS RAINING HERE IN THE NIGHT AS WELL, STILL RAINING A BIT NOW BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CLEARING A BIT LATER....HOPE IT CLEARS THERE AS WELL.

[OLLY]

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON THE RIGHTEOUS LIN

lin said:

HI OLLY..SO IT'S RAINING IN MANCHESTER, THAT'S COS I'M NOT THERE NO, IT WAS RAINING HERE IN THE NIGHT AS WELL, STILL RAINING A BIT NOW BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CLEARING A BIT LATER....HOPE IT CLEARS THERE AS WELL.

.....A KNOW YOU DO

[lin]

OLLY, IT'S STILL RAINING HERE AT THE MOMENT... JUST POPPED ON TO CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY COMPUTER...MY COMPUTER GUY IS HERE STILL AND HE CAN FIND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AT ALL, IN FACT HE RECKONS IT'S IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, AND TOTALLY BLAMES IT ON THE SERVER, HE IS ON HIS OWN PHONE NOW CALLING THEM...THE GO SLOW THING IS ONLY WHEN I'M ONLINE......HANG ON! RIGHT HE'S BEEN TOLD, IT IS A SETTING THAT THE SERVER HAS SET IN THEIR DIALLER, HENCE THE SLOWNESS WHICH ONLY ALLOWS A CERTAIN SIZE OF FILE, OR ATTACHMENTS TO BE SENT TO ME..I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS FINDING THIS AND IN THE FUTURE IT WILL BE THE SAME FOR ALL PPL WHO ARE STILL ON DIAL-UP, AND OF COURSE IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT KBPH CONNECTION YOU HAVE AT THE TIME OF CONNECTION.
APPARENTLY THERE ARE MORE PPL STILL ON DIAL-UP THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE, AND IT'S NOW A STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM, HENCE LOWER SIZE FILES ETC, IT'S SUPPOSEDLY THEIR WAY OF KEEPING THE SYSTEM FROM CLOGGING UP TOO MUCH.... DOESN'T HELP ME THOUGH WHEN IT FREEZES THE COMPUTER UP ...SO I AM GOING TO EMAIL FRIENDS ONCE AGAIN AND ASK THEM NOT TO SEND ANYTHING TOO LARGE AGAIN, THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD THOUGH COS I USED TO GET LOADS OF REALLY BIG FILES COME THROUGH...

[OLLY]

servers ,yeh lin,bet your life finance comes into it every ones saying how can we make more money, just been doing ANOTHER apple pie, and thinking to myself, ive not had sugar now for months have I lost any weight, NO, the clever laboratory lads
have developed a sugar, that looks as it always has, but, but but
a lot cheaper to produce , by the way, what size would you be able to take,..... what yeh laughing at ..........

....... attachment.......

[lin]

olly, before long they will come out with another way other than broadband or even wireless, and then those will get clogged up, personally i think it's just another rip off that goes on

[Casso]

Back in February Bodzy mentioned the legendary Lord Street Arabs. There were plenty of tales about fighting and thieving, but I never met any of of 'em, and got the impression they might have been a pre-war gang - or even earlier. My particular mate in Lord St, from about 1945 onwards, was Geoff Gittings, and while we might have tried to live up to the legends we were tame by comparison. I've tried googling for them, but got nowt, anybody else got any information on 'em that might separate fact from fiction?
Cass