THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND...

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I often wonder how many people are as happy or satisfied with their present circumstances and experiences as they are with their past ones.  Things change as time unfolds and there are places and periods from my past I wish I could still access in reality as opposed to just memory.  Let me tell you about one of them.

When my family moved into a new (to us, though truth to tell, it was only two or three years old) house in 1965, a new church was in the process of being built across the road.  When it was completed, whenever they held a jumble sale or church fayre, I could be found the night before as the stalls were being set up (more on that in a moment), looking for second-hand toys, annuals, and bagatelles that probably wouldn't have been affordable to me brand-new, but certainly fell within my budget as 'pre-used' items.

We lived in that neighbourhood for 6 years and 7 months, and when we moved to my present domicile, I would still stroll along to see what goodies could be had to add to my stash of possessions that other people had relinquished.  My mother still attended that church even after we'd flitted and she continued to receive requests from organisers for tins of food, unwanted bric-a-brac and the like, as donations to any upcoming jumble sales or fayres.

She would give them to me in a carrier bag to take along to the church building, which I was only too happy to do as it gave me unquestioned access to other contributions, and those in attendance who were arranging the presentation of said items had no objections to selling me any comic, book, or toy that took my fancy.  These events invariably occurred on a Saturday, so I'd plod along on a Friday evening with some donations and then take my pick of what was on offer and thereby beat the Saturday melee, though I'd usually still attend that just to soak up the atmosphere.

Even when we flitted again in 1983, I continued this custom, and I yet own quite a few things today that were obtained in this fashion.  When we returned to my current house in '87, the practice continued for a few years until the church was demolished and a new one erected in its place.  Again, I still attended with a carrier bag of donations two or three times a year, until someone from the church started calling at our front door for them after a suitable advance warning/request for any unwanted goods.  ('Twas the same for every member, not just us.)

And so my advance visits came to an end, but I have many happy memories of such occasions and wish I could yet indulge myself - even though the reality of being able to do so might no longer afford the same excitement and satisfaction (and hoard of goodies) as was once the case.  (I miss the original building, demolished over 30 years ago.)

And what about you Crivvies?  Do you have any moments from your past that have expired over time that you wish you could resurrect and once again experience a cherished, halcyon period from your childhood or teenage years?  If so, let's read all about them, and maybe be reminded of our own long-gone days of yesteryear.  The comments section awaits.

The above Shazam! book and Knockout Annual are two of the items I acquired this way over the years.  These two were obtained circa 1984 or '85.  Another item bought at the same time is a Coca Cola mirror and small table, not counting (or showing) various books and ornaments.