WALTON ON THE NAZE

Every summer holiday was spent in the Essex seaside town of Walton On The Naze. I still hold alot of affection for this place. The Martello camp with it's endless rows of caravans and calor gas bottles. To be woken every morning with the sound of seagulls stomping on the roof of our rented four berth and that wonderful musky smell you would only find in caravans. Whilst mum and dad played bingo i would be forever pestering them for a penny or two for the slot machines. At the end of the evening jellied eels. Doughnuts on the beach, always wanting to ride the ghost train when we trod the boards of the pier, candy floss, sticks of rock that we always bought the family to take home and give as a gift, always peppermint. I remember when i was fourteen and a school friend was going the same time as me. Buying a bottle of cider and getting a little bit tipsy together on the cliffs, meeting two girls from Plaistow and trying to impress every time we bumped into them. 

The last time i ventured there was back in August 1991, dad was very ill, and all the family took him for a day out which he really enjoyed despite the suffering he was going through. Those holidays in Walton when i look back the sun always seemed to shine.

REMEMBERING VICKY AKA JACKO

1960, 3 years old, hand in hand with my mum & dad walking in the aisles of Woolworths, looking up and seeing what seemed like hundreds of these toy monkey's hanging from the ceiling, i just wanted one. I named him Vicky.

Now Vicky went everywhere with me, i just loved him. Bus conductors used to hang him from the overhead handrails, holidays to Walton On The Naze, shopping trips and to Walters the garage in Ponders End, where he used to help my dad fill the cars with petrol, and of course would be my comfort when tucked up in bed. Our neighbour used to make tops and trousers for him whist mum would knit him cardigans. He ended up many years later after endless stitching of arms and the groin area with a Bowie Aladdin Sane lightening bolt magic marker face ! My daughter attached herself to him, and she loved him has much as i did. When my ex wife decided to leave taking my daughter and Vicky with her he was never to be seen by me again, this was back in 1984. 

Well last year by chance whilst browsing on ebay i found a Jacko, and upon bidding i eventually won him.

I told my wife i got him for my son, but she knew the truth, thou i wanted my son to have him and hopefully love him like i did at his age. When he arrived in a brown parcel i could not believe i had this toy. My son named him Vickytwo, and loves him to bits. 

WELCOME

Everyone has memories,good,bad happy and sad. Here are mine to share.